In a case almost eerily similar to one we covered in our August 26 newsletter, the owner of a property inside Northwest Austin subdivision The Forest is seeking to rezone. As one might expect if you’ve been reading these articles, the neighborhood is not happy. The Zoning and Platting Commission heard the case, which would […]
Development
Posted inPreservation
Trestle bridge advocates remain hopeful for future rehabilitation
With ownership of the historic trestle bridge on Third Street still unresolved, the city of Austin has hired engineering firm HDR to explore possible options for rehabilitating the century-old structure. The debate over whether the city or Union Pacific controls the bridge has dragged on for years but, by most accounts, the city and its […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission recommends industrial rezoning in Govalle
Planning Commissioners have voted unanimously to recommend a rezoning for an industrial site in East Austin’s Govalle neighborhood that could lead to another tall housing development on the Colorado. The site, located at 20 Strandtman Cove near Airport Boulevard, is currently zoned LI, or light industrial, and houses a warehouse for foundation materials. The request […]
Posted inPreservation
Judges Hill home poised for property tax break in exchange for landmark zoning
Another 20th century home just north of downtown is poised to join Austin’s ranks of landmarked residences, with Historic Landmark Commissioners voting last week to initiate the site’s historic zoning. The San Gabriel Street home was built in 1927 by the prolific Edwin Kreisle, whose architectural legacy remains on display at sites like Fulmore Middle […]
Posted inPlanning
Zoning and Platting recommends planning process west of Loop 360
As the Austin Monitor has previously reported, the Zoning and Platting Commission was considering recommending that the city initiate a planning process for the area west of Loop 360 on the north side of the Colorado River. Well, on August 5, the commission passed a motion making just such a recommendation by a 7-1 vote, […]
Posted inZoning
Some neighbors see progress, others see peril in South Lamar rezoning
The Planning Commission has approved yet another rezoning request involving the city’s controversial Density Bonus 90, or DB90, zoning during their July 22 meeting. Commissioners heard from both neighbors in support of a redevelopment that would offer relatively dense housing in a fast-growing neighborhood and neighbors who fear another tall building. This time around the […]
Posted inPreservation
City’s Heritage Preservation Grant program to be retooled for upcoming fiscal year
The city’s Heritage Preservation Grant program will look a little different this year, with plans to undergo a “creative reset” under the leadership of Austin’s brand new Office of Arts, Music, Culture, and Entertainment. Last year, the program awarded $3,590,765 in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to 22 select projects at historic sites that ranged in […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council OKs new convention center, as downtown opponents push petitions
City Council has approved two measures related to Convention Center development. One item advances the multibillion-dollar reconstruction of the downtown Austin Convention Center, while the other enables the construction of a privately financed convention center and resort hotel near the Circuit of the Americas to qualify for state tax rebates. Council voted to authorize an […]
Posted inZoning
West Sixth Street neighbors endorse industrial zoning
Yet another developer brought yet another big downtown-ish project to the planning commission for a rezoning on July 8, this time at West 6th and Walsh streets in West Austin. The commission recommended this one, too. The proposed zoning change would see a cluster of addresses on that corner currently developed under commercial mixed-use zoning […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission recommends Hudson Yards-esque development on South Congress
A rezoning to support a massive new development designed by the same firm that built NYC’s Hudson Yards picked up a recommendation from the Planning Commission during a meeting on July 8. If built, the 6.48 acre site at at 500 South Congress would encompass around 950 residential units, 225 hotel rooms, 600,000 square feet […]
Posted inHousing
Housing plan advances to Council as concerns grow over federal funding cuts
The Community Development Commission stopped short of endorsing the city’s annual federal housing funding plan at its meeting last week and instead used the opportunity to raise alarms about how looming federal budget cuts could worsen the city’s homelessness crisis. The FY25/26 Action Plan, which outlines the use of roughly $14 million in federal housing […]
Posted inPlanning
Elon Musk narrowly wins fight against neighbors over Austin-area home
One of the richest men in the world just won a fight against a handful of his neighbors in Texas. On Wednesday evening, the West Lake Hills City Council voted to allow Elon Musk to keep most of the fencing and gates he has built at his home in the Austin area — as long as he makes changes to bring […]