When the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) was established in 2004, the idea spurring its creation was to increase housing opportunities for students in an area close to classrooms and campus life. In the 15 years since, the need for affordable student housing in West Campus has only continued to grow. While there is no one-size-fits-all […]
City of Austin University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO)
A set of design guidelines for a portion of the City of Austin that includes the West Campus, North University, and Hancock neighborhood areas.
Posted inPlanning
Planning commissioners strike heritage tree compromise
When it comes to preserving heritage trees, when should development take precedence? That was the question planning commissioners sought to answer at their most recent meeting, where developers of a property at 2111 Rio Grande St. were seeking variances to uproot two heritage trees in order to make way for student housing. The Planning Commission […]
Posted inZoning
Planning Commission OKs taller building in West Campus
The Planning Commission granted near-unanimous approval for a rezoning in West Campus to allow an old student housing complex at 2408 Leon St. to be replaced with a new, larger apartment complex. The property owner, Arlington Capital Austin, wants the lot to be rezoned to allow greater height for the complex. The developer envisions a […]
Posted inDevelopment
Form-based considerations inform West Campus variance case
In the haze of CodeNEXT fever, the form-based language of building types and footprints continues to creep into discussions of land use, and those considerations found their way into the Board of Adjustment’s meeting Monday night. For its final item, the board heard applicant Sudhakar Allada’s parking variance request for a small-lot multifamily apartment project at 911 W. […]
Posted inPlanning
New co-op wrangles with parking at BoA
Could a brand-new co-op be on the way in the University Neighborhood Overlay? Probably, but there are some parking issues to clear up before the project can move forward. Though some Board of Adjustment members seemed wary of the request for further reductions in parking for a new West Campus co-op, they ultimately voted unanimously […]
Posted inTipSheets
Reporter’s Notebook: Music and moments of vindication
Which genre do you live in?… In case you missed it, the city’s district music summits kicked off this weekend with the punk/alternative summit in District 2. Even if you didn’t go, there are nine summits left to catch, each of which offers a genre’d opportunity to weigh in on the Austin Music and Creative […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark Commission hears tale of two houses
A novel bid to preserve two unrelated homes in West Campus passed through the Historic Landmark Commission on Monday night. Commissioners approved a half-mile move for the historic Dabney-Horne House, in the hopes that its relocation could save the Clyde Littlefield Home just down the road. Currently, the Dabney-Horne House is located at 507 West […]
Posted inAustin
AURA, UT group want to tear down wall, plant trees
Tear down that (West Campus) wall. The West Campus Wall – which runs along much of the University of Texas’ western edge, separating the campus from Guadalupe Street – has long been a symbol of UT’s isolation from the rest of the city, and several groups agree it’s time to tear it down. That was […]
Posted inPreservation
Home of legendary UT coach remains in limbo
After a trip through the Planning Commission last week, the fate of famed University of Texas track coach Clyde Littlefield’s former house remains uncertain. Commissioners voted 4-3 to deny historic zoning for the West Campus home, with Chair Danette Chimenti and Commissioners Nuria Zaragoza and Jean Stevens voting in opposition. The vote was not enough […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council moves forward with proposal to allow micro apartment units
The discussion about micro apartment units boiled down to a few small details at Thursday’s City Council‘s meeting. Council members approved a resolution 7-0, initiating a code amendment that could decouple parking requirements from units that are less than 500 square feet in size. This decoupling already exists in the University Neighborhood Overlay, where […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council makes late changes to Downtown Density Program
There were big changes at the last minute for the city’s Downtown Density Bonus Program Thursday night. City Council voted 7-0 to codify community benefits of the Downtown Density Bonus Program not relating to affordability. They also voted to include the Rainey Street area in the program and establish an affordable housing land trust […]
Posted inDevelopment
Lower maximum occupancy limits continue to race toward Council
After several attempts at a compromise on lowering maximum occupancy limits, the Planning Commission ultimately struck upon a solution Tuesday night that earned unanimous support. On an 8-0 vote, the commission recommended a citywide occupancy limit of four unrelated people, placing a two-year limit on the change. That time would allow for a solution […]