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City readies final changes to revised business expansion programs

The Economic Development Department has announced final modifications to its Business Expansion Program, a key component of the city’s Chapter 380 economic development incentives. The updates, approved by City Council in September 2024 under Ordinance 20240926-013, are designed to increase…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 20, 2025

Austin Animal Services Office begins developing bond package for 2026 vote

The Austin Animal Services Office is in early stages of developing its future bond package. The complete package for all participating city departments will be presented to voters in 2026. In the meantime, the department is working through a process…

Bonds & Propositions • By Hunter Simmons • Mar 20, 2025

Planning Commission reverses city rejection of university-area site plan in an unusual case

The Planning Commission voted unanimously last week to reverse a decision by city planning staff to reject a site plan for a 142-unit student-oriented development at 2610 Hume Place, on appeal from the applicant, marking a rare use of the…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Mar 19, 2025

Resource, funding needs will delay South Shore cultural district until 2027

The South Shore Cultural District remains in limbo as the city prioritizes funding and resources for other cultural districts, pushing any substantial progress on South Shore until at least Fiscal Year 2027. A recent city memo from Anthony Segura, interim…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 19, 2025

front of City Hall

City moves toward starting downtown strategy office

In response to a resolution from City Council, as well as the many projects and disruptions foreseen for downtown in the next few years, the city plans to create a new downtown strategy office by the end of September. The…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Mar 19, 2025

Travis County sets aggressive goal to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2050

One of the policy areas that the county has most influence over is roadway safety. Past city limits, the Travis County Commissioners Court is responsible – along with the Texas Department of Transportation, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and…

Roads • By Lina Fisher • Mar 18, 2025

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City IDs progress, funding needs to carry out area food plan

A pair of recent city memos shows progress and the need for additional funding sources to implement the first comprehensive food plan for the Austin area. The two memos were released last week, outlining nine goals and 61 strategies aimed…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 18, 2025

New strategic plan for downtown streets keeps momentum with stamp from Planning Commission

The Planning Commission recommended a new plan for the city’s downtown streets with several amendments during a meeting on March 11, joining the Urban Transportation and Design commissions and including some of their respective recommendations for the plan. The document…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Mar 18, 2025

SXSW shrinks as indie venues contemplate competitiveness

Last week, advocates and leaders in the independent music venue community gathered during South by Southwest to discuss how those thin-margined businesses can improve their chances to stay in business. A few days later, news came out that the festival…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 17, 2025

Planning Commission OKs Manor Road rezoning following delays, neighborhood ire

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the removal of a lot at 2967 Manor Road from the Martin Luther King Jr. Transit-Oriented Development, or TOD, district during a meeting on March 11. Austin Growth Ventures, the real estate developer…

Zoning • By Miles Wall • Mar 17, 2025

The Austin area won't be seeing a lot of bluebonnets this year. Here's why.

It’s a quintessential Texas experience to get your photo taken in a field of bluebonnets. “I have lots of pictures,” said Matthew Gaston, who used to work as director of education for the Zilker Botanical Garden. “It’s this bluish hue…

Environment • By Maya Fawaz, KUT • Mar 17, 2025

As wildfire anxiety grows, Austin plans to designate half the city as at risk of fire damage

Austin plans to greatly expand the amount of land, and therefore homes, considered at risk of wildfire damage. City Council members are scheduled to discuss updating rules surrounding Austin’s WUI, or Wildland-Urban Interface, later this month. This is the area…

Fire • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 14, 2025

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