Whispers

Planning Commission postpones hearing on West MLK hotel redevelopment

The Planning Commission voted 9-1 to postpone a hearing on a proposed development of a three-story, 168-room hotel, to be called “305 W. MLK – Home2” on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, to May 27th, in response to a request from neighbors concerned about traffic and pedestrian safety to postpone the hearing to a later date of June 10. Ron Thrower, speaking as an agent on behalf of the developer, said he believed they were “tertiary” to the case and that neighbors’ issues would be best taken up with the city, but that the developer was open to a dialogue with the neighbors.

Help shape the future of water

Austin Water is looking for help in crafting its future, and the future of Austin’s water, and is offering two ways to get involved this month. The first, least-intense option is to take part in a five-minute, online community survey, open now through the end of the month. The second option is to sign up for a focus group facilitated by Blue Sky Partners. Groups will meet June 4, 12, 17 and 21 at various library branches. Anyone interested in taking part in one of the groups should sign up here, and will be notified at least a week prior to the meeting to confirm attendance. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for their trouble.

SOS, Endeavor, City of Austin face off in court

In a lawsuit over regulations related to development of the Statesman PUD, the plaintiff Save Our Springs Alliance, the defendant City of Austin, and the Intervenor property owner all asked Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer to rule in their favor on Thursday. After nearly 3 hours of arguments, the judge told the lawyers she would take the matter under advisement and let them know her decision.

The suit was filed over plans to develop 18.86 acres of land on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. It focused on whether City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) and the City Charter when they approved Endeavor Real Estate Group’s plans for the site in late 2022.  The property was the home of the Austin American-Statesman for many years.

Among other things, SOS argued that the city violated TOMA by failing to notify the public about the plan to relocate part of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike trail inland, away from the lake. Save Our Springs (SOS) argued the city should have identified this change and given the public the right to speak about it separately. In addition, SOS said Council’s one minute time limit to speak on the issue did not satisfy the requirements of the open meetings act.

Dan Richards and Sara Clark argued on behalf of the city. Casey Dobson spoke on behalf of the intervenors, the Cox family and Endeavor Real Estate. Each lawyer said the city had fulfilled all the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act, and that the judge should grant the city’s request for summary judgment in their favor. They showed the judge numerous documents indicating the city’s production of information.

Bobby Levinski and Bill Bunch, attorneys for SOS, said the city had violated the Open Meetings Act and failed to enumerate major changes approval of the Statesman PUD would entail. They also asked for a summary judgment in their favor.

Amanda Marzullo announces candidacy for Travis County Commissioners Court

Amanda Marzullo announced her bid for the Travis County Precinct 2 seat this week in an email inviting supporters to her campaign launch party.

Marzullo is a former executive director of the Texas Defender Service. She currently works as a Senior Staff Attorney at the Austin Community Law Center. “Travis County deserves forward-thinking leadership that puts people before corporations,” she told the Austin Monitor.

Marzullo’s announcement comes early, as the election for County Precinct 2 will take place in November of 2026. Precinct 2 is currently represented by Hon. Brigid Shea, a former Austin City Council member and a co-founder of Save Our Springs. Shea has served the county since 2015. She has yet to issue a formal statement on whether she will be seeking re-election.

Givens Pool to reopen soon

After years of repairs, Givens Pool is officially opening for this swim season. The pool will reopen on May 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 7. Givens Pool, which has been operating for more than 50 years, was identified as one in need of repairs in the 2018 Aquatic Plan and closed quickly after in 2019 due to leaks in the pool shell. This summer the pool will reopen with a “lap lane pool, zero-entry activity pool (toddler pool), spray ground features, diving board, bathhouses, family restroom, training/party room, picnic pads with shade structures, and aquatic office space,” according to a press release from the city. More information about the renovation can be found here.

SOS, Endeavor, City of Austin face off in court

In a lawsuit over regulations related to the development of the Statesman PUD, the plaintiff Save Our Springs Alliance, the defendant City of Austin, and the intervener property owner all asked Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer to rule in their favor on Thursday. After nearly 3 hours of arguments, the judge told the lawyers she would take the matter under advisement and let them know her decision.

The suit, over plans to develop 18.86 acres of land on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake focused on whether City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act and the City Charter when they approved Endeavor Real Estate group’s plans for the site in late 2022. The property was the home of the Austin American-Statesman for many years.

Among other things, SOS, argued that the city violated TOMA by failing to notify the public about the plan to relocate part of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail inland, away from the lake. SOS argued the city should have identified this change and given the public the right to speak about it separately. In addition, SOS, said the Council’s giving the public just one minute to speak on each item– including the relocation of the trail– did not satisfy the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.

Dan Richards and Sarah Clark argued on behalf of the city. Casey Dobson spoke on behalf of the intervenors, the Cox family and Endeavor Real Estate. Each lawyer, said the city had fulfilled all the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act, and that the judge should grant the city’s request for summary judgment in their favor.

