Mayor Kirk Watson and other members of City Council want to give city staff specific directions and benchmarks in their work to keep the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter open indefinitely and keep other city shelters from becoming overwhelmed with the number of experiencing homelessness. In a recent posting on the City Council Message Board, Watson […]
District 3
Posted inZoning
East Cesar Chavez zoning granted despite neighbors’ objections
Although former City Council Member Raul Alvarez and other east side advocates argued strenuously during last week’s meeting against granting DB90 zoning to the property at 3020 E. Cesar Chavez St., Council members approved the change on all three readings. The old zoning allowed for a relatively modest mixed-use building. Developers are now expected to […]
Posted inParks
Parks board asks City Council to review why boating concession ordinance exempted community input
The Parks and Recreation Board wants City Council to reexamine, and possibly rescind, a 2019 ordinance allowing an adventure excursion company to operate a boating concession in East Austin without going through a public process. The company, called the Expedition School, is poised to begin building out its concession operations along Lady Bird Lake’s north […]
Posted inZoning
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 expected to bring around 189 units to the 2 acres that currently stand empty. Victoria […]
Posted inZoning
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 Marcos and Medina streets in the Cesar Chavez neighborhood, went to the Planning Commission in […]
Posted inAustin
Cisco’s gets a $50,000 grant to preserve the restaurant’s history
Lee esta historia en español Cisco’s Restaurant, Bakery & Bar has been serving classic Tex-Mex dishes like huevos rancheros and migas to Austin residents since 1950. Now, 74 years later, the restaurant has received $50,000 as part of an effort from the National Trust of Historic Preservation to support small, historic businesses. Longtime customer Gardner Selby […]
Posted inPlanning
City, county taking steps to realize vision for Palm School area
Members of the steering committee charged with shaping the future of the Palm School property downtown expect to begin their work later this month, while a handful of major infrastructure projects are moving forward throughout the larger Palm District that stretches from the southern edge of the Rainey Street District to Waterloo Park on 15th […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Council OKs bond money to preserve Museum of Human Achievement arts space
City Council has allocated $5.1 million of bond money to the Rally Austin economic development entity, which is expected to use some of the money to purchase and preserve the Museum of Human Achievement (MoHA) arts space in East Austin. Council approved the transfer of funds last week in a resolution that named MoHA and […]
Posted inPreservation
Three ‘no’ votes end try for historic zoning in East Austin
Despite efforts from Preservation Austin and approval from two city commissions, the small historic house at 1100 East Second St. failed to get support from the nine City Council members needed for it to be designated historic and avoid demolition. Both the Historic Landmark Commission and the Planning Commission recommended historic designation for the Sinnigson […]
Posted inAustin
Arts group blasts memo blocking city from purchasing historic church space
The nonprofit Austin Creative Alliance has pushed back against a memo from city staff that appears to have derailed an effort by City Council members to preserve a pair of East Austin properties that serve as the group’s headquarters and cultural space. For more than a year, ACA leaders had discussed with city staff and […]
Posted inTransportation
Work to build ‘wishbone’ bridge begins, 18-month detour ahead
Construction starts today on a pedestrian bridge that will stitch together the biggest gap in the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake. Dubbed the “wishbone” bridge – the first of its kind in Austin – the $25 million project will complete a missing link in the city’s most popular trail. But it […]
Posted inPreservation
St. Joseph Hall cleared for demolition on St. Ed’s campus
Historic Landmark Commission members have given their unanimous blessing to the demolition of St. Edward’s University’s St. Joseph Hall, despite its architectural significance and historic association with the Brothers of the Holy Cross. The hall, which stands at 3001 S. Congress Ave., was designed by San Antonio firm Julian & White and constructed on a […]