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Reporter's Notebook: We have questions
Not a priority… When it comes to more transit priority lanes, Austin Transportation Director Robert Spillar is not running any red lights. At the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Traffic Jam last week, Spillar talked about the tricky nature of dedicating…
Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Jul 31, 2017
Austin Monitor Radio: Preservation Austin
Preservation Austin Executive Director Kate Singleton joins Austin Monitor editor Liz Pagano for a conversation about preservation, Austin’s growth and (of course) CodeNEXT. It’s all embedded below for your listening pleasure: The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations…
Radio • By Austin Monitor • Jul 31, 2017
Will Merck IT hub anchor Central Health redevelopment?
This much is clear: Pretty much everyone agrees that the redevelopment of the University Medical Center Brackenridge campus is going to redefine the eastern edge of downtown Austin in the coming years. What is much less clear is what, exactly,…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 28, 2017
County still wants a piece of the 'downtown puzzle'
Travis County got cut out of Mayor Steve Adler’s so-called “downtown puzzle” plan, and County Judge Sarah Eckhardt has let it be known that she eventually wants back in. On Wednesday, Eckhardt sent a letter to Adler and City Council…
Austin • By Caleb Pritchard • Jul 28, 2017
Clarksville meeting displays fear of CodeNEXT and density
On Wednesday night the pews at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Clarksville were packed with nearby residents who had come to hear about how their surroundings would be impacted by CodeNEXT, the proposed rewrite of the city’s Land Development…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jul 28, 2017
Dueling tree ordinance bills advance
The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would allow developers to get credit for planting trees to substitute for mitigation fees that cities might otherwise require from them when they remove trees from their property. House Bill…
Texas State Legislature • By Jo Clifton • Jul 28, 2017
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Austin pools face major problems
Austin pools are in big trouble. In a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Board Tuesday night, Acting Department Director Kimberly McNeeley described a system of aging pools that are on life-support due to a lack of investment in maintenance…
Parks • By Jack Craver • Jul 27, 2017
At Capital Metro's Traffic Jam, Adler brings the noise
Mayor Steve Adler’s plan for the next big transportation funding package is a new way forward indeed. On Wednesday night, at a large public engagement event meant to highlight the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s ongoing Project Connect process, Adler suggested…
Transportation • By Caleb Pritchard • Jul 27, 2017
Commission asks if curfew ordinance does any good
Austin and the United States at large share a history of law enforcement policy discriminating against non-white people, and Monday night Human Rights commissioners Sukyi McMahon and Kristian Caballero invited Texas Appleseed staff and community members to help them answer…
Austin • By Joseph Caterine • Jul 27, 2017
Community Development Commission grapples with CodeNEXT
The Community Development Commission voiced frustration over lack of outreach and discussion with the CodeNEXT team during a special called meeting earlier this month. The first draft of CodeNEXT, Austin’s land code rewrite, has been out since January, but some…
Land Development Code • By Lisa Dreher • Jul 27, 2017
Push on to 'normalize' minority chambers' funding
Austin’s four minority group chambers of commerce could see their funding from the city of Austin restructured and made more transparent in the coming budget year, a change that is seen as needed to make the groups more equal. The…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 26, 2017
Travis County bond proposal continues to evolve
A roiling public hearing at Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday muddied the waters on an already complex bond package, part of which voters could decide on this November. More than two dozen speakers signed up to air their thoughts…
