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Development
Downtown Commission gets preview of next chapter for John Henry Faulk Building and Austin History Center
With the Austin History Center “busting at the seams” with, well, history, city library officials have been preparing the John Henry Faulk Building next door to house the History Center’s vast collection of archives. Both the History Center and the…
Planning • By Amy Smith • Aug 23, 2024
Planning Commission endorses multifamily project in Montopolis
Despite some consternation about the impact to the neighborhood in terms of scale and potential for displacement, Planning Commission members have voted in support of a new multifamily development on Montopolis Drive between Caddie and Fairway streets. The project is…
Zoning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 22, 2024
East Austin church rezoning reveals cracks in DB90
Plans to expand an East Austin church are moving forward, but not before they sparked criticism of the city’s new density bonus program, DB90, at the Planning Commission last week. Christ Church of Central Austin, which is located at San…
Zoning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 21, 2024
Project Connect anti-displacement funding gets close look from Community Development Commission
Members of the Community Development Commission have requested more information from city staff about the decision-making process for spending Project Connect funds intended to preserve or create affordable housing near the mass transit system. Last week, the commission received a…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 20, 2024
Watershed Protection details preparation for Old Lampasas Dam repairs
The Watershed Protection Department appears to ready to move ahead with the start of the Old Lampasas Dam #3 Modernization Project, having completed the diligence called for by City Council this spring. In a memo released Monday, WPD Director Jorge…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 20, 2024
Umlauf Vision Plan aims to revive iconic sculptor's home and studio as museum
Plans to significantly expand the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum are continuing to drum up enthusiasm, with Historic Landmark commissioners granting the project their blessing last week. The Umlauf Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan hopes to add thousands of…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Aug 19, 2024
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Builders can now construct homes on less land, as Austin’s new minimum lot size goes into effect
A controversial rule that lowers the amount of land needed to build one house in Austin goes into effect Friday. Landowners wanting to build a home in some city neighborhoods will now need 1,800 square feet of land, about two-thirds…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 16, 2024
Historic zoning remains in limbo as commission continues to ponder east side building's complicated past
The fate of a century-old storefront at the corner of East 12th and Comal streets remains up in the air, with debate over its merits as preservation-worthy intensifying at the city’s Historic Landmark Commission. 1500 E. 12th St. landed on…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Aug 12, 2024
Planning Commission OKs affordable Sunset Ridge site plan in District 8
A plan to build affordable housing on Southwest Parkway continues to move forward, despite continued opposition from surrounding neighborhoods and the Save Our Springs Alliance. “There’s always a reason to stop housing. There’s always an excuse to sue to stop…
Planning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 7, 2024
Rents in Austin are down. But many renters still struggle to find housing they can afford.
When the rent payment on Leigh Vladyka’s Austin apartment comes out of his bank account, he tries to avoid looking. Each month, almost half of his take-home pay goes to rent. Nearly $1,600 gone from the $3,400 deposited. And there…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 6, 2024
City emergency and development staff still opposed to single-stairwell apartment buildings
First responders and development services staff remain opposed to the single-staircase resolution that City Council approved in May, Assistant Fire Chief Tom Vocke told the Public Safety Commission at its meeting Monday afternoon. Council members supported the change to make…
Development • By Amy Smith • Aug 6, 2024
City will promote relocation of homes as alternative to demolition
The city has identified a number of ways to increase the relocation and deconstruction of homes as an alternative to demolition that could take place amid the push for more housing on smaller parcels of land. A memo issued last…
