The city hopes to bring coordination to the many high-profile projects taking over downtown Austin in the coming years, with the city manager charged with determining the budgetary and planning resources needed throughout the district. On Thursday, City Council approved the Downtown Austin Strategic Initiative, a comprehensive plan aimed at coordinating strategies targeting mobility, infrastructure, […]
District 9
Posted inPreservation
Documentary film highlights the history of an 1870s-era home and the story of Clarksville
Everyone involved in the making of “Haskell House and the Story of Clarksville,” a documentary short film about the oldest documented residence within the Clarksville National Register historic district, was recognized by the Austin Parks and Recreation Board at its regular meeting this past Monday. “The Haskell House holds an invaluable piece of our City’s […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission endorses plan for vacant lot on Bruning Avenue
A small vacant lot and former junkyard in the North Loop neighborhood may become part of a new housing development stretching across three addresses after a Planning Commission vote to recommend rezoning the tract in a meeting on Jan. 14. The lot, located at 5210 Bruning Ave. and 705 East 53rd St. and near Airport […]
Posted inPreservation
Commission endorses historic zoning for Castle Hill estate
Another Castle Hill residence is poised to join Austin’s roster of registered landmarks, with owners of 610 Baylor St. winning over Historic Landmark Commission members last week in their bid for historic zoning. Since 1982, the city has granted landmark status to a smaller home at neighboring 608 Baylor St., built sometime around 1903 as […]
Posted inTransportation
Dirty no more? City opts to keep Sixth Street open to traffic at all times
Beginning this weekend, the city will keep Sixth Street open to vehicular traffic on weekends, a substantial departure from decades of street closures designed to accommodate nightlife culture that saw thousands of pedestrians gather in the roadway while moving among the entertainment district’s many bars and nightclubs. City leaders announced the change at a press […]
Posted inCity Council
Drawing on his last two years, Qadri hopes to expand his leadership on mobility
After a busy year, Zo Qadri has set his sights on taking on more mobility work in 2025. That seems an apt role for the City Council member who represents District 9, which covers Downtown, the University of Texas and much of Central Austin. When the mayor hands down new committee assignments – a decision […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission says goodbye to Nau’s Enfield Drug
All good things must come to an end, and the time has come for Nau’s Enfield Drug to join the souls of bygone local staples in the mixed-use afterlife. But first, the Historic Landmark Commission hopes the site’s new stewards can pay the Austin legacy its due homage. The beloved tenant, which held strong for […]
Posted inAustin
PARD memo eyes expected 2026 bond package to complete new Dougherty Arts Center
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking toward an expected 2026 bond package to obtain the funding needed to complete the new Dougherty Arts Center, which is slated to be built in two phases in the coming years at a total cost of $50 million to $60 million. A memo published last month by interim […]
Posted inPlanning
Congress Avenue transformation plan gets support from Urban Transportation Commission
The Urban Transportation Commission has voted to support the proposed transformation of most of the downtown portion of Congress Avenue, turning much of the street into a pedestrian- and multimodal-focused corridor and removing almost all vehicular traffic. The recommendation to City Council was approved at the commission’s meeting earlier this week. The Congress Avenue Urban […]
Posted inAustin
Arts Commission joins call for bond money to replace Dougherty Arts Center
The Arts Commission wants City Council to commit to including funding for a new Dougherty Arts Center in the city’s next bond package, likely to go before voters in 2026. At its most recent meeting, the commission unanimously approved the recommendation proposed by the Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center advocacy group that has been […]
Posted inDevelopment
Latest State of Downtown report shows the city core’s businesses and housing are in transition
The latest report on downtown Austin’s economic and cultural health shows the city core is seeing ongoing vacancies and low utilization of office space in a trend that has caused a flattening of many indicators of business activity. That analysis was among the findings of Downtown Austin Alliance’s Q3 State of Downtown report, which looked […]
Posted inZoning
Council gives first reading OK to major development on tiny slice of land
On a vote of 8-3, City Council last week approved on first reading a major change for a small sliver of property at 1209 W. Fifth St. The change would allow the developer to build up to 120 feet, a change that has neighbors up in arms. After hearing objections to the proposal from several […]