Next month’s solar eclipse is expected to bring a short boost for local hotels that could match some of the nine-day stretch of South by Southwest. Austin’s location as one of the most opportune viewing spots in the path of the April 8 celestial phenomenon is luring tourists from far and wide, with city officials […]
Austin
Posted inAustin
Austin Justice Coalition slams city in State of Black Austin Address
Nearly 16 years ago, the city released its African American Quality of Life Final Report, which detailed 56 initiatives underway to improve the quality of life for Black residents. On Wednesday, the Austin Justice Coalition hosted a State of Black Austin Address at Stateside Theatre, excoriating what it described as the city’s lack of meaningful […]
Posted inAustin
Downtown Commission hears SXSW safety preparedness report
No one likes to think about worst-case scenarios turning large public events into devastating havoc, but such is the business of planning for major festivals like South by Southwest. Lessons learned from past events – the 2020 pandemic, the 2014 vehicular tragedy and various crowd-control incidents in other years – have helped shape a system […]
Posted inAustin
Tourism Commission considers how to grow hotel taxes beyond convention business
The Tourism Commission has turned its attention to how tourist attractions throughout the city could work collectively to increase the average hotel stay, which would gradually lead to substantial increases in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues. At last week’s meeting, the commission heard a presentation from Matt Patton, director of research for Angelou Economics, who performed […]
Posted inAustin
MACC funds not cut, Council member reports
A report to City Council that funding was cut for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center turned out to be a misunderstanding. Larry Amaro, a member of the MACC board, told Council at Thursday’s meeting that a number of planned events this spring would have to be canceled because of a reduction in […]
Posted inAustin
Lacking a sense of cultural belonging, many Black Austinites are relocating
Lack of community bonds, cultural offerings and business opportunities play a large part in the continuing decline in Austin’s Black population, based on analysis and anecdotes shared by a number of local leaders at a recent discussion on the demographic trend. Wednesday’s breakfast panel for Urban Land Institute Austin looked at possible solutions for retaining […]
Posted inAustin
Hotel, multifamily developers sought for convention center reconstruction project
Leaders at the Austin Convention Center have set their sights on building a new hotel or a multifamily residential project as part of the forthcoming reconstruction of the downtown site. The timeline for the solicitation of developers was among the details shared during Tuesday’s City Council work session, with convention center representatives sharing their 40-year […]
Posted inAustin
Travis County turns down partnership with Austin to address homelessness
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court rejected a proposal to form an interlocal agreement with the city of Austin. The agreement would have put $400,000 toward a $2 million strategic analysis of local efforts to address homelessness. Commissioners chiefly objected to the city’s employment of consulting powerhouse McKinsey & Company as the project’s third-party […]
Posted inAustin
DAA, Urban Alchemy partner to improve outreach, services for downtown homeless population
Downtown Austin Alliance hopes its new pilot program will help to provide more services and housing opportunities to the homeless people clustered throughout the city’s central business district. On Thursday, the DAA announced its Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART), which will launch as a six-month trial program on Feb. 1. In partnership with staff […]
Posted inAustin
Economic forecasters see local climate as ‘strong, but uncertain’ in 2024
After years of financial shocks and ongoing government spending to offset the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, financial analysts expect 2024 to be less volatile but still somewhat uncertain for the nation and state. The good news for the Austin area is strong growth trends and the state’s unexpected budget surpluses in recent years will […]
Posted inAustin
A look back: Austin’s year in review
With 2023 drawing to a close, it’s time to look back on the local headlines that dominated the news before looking forward to the year ahead. Happy News Year! New city management This year saw a strange kind of sea change at City Hall led by newly reelected Mayor Kirk Watson. On the one hand, […]
Posted inAustin
Life sciences talk brings major development news at Urban Land Institute panel
The life sciences industry in Austin is so active and bustling with deals and investments that, over the course of an hour’s discussion last week, leaders in the field dropped a pair of hints about forthcoming significant developments for the local economy. At Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly panel discussion on the area’s future as […]