The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Development
Real estate group backs land trusts to preserve affordable housing
With Austin voters about to decide whether the city commits $250 million to increase the local supply of affordable housing, a real estate research group has come out in strong support of cultural land trusts as a tool to prevent…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 6, 2018
Property owners who forfeit landmark status will have to pay more
Owning a property that has been designated a historic landmark has its benefits and its drawbacks. The city of Austin, Travis County and the Austin Independent School District all offer hefty property tax exemptions for landmark properties – with the…
Preservation • By Jack Craver • Nov 6, 2018
Justin Lane parcel primed for parks, affordable housing, creative space and more
The five-acre North Austin parcel known as the Justin Lane tract looks to be the home of a variety of new uses in the near future, including affordable housing, creative space, parkland and mixed-use development. At Thursday’s City Council meeting,…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 5, 2018
Camelback PUD project receives final approval from Council
When it comes to approving a highly visible planned unit development on an iconic piece of Austin property, it’s not going to be an easy decision. After all, the devil is in the details. On Thursday night, after several hours…
Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Nov 2, 2018
Despite road plans, Council OKs zoning
Council rejected recommendations of the city’s zoning and transportation staff and the Zoning and Platting Commission at Thursday’s meeting, granting on first reading a request for commercial and mixed-use zoning on a northeast Austin property at 9100 Brown Lane. The…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Nov 2, 2018
Long road to expo center revamp could begin Thursday
Thursday’s City Council meeting is expected to see the first moves toward a long-off ballot initiative that will eventually lead to an ambitious rehabilitation of the Travis County Expo Center. The resolution, which is expected to pass on consent, will…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 1, 2018
Subscribe to our newsletter
Planning Commission balks at neighborhood VMU
At its Oct. 23 meeting, the Planning Commission found itself reeling at a request for vertical mixed use on a rezoning case in Windsor Park at 6203, 6205 and 6207 Berkman Drive. The applicant presented two options that were agreed…
Zoning • By Alyx Wilson • Oct 31, 2018
Golf, recreation areas considered for future of Walter Long Park
Golf course, or no golf course? There are other questions being discussed with community members in and around East Austin about the future of Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park, but one of the main questions is whether the 3,695-acre park…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2018
Hillside Farmacy recommended for historical designation
There are buildings in this city for which historical zoning is a no-brainer. One of these properties is the Hillside Farmacy at 1209 E. 11th St. The application for this zoning change was presented to the Historic Landmark Commission along…
Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • Oct 26, 2018
Storybook house remains a looming castle in Clarksville's imagination
Despite three hearings at the Historic Landmark Commission and repeated attempts by the Clarksville Community Development Corporation to persuade Priscilla Glover, the owner of 1002 Charlotte St., that her proposed home design would not contribute to the character of the…
Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • Oct 25, 2018
Historic building could be renamed after freed slave Rev. Jacob Fontaine
At their most recent meeting, Planning commissioners were briefed on a proposed name change of a historic building at 2402 San Gabriel St. near the University of Texas. The building was most recently known as home to Freedmen’s barbecue restaurant,…
Preservation • By Alyx Wilson • Oct 25, 2018
An East Austin family unites to fight against historical designation for their home
Sometimes, despite their home’s historical ties, a family still believes it is time to sell it to a developer. One such example is a small 19th-century Victorian folk-style home at 1705 East Sixth St. It is one of the few buildings…
