Unless the item gets bogged down by a requirement that a master plan for Lamar Beach be completed first, City Council is likely to approve on Thursday a 50-year agreement with the West Austin Youth Association for renovations to three baseball fields and an additional youth sports field. The same cannot be said for a […]
East Austin
East Austin is the quadrant of Austin that, generally speaking, is east of IH-35.
Posted inZoning
Commissioners OK commercial zoning in East Austin
Acknowledging neighborhood support and ties to the community, Planning Commissioners last week recommended a compromised rezoning designation for an East Austin home. The switch will allow commercial use of the property. The commissioners agreed only after expressing concern that allowing one resident the zoning to have office space on the street would embolden developers and those […]
Posted inPreservation
East Austin will lose home to demolition
The Historic Landmark Commission approved a proposal at its meeting Monday to demolish an East Austin home originally built in the 1920 early 1900s. The house at 1409 Canterbury St. will be demolished to make way for new construction, despite a neighborhood plea to place a moratorium on demolitions in the neighborhood. Commissioner Terri Myers […]
Posted inPreservation
Pine Street Station headed down the tracks
Though it is not what either side wanted, the Historic Landmark Commission voted Monday night in favor of a compromise at Pine Street Station. Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky explained that the owner of the land, the Capital Metro Transportation Authority, does not object to landmarking the building. It does object to landmarking the land. […]
Posted inPreservation
Proposed East Austin demo agitates neighbors
The Historic Landmark Commission will decide the fate of an East Austin home built in the early 1900s. The owner of the Canterbury Street home would like to demolish it, but neighbors have asked for a hold on demolitions in the area altogether. Last week, the commission voted unanimously to postpone the case. Commissioners Mary […]
Posted inAustin, Music & Entertainment, Zoning
City fails to patch SXSW crash-pad issue
An East Austin home whose lease holders are housing musicians in exchange for promotion on social media has city officials flummoxed. Neighbors of the Waller Street property argue that it is an inappropriate use of the house, which is zoned residential. Officials are still investigating whether they are treating the property as commercial, as a short-term […]
Posted inDevelopment, Housing, Zoning
Developer seeks creative class on Cameron Road
A developer is one step closer to building a median-priced apartment complex aimed at young artists on Cameron Road in Northeast Austin. At the Zoning and Platting Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved a zoning change for the property at 9201 Cameron Road from limited industrial (LI) to commercial services, mixed-use (CS-MU). Nickelle Meade of […]
Posted inCity Hall, Planning
No-show is a no-go at the Board of Adjustment
The Board of Adjustment extended no favors to an East Cesar Chavez homeowner who failed to appear at its Monday night meeting. Instead, the board quickly voted against her request for a greater floor-to-area ratio than the McMansion Ordinance allows. Homeowner Amanda Ferrier was seeking a variance from Subchapter F of the city code for […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Land Development Code, Planning, Zoning
Subcommittee seeks help for ADU changes
The Planning Commission Codes and Ordinances Subcommittee met Thursday to discuss amendments to a city ordinance regarding accessory dwelling units — apartments located on the same property as a house. But city staffer Ming-ru Chu could barely read through the proposed changes before members of the public and committee members were up in arms over […]
Posted inDevelopment
Historic gambit could derail east side condo plan
A bid to stave off an East Austin condominium development gained traction last week when a neighborhood push to save the houses on land slated for development found unanimous support at the Historic Landmark Commission. Swede Hill neighbors came forward to ask that the city consider historic zoning for the Stasswender House and cottages, which […]
Posted inPreservation, Transit
Landmark Commission delays fate of Pine Street
The future of East Austin’s Pine Street Station will remain in limbo for at least another month after last week’s postponement of a grass-roots bid for historic landmark designation. Though the Historic Landmark Commission again discussed the buildings at Fifth and Waller streets, the case was postponed again. Following public outcry about the proposed demolition […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing
Housing, not retail, on the way for East Austin
A fight for more retail space proved unsuccessful at the Planning Commission last week, where commissioners unanimously approved a conditional use permit that will allow an affordable housing project to be built despite the neighborhood’s wishes. “It may not be perfect … But you can’t always get perfection, especially when you are trying to build […]