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Extended Statesman PUD deliberations end in approval

After years of discussions, City Council approved a redevelopment plan Friday for one of the city’s most prominent tracts of land – the 19-acre lakefront property at 305 S. Congress Ave., formerly home to the Austin American-Statesman.  Approval of Planned…

Westgate tower takes step toward historic zoning

City Council gave first reading approval to historic zoning for the Westgate Tower at 1122 Colorado St. as part of the zoning consent agenda on Thursday. The Westgate, a physical landmark between the Capitol and University Tower, is considered an…

Austin deals with growing pains of being rare real estate 'supernova'

If the last decade of booming real estate growth has earned Austin the designation of being one of four “supernova” markets, according to the national Urban Land Institute (Nashville, Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte being the others), then the onset of an…

Deadlocked on oversight, city and police union pause contract negotiations

After nearly nine months of negotiation sessions, the city of Austin halted bargaining with the Austin Police Association Thursday, citing disagreement about civilian oversight of police and raising questions about whether the two sides will agree to a new labor…

Council relaxes compatibility requirements along selected corridors

City Council has approved changes to building compatibility standards that will allow for some increases in housing density along a handful of transit corridors. The ordinance amending City Code Title 25 was approved Friday, modifying parking requirements and allowing for…

Austin's legal costs to oust the South Terminal's operator double to $3 million

Legal bills are piling up in the city’s fight to oust the company running the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. City Council voted Thursday to double ABIA’s legal services agreement with corporate law firm Winstead PC to more than…

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Equity Action denounces fraudulent petition drive by sham group

Equity Action, a local nonprofit political action committee, is decrying what it calls a fraudulent effort by an unknown group impersonating it online and while canvassing for petition signatures. In August, Equity Action submitted 33,000 petition signatures to the city clerk…

Council enacts stronger wage theft protections

City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Thursday to help prevent wage theft by employers.  “Violation of wage laws harms workers and their families,” said Council Member Ann Kitchen, who sponsored a resolution initiating the ordinance. “This ordinance helps ensure they…

Council directs staff to develop 'site plan lite' process

In an attempt to speed up city processing of plans for “missing middle” housing developments, City Council approved a resolution Thursday that sponsors and housing advocates hope will shorten the wait for developers seeking to build triplexes, fourplexes and other…

Clogged wells, ongoing drought gum up Deep Eddy Pool’s opening hours

Deep Eddy Pool is facing delayed opening hours due to drought conditions and the clogged status of two of the wells the city uses to keep the spring-fed pool in operation. Although regular maintenance scheduled for January may alleviate some…

Still more questions than answers approaching Austin Energy rate case vote

City Council appears far from resolved heading into today’s vote on Austin Energy base rates, leaving last Tuesday’s work session with the case’s biggest questions still unanswered. On the top of the list is the issue of revenue requirement, with…

Council working on rules for city-owned property

City Council Member Kathie Tovo has been working on resolutions intended to ensure that city staff follow certain policies when renting or selling city property. The policies relate to the requirements for construction projects, living wage, minority and women-owned business…