Stories by Ryan Thornton
Planning nonprofit suggests stitching Austin back together over I-35
With last week’s announcement of funding to improve Interstate 35 through Central Austin, the Downtown Austin Alliance is inviting the community to gather around a vision for a more ambitious plan. Dewitt Peart, president and CEO of Downtown Austin Alliance,…
Roads • By Ryan Thornton • Mar 2, 2020
Austin Transportation updates citation process to change driver behavior
In an effort to address the city’s road safety crisis, the Austin Transportation Department has come up with a way to make drivers understand the consequences of violating traffic laws. As of yesterday, drivers charged with failure to yield will…
Roads • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 26, 2020
City addresses pedestrian access with advancement of zoning request at Graffiti Park site advances
The Colorfield, a 10-unit condominium project located on one of two lots that is home to the now-closed Graffiti Park, is inching closer to redevelopment after roughly two years of site plan review. City Council approved the zoning request for…
Zoning • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 25, 2020
Land use code to protect transit-oriented trees and increase canopy cover
A recent amendment to the draft Land Development Code could change how heritage tree preservation impacts new development on corridors. Council Member Paige Ellis offered a concept last week, the Supplemental Heritage Tree Preservation Program, that she said would help…
Environment • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 24, 2020
Faulk Library renovation opens conversation on Downtown Community Court
The Austin History Center downtown is ready to expand into the first floor of the adjacent John H. Faulk Library, but the building needs some work. City Council will consider a contract for design services Thursday to get the ball…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 19, 2020
Housing at odds with parkland and open space in code rewrite
The city’s well-established reputation as a land of abundant green spaces collided with its lack of housing supply last week as City Council debated amendments to the draft Land Development Code. At stake were city requirements for open spaces and…
Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 18, 2020
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With second vote, Council advances draft land use code
While City Council has not arrived at a consensus on the draft Land Development Code, members began a conversation that could lead in that direction during Council’s second reading this week. Before Council approved the draft on second reading in…
Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 14, 2020
Public speaks on land use code second draft
City Council opened the floor to public comment Tuesday, leading up to its second reading on the revised draft of the Land Development Code. In total, there were 65 speakers, most of whom voiced objections of some sort to the…
Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 12, 2020
South Austin industrial site approved for mixed-use residential
Industrial Boulevard in South Austin is a historically industrial area on its way to becoming a lively residential and commercial neighborhood. City Council opened the door to further transformation of the area Thursday by approving a mixed-use zoning request at…
Zoning • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 10, 2020
Council responds to code second draft
City Council took a few hours Tuesday afternoon to respond to the second draft of the revised Land Development Code in light of a new zoning map, a recalibrated density bonus program and reduced overall housing capacity. Last Friday, Jan.…
Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 5, 2020
Capital Metro to modernize information delivery with onboard displays
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority will soon outfit 67 local service buses with 29-inch wide-screen digital displays, initiating a new era of dynamic passenger information delivery. Last week, the agency’s board of directors unanimously approved a contract with Clever Devices,…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Feb 4, 2020
Advocates host discussion on what makes good transit
November’s transportation bond hasn’t taken shape yet, but is likely to feature the largest public transit investment residents have ever been asked to consider. In light of that, transit advocates and grassroots organizations hosted a talk Wednesday with Christof Spieler,…
