The Parks and Recreation Board revisited the discussion about the fate of the Hancock Golf Course Tuesday while reviewing an extensive survey of public opinion on the matter. Anthony Segura, a parks department assistant director, and Kevin Gomillion, who manages Golf Operations, presented the results of the two-week survey, which was conducted by the city […]
District 9
Posted inZoning
Council approves ‘multimodal’ residential project in northwest downtown
City Council said yes to more density in the northwest corner of downtown by voting unanimously Thursday to approve Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) zoning with a 90-foot height limit for Shoal Cycle, a 210-bed multimodal-friendly apartment project at 812 W. 11th St. “I think we all agree that downtown is where density is appropriate,” Mayor Pro […]
Posted inPreservation
Partial demolition granted for Avenue A home located outside of historic districts
Earlier this week, the Historic Landmark Commission unanimously voted to co-sign some major redesign plans at 4315 Avenue A, a property located in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Owner/applicant Nathan Hobbs is seeking to expand the size of the home, which was first constructed around 1921, by partially demolishing it, adding rooms and building a second […]
Posted inTransportation
Bowie underpass project derailed
After two decades of planning, negotiations to construct the Bowie underpass have come to a halt. The project at Third and Bowie streets is part of the 2001 Seaholm District Master Plan. It would have provided a link between the Pfluger Street bridge and the Market District, giving bicycles and pedestrians a path under the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Design Commission wants to remove downtown FAR caps, cut Council out of density bonus program
Following a City Council discussion earlier this year about updating the Downtown Density Bonus Program, the Design Commission last week recommended several changes for Council to mull, including removing Council’s discretion over allowing extra-dense towers and removing floor area ratio limits. Council’s discussion and the commission’s recommendations centered around one aspect of the program: the […]
Posted inCity Council
A Council resolution floats safety-minded changes on Sixth Street. Some are more controversial than others.
In response to a recent spate of violence on Sixth Street, City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday that sets out to tackle long-neglected safety problems in the area. If the proposed changes in the resolution come to fruition after discussions among city staffers and Council, the nighttime experience on Sixth Street will change – […]
Posted inPlanning
Would opening Sixth Street to cars on the weekend make it safer? One Council member wants to know.
Austin City Council members will vote Thursday on whether to have city staff look into reopening Sixth Street to vehicular traffic on weekend nights. The intent is to make the street safer, said Council Member Kathie Tovo, whose district includes downtown Austin. Tovo said according to a study done by the nonprofit Responsible Hospitality Institute, […]
Posted inPreservation
City postpones skate shop demolition
A groundswell of support for a beloved Austin skate shop did not fall upon unsympathetic ears at the Historic Landmark Commission. Austin Community College was seeking a permit to demolish No-Comply Skate Shop at 812 W. 12th St. to make way for a parking garage. The school needs permission from the city’s Historic Landmark Commission. […]
Posted inPlanning
Convention center plans meet resistance from Downtown Commission skeptics
The Downtown Commission will consider asking City Council not to move forward with any new plans to expand the Austin Convention Center, with commission members asking city staff for more information to justify the project. Staffers gave an update on the expansion plans at this week’s Downtown Commission meeting, outlining the new scope of the […]
Posted inLand Development Code
West Campus sign variance remains on hold after illuminating discussion
Once again, an accidental ban on illuminated signs has forced developers to seek a variance from an unintentional city statute. Current city code prohibits illuminated signs in the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO). While the prohibition was made in error, it has yet to be corrected. A May 2020 memo from Jerry Rusthoven with the city’s […]
Posted inPlanning
More height for Lamar Beach property means more access for all
With the help of a variance from the city’s Board of Adjustment, a new development on a puzzle of a downtown parcel will be moving forward, connecting a neighborhood to the lake in the process. Nikelle Meade, representing Pressler RRI, acknowledged that increasing the height of the project from 60 to 75 feet via a […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark Commission sends West Line case to Architectural Review Committee
Last week, applicants asked the Historic Landmark Commission for permission to demolish a building located in the West Line Historic District and replace it with a one-story cabana and a garage at 1415 W. 10th St. The building, which was first constructed in 1939, was not approved for demolition; instead, the commission moved to have […]