Last week, the Real Estate Council of Austin released a paper calling for a fix to Austin’s affordable housing problem. As a solution, the group called for 100,000 new housing units in the city by 2025. The paper, which is filled with statistics about Austin’s decreasing affordability, increasing population and what lies ahead, states in […]
Real Estate Council of Austin
501(c)6 for “more than 1,700 commercial real estate professionals representing the top leaders in the Central Texas business community.” RECA is a donor to the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, the parent of the Austin Monitor.
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature
Local state reps talk turkey at RECA luncheon
On Wednesday, Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) gave members of the Real Estate Council of Austin a preview of the upcoming legislative session. Despite the partisan gap, the two representatives found some common ground during the preview. Though they mostly focused on different topics, both addressed issues that could impact Austin […]
Posted inCity Council, Land Development Code, Local Politics
Divided Council debates approach to CodeNEXT
Those who enjoy debate about how the city will approach the rewrite of the its Land Development Code are in luck: City Council will consider its approach to CodeNEXT for a third time later this month. Council held the first part of the hearing at its last meeting. Thursday night, members took more public testimony and […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 4
The Monitor‘s Mike Kanin and Elizabeth Pagano talk Vested Rights with Real Estate Council of Austin’s Ward Tisdale and Council Member Laura Morrison. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/156556789″ 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 Politics, Resources
Council OKs measure to have Austin Energy collect all line fees
The Austin City Council unanimously Thursday approved an item that directs Austin Energy officials to collect full reimbursement for the cost of line extensions. The measure, long supported by veteran Electric Utility Commissioner Shudde Fath, would allow the utility to recoup millions. Just before Council members approved the item, consumer advocate and utility watchdog […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council members set to go forward with Vested Rights Ordinance
Austin City Council members Tuesday indicated their collective intent to move ahead with a second reading of a contentious new set of grandfathering regulations at their Thursday meeting. Their action could include a vote on a set of proposals from Council Member Laura Morrison that would offer changes in how the city conducts its managed […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Vested Rights Ordinance headed back for Council vote this week
A revised Vested Rights Ordinance is headed back to City Council again this Thursday. The ordinance is intended to fill the hole left when Council repealed Austin’s Project Duration Ordinance in March 2013, after an opinion from Attorney General Greg Abbott that the city law was in conflict with state law. Though at the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Vested Rights Ordinance jumps final hurdle on way to Council vote
After several months delay, the latest version of the Vested Rights Ordinance is headed back to City Council. Members of the Planning Commission expressed reservations from the dais Tuesday about what effect it might or might not have on the city, though the ordinance ultimately passed. “It seems like now the Death Star […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Canceled work session leaves several Council issues hanging
Austin City Council members were prepared to discuss new visitability regulations, an agreement between the City of Austin and the University of Texas that would have allowed for an $85,000 study of the Project Connect effort, and the Holly Shores Master Plan, among other items, had Tuesday’s work session not been canceled due to weather. […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
RECA forum discusses the effects of districts on Austin city politics
Politically attuned Austinites continue to wrestle with the uncertain future that the 10-1 City Council district system will bring, and that was the topic of discussion at a forum hosted by the Real Estate Council of Austin on Tuesday. The forum, moderated by the Austin Monitor’s Publisher Mike Kanin, focused on Austin’s looming shift […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Local Politics
City buys Hays County land to block development over aquifer
Austin City Council members Thursday unanimously approved the $18 million acquisition of land in Hays County that might otherwise have been developed as the Jeremiah Ventures project. With the move, Council members eliminated a long-running fight over grandfathering rules, environmental protections, and the regulatory reach of city government. Though this specific issue appears settled, […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Developers take concerns over Vested Rights Ordinance to Council
Key players in Austin’s development community brought their concerns about the potential outcome of an upcoming Austin City Council vote on a new Vested Rights Ordinance to Tuesday’s Council work session. There, they expressed concerns that fundamental portions of the new set of regulations would not leave enough space for properly considered projects. “We […]