The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Preservation leaders show concern over delay in Sixth Street historic district

The push to designate the East Sixth Street entertainment district as a city historic district has been postponed, with Council Member Kathie Tovo opting to wait for proposed new designed guidelines for properties that could be reconstructed as part of…

Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 13, 2022

Austin Animal Center is restricting intake because its kennels are full

Austin Animal Center is temporarily restricting intake starting Tuesday because the shelter is over capacity. The city-owned animal shelter is urging people to help by fostering or adopting pets from the shelter. The shelter currently has more than 700 animals,…

Austin • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Sep 13, 2022

City finally funds tenant relocation assistance, though program’s future remains uncertain

After leaving the Tenant Relocation Assistance Program without funds for six years, the city has found money in next year’s budget to help tenants displaced because of redevelopment. But without a dedicated funding source, the program’s longevity remains uncertain.  On…

Housing • By Jonathan Lee • Sep 12, 2022

City to raise pay for 911 operators, police dispatchers amid vacancies

The city of Austin will increase pay rates for 911 call takers and police dispatchers for the second time in five months in an effort to stanch rising vacancy rates.  Human Resources and Civil Services Director Joya Hayes announced the…

Public Safety • By Emma Freer • Sep 12, 2022

Nearly half of homeless residents exit HEAL program without housing

Despite the city’s work to move those living in homeless encampments into permanent housing, nearly half of all temporary shelter inhabitants exit the system and return to homelessness. One hundred and two people – 48 percent of those moved into shelter…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2022

Pedestrian crossing at Fourth and Sabine to remain closed another year

In summer 2020, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority celebrated the reopening of its Downtown Station at Fourth and Trinity, billing the new infrastructure as a mobility hub that would enhance the area’s public space and “make easy connections” between MetroRail and…

Transportation • By Nina Hernandez • Sep 9, 2022

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

ZAP supports zoning change that would allow school to reopen

A visual arts school that shut down after running afoul of zoning laws received support Tuesday from the Zoning and Platting Commission to open back up.  Colette Barcilon, president of Gemini School of Visual Arts, explained that the Texas Workforce…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Sep 9, 2022

UTC calls TxDOT proposal to expand I-35 'just so weak'

Urban Transportation commissioners voiced their continuing concerns Tuesday about the Texas Department of Transportation’s plans to reconstruct and expand the portion of Interstate 35 that goes through Austin’s downtown. TxDOT is currently studying the environmental impacts of the two design…

Roads • By Samuel Stark • Sep 9, 2022

County hears calls to center voices of people impacted by overdose crisis

Last week, the Travis County Commissioners Court received a monthly update on the opioid overdose crisis, which the county declared a public health emergency in May. A lot of the conversation focused on the testimony of Aaron Ferguson, a local…

Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Sep 9, 2022

Demolition case reveals shortcomings in city's historic preservation policies

A monthslong debate over an East Austin bungalow has ended in a victory for the property owner, with City Council voting to reject historic zoning last Thursday. The home, located at 1403 E. Cesar Chavez St., initially came to the…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Sep 8, 2022

Council seeks to incentivize new creative spaces

The city will look for ways to incentivize developers to build creative spaces such as galleries and theaters into new projects in the coming years, building on a decision last month to incentivize new live music venues. At last week’s City…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 8, 2022

front of City Hall

November is coming, and endorsements for mayor are rolling in

’Tis the season for endorsements in races for Austin mayor and City Council seats for the Nov. 8 election. So far, all of the major labor organizations that are endorsing have endorsed Sen. Kirk Watson, a former Austin mayor. Groups…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Sep 8, 2022

« Previous Page — Next Page »