Tag Archives: Downtown Austin Alliance
New forecast modeling puts Austin homeless population near 4,600
New methods for counting and forecasting by one of Austin’s leading homelessness services organizations suggests nearly 4,600 people are experiencing homelessness in the city, far higher than previous estimates and counts using federal guidelines. The new figure was revealed at…
Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 20, 2023
Homeless Austinites report conditions improving at shelters
Results from a recent client survey indicate that the new operator of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless is making progress in efforts to turn around the downtown men’s shelter. The December survey of ARCH and Southbridge shelter residents…
Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Feb 22, 2023
Downtown Alliance praises 'transformation' of ARCH under new management
Just months after the management switch-up at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, the Downtown Austin Alliance is praising what it calls “transformational change” at the downtown men’s shelter. The alliance’s safety and hospitality committee toured the facility in…
Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 20, 2022
Downtown court relocation plans draw mounting criticism
Resistance appears to be growing to a slate of resolutions on the agenda for Thursday’s City Council meeting that would lead to the permanent relocation of the Downtown Austin Community Court to a circa-1800s municipal building on West Eighth Street.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 22, 2022
Downtown court location decision postponed again
Responding to pleas from downtown residents and business owners, City Council has once again put off a decision about the new location of a court that primarily serves Austin’s homeless community. City staffers have recommended that the Downtown Austin Community…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 18, 2022
Council appears ready to hit pause on downtown court relocation
City Council appears set to delay a decision on relocating the Downtown Austin Community Court to the former City Hall building on West Eighth Street. At Tuesday’s work session, Council Member Kathie Tovo said she planned to ask Council to…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 27, 2022
Subscribe to our newsletter
Austin bird initiative takes flight
Bella Ramos is a birder. While she acknowledges that there may be more experienced and knowledgeable birders, she says she is “obsessed with birds.” Ramos and her bird-loving friends had even been turning off their lights to protect migrating birds years…
Environment • By Jackie Ibarra • Dec 7, 2021
Safer Sixth Street push includes call to rezone portions of entertainment district
City staffers expect to deliver recommendations early next month for a pilot program intended to make the Sixth Street entertainment district safer by gradually changing the mix of business and cultural activities there. A recent news report revealed some details…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 30, 2021
Downtown business report finds problems for daytime demand, music venues
A new report on Austin’s downtown economy finds that there is a persistent weakness in weekday business, and that entertainment businesses concentrated around East Sixth and Red River streets have been slow to recover from effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 15, 2021
Shoal Creek/Third Street redesign aims to create greener, safer spaces downtown
The Urban Transportation Commission’s hefty meeting agenda on Sept. 7 included a proposal to significantly redesign the heavily trafficked area of downtown surrounding the intersection of Third Street and Shoal Creek Trail. The Cypress and Shoal Creek Public Space Strategy,…
Development • By Kali Bramble • Sep 14, 2021
Big-picture look at homelessness downtown shows challenges ahead
A cross-section of representatives briefed the Downtown Commission on Wednesday about an ambitious suite of strategies underway to house unsheltered individuals in Austin. Their message was clear: The city and its partners are doing an enormous amount of work toward providing…
Austin • By Amy Smith • May 21, 2021
Downtown vacancies eyed for arts activations, tenants with new pilot program
Vacant storefronts in downtown Austin could become temporary homes for arts and creative organizations beginning this summer thanks to a pilot program under development by the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation. The foundation is currently working on a lease agreement with…
