Austin Energy staff walked through their proposed plan to build a high-priced East Austin headquarters Monday morning. The proposed plan has come under criticism by City Council members and commercial real estate brokers, who are worried about the added burden to the taxpayers and the high cost of construction. The plan, budgeted at $58.9 […]
Local Politics
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council grants floodplain variance for Park PUD on Barton Springs
Despite warnings from staff, the City Council approved a floodplain variance for one of South Austin’s most familiar lots at its June 12 meeting, finally clearing the way for development of the Park PUD. In March 2011, after a protracted battle with several neighborhoods, Council approved a Planned Unit Development for 805 Barton Springs […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
West Lake postpones action on subdivision pending investigation
The West Lake Hills City Council, acting as its Board of Adjustment, has postponed action on a Redbud Trail subdivision and asked its city attorney to hire outside counsel to investigate whether the developer’s representative –who recently stepped down as city planner for West Lake Hills – acted unethically while working for the city. […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Arts Commission worried programs could lose funds under new plan
Arts Commission Chair Brett Barnes sounded an alarm this week over what he characterized as a move to strip funding from the city’s Cultural Arts Grant Program. His concerns focused around a suggestion that a portion of the city’s Hotel/ Occupancy Tax, or HOT, typically used to fund smaller arts grants might be shifted to instead […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Austin City Council spending for June 12, 2014
Here is a detailed look at expenditures Austin City Council authorized on June 12, 2014: · $477,592 of rebates were authorized for energy efficiency improvements; $131,100 to CWS Allandale-McKinney, LP (Austin Midtown Apartments); $123,680 to CWS Brushy Creek, LP (The Marquis at Brushy Creek Apartments); $136,712 to Gables Residential (Central Park Apartments); and $86,100 […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Resources
Travis County Commissioners Court spending for June 17, 2014
Here is a detailed look at how much money Travis County Commissioners spent this week: · Approved $36,000.00 for a proposed interlocal agreement with Pflugerville Independent School District to pay for half the cost of a traffic signal at the intersection of Gattis School Road and Priem Lane. · Approved $1,107,685.00 for a 25 […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council gives go ahead to develop North Central Corridor Plan
The Austin City Council voted unanimously last week to let city staff begin planning updates to portions of Burnet Road and Anderson Lane in a venture unlike any the city has never embarked on before. Under the North Central Austin Corridor Plan, the city’s Planning Commission would first research the area surrounding Burnet Road […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council rejects eastside zoning request despite error in city permit
A neighborhood association squared off against its own president at City Council last Thursday during a contentious East Austin rezoning case. In the end, Council members sided with the neighborhood and denied the zoning change on a 3-4 vote. Toria English owns the house at 1307 Waller Street and happens to be president of the […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 3
Council Member and 2014 City of Austin Mayoral candidate Mike Martinez joins the Monitor‘s Mike Kanin and Mark Richardson to talk Economic Development incentives. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/155080663″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Resources
Travis County Commissioners Court spending for June 10, 2014
Here is a detailed look at how much money Travis County Commissioners spent last week: · Approved $4,938.54 for three different cash security agreements with Gehan Homes, Ltd. for sidewalk repair in Pct. 1. · Approved $720.00 for a cash security agreement with Highland Homes, Ltd. for sidewalk repair in Pct 3. · Approved […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Despite opposition, Council narrowly OKs measure on ‘granny flats’
There were storms raging inside and outside of City Hall early Friday morning, when the Austin City Council took on “granny flat” advocates and detractors at last week’s meeting. The fight started 12 hours earlier, on the steps of City Hall. In a noon news conference, the Austin Neighborhoods Council members criticized Council Member […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council holds off on appraisal petition, postpones action until 2015
The Austin City Council backed away from filing a challenge petition over the Travis Central Appraisal District’s commercial property valuation process early Friday, voting instead to postpone any action until 2015. But Council members will not be sitting on their hands. Instead, they have assigned city staff to work with experts to figure out […]