Bobby Levinski and Bill Bunch, attorneys for SOS, said the city had violated the Open Meetings Act and failed to enumerate major changes approval of the Statesman PUD would entail. They also asked for a summary judgment in their favor.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery plot officially reopened after restoration

Following the completion of a years-long, successful restoration project, the historic Oakwood Cemetery Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired plot has reopened. The plot was established in the 1880s, with the last internment taking place more than a century ago. The project to restore the plot was a joint effort between the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, TSVBI and Save Austin’s Cemeteries and included:

• Disassembling, storing, and cleaning 18 burial tablets and bases in a climate-controlled environment
• Reattaching seven broken tablets
• Creating new cement bases for 13 of the 18 tablets
• Resetting all 18 burial tablets contained in the TSBVI plot
• Cleaning the plot’s ground by TSBVI students

A press release from the city touts the parks department’s dedication to preservation of its historic cemeteries and asks anyone interested in the restoration of family lots located in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, Evergreen Cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery, Oakwood Annex Cemetery and Plummers Cemetery to contact Parks and Recreation’s Cemetery Division by phone at 512-978-2320 or email.

Austin police solve all 2023 homicides

For the first time since 2005, the Austin Police Department can report that they reached a total clearance rate for homicides. The 100 percent clearance rate is for the 75 homicides committed in 2023, with a final arrest being made on May 7, 2025. A press release from APD notes that the national homicide clearance rate for 2023 is currently 57.8 percent. “We feel this achievement is a reflection of our community who cares about justice and holding their fellow citizens accountable for taking the lives of others. This in turn has helped make our community a safer place,” said APD Homicide Sergeant Nathan Sexton in a statement to the press. “This is a proud moment for our Unit. Reaching this level of resolution is a reflection of the dedication, innovation, and relentless pursuit of justice for the families of homicide victims.” Over the past two decades, Austin’s homicide clearance rate have ranged from a low of 75 percent in 2006 to 2023’s high, but have typically been 90 percent or above. More information, and clearance rates since 2005 can be found here.

Celebrate Bike to Work Day on Friday (you know how)

This Friday, Austin (and the rest of the country) will celebrate National Bike to Work Day with treats, events and lots of biking to work. In the morning, groups across the city will offer free edible treats and bike tune-ups between 7 and 9 a.m. (here’s a handy map of the fueling stations.) Additionally, the  Ghisallo Cycling Initiative will lead group rides to the City Hall Bike to Work Day Celebration at 8:45 a.m. (more info on that here) which will feature remarks from Mayor Kirk Watson, Council Member Paige Ellis and Transportation and Public Works Assistant Director Anna Martin. On the other side of work, celebrants are invited to bring their bike on over to Central Machine Works where there will be live music and food and drink specials for cyclists from 5:30 until 9 p.m. Don’t have a bike? Use the promo code B2WD2025 for a free MetroBike rental on Friday.

Urban Transportation Commission gives stamp of approval to transit center vision plans

The Urban Transportation Commission unanimously recommended the addition of new “vision plans” for the area around two bus park-and-rides operated by Capitol Metro on North Lamar and South Congress boulevards during a meeting on May 6. The Austin Monitor has previously reported on the plans and some local opposition to them as they wind through the digestive tract of city government, with the likely result of being approved. In voting to recommend, the urban transportation commission joins the planning commission, giving the plan an extra boost on its way to a scheduled hearing before council for adoption on May 22.

SOS, City to face off in court over Statesman PUD

The Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS) and the City of Austin will be in Travis County District Court on Thursday afternoon to joust about what the city may and may not do with the old Statesman site.

Almost a year has passed since the Austin Monitor reported that SOS had sued the city over the Planned Unit Development proposed for the site previously occupied by the Austin American-Statesman by the Congress Avenue Bridge. Council approved the PUD in late 2022, thinking they would use money generated by a tax increment investment zone. Although a judge found that use unlawful, the zoning plan went ahead, and SOS is concerned that the new buildings on the property could be 725 feet tall. Most troubling to SOS, according to the lawsuit, is that the plan would include moving the Hike and Bike Trail, erode environmental protections along the Lady Bird Lake shoreline, and allow for the “removal of almost 100 mature trees along the trail and lake.”

The parties expect to be in court at 2pm at the Travis County Courthouse, 10th floor in the court of Judge Jan Soifer.

Austin to welcome new Zilker shuttle

In an effort to reduce weekend and holiday traffic, the city will launch a new Zilker Loop shuttle that will move Austinites around Zilker Park, free of charge, beginning on Saturday, May 24. Specifically, the loop will take visitors from the park’s Stratford Parking Lot to more popular areas like Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Playground. According to a press release from the city, the shuttle will run on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., visiting stops every 15 to 20 minutes. While parking at the Stratford Lot is not free, the first two hours of fees can be waived. Coolers and pets are not allowed on the Zilker Loop. More information can be found on the city’s website.