Council questions proposed arts funding change that emphasizes equity

City Council has asked Cultural Arts staff to look at revising or delaying its plan to significantly redistribute its limited pool of contracts toward groups that meet an increased focus on equity. At a Tuesday work session presentation, the proposed…

Landmark commission doubles down on Air Conditioned Village recommendation

This week, the Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously to recommend 2502 Park View Drive for historic zoning, a move working against the wish of homeowners to demolish the house. The case has been before the commission several times as efforts…

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As federal rental assistance deadline looms, county must use it or lose it

The Travis County Commissioners Court is scrambling to spend Emergency Rental Assistance Program money before a federal Treasury deadline threatens to reclaim the funds. According to Treasury policy, municipalities must return rental assistance money to the federal government if 65…

Council takes hard look at what went wrong during winter storm

After taking in an extremely critical report about the city’s response to Winter Storm Uri, City Council members stressed the need to prepare for the next inevitable disaster.  “There’s nobody here that didn’t fight long and hard and sleeplessly and…

Crestview Village appears to be headed toward Council approval

A brighter future may be in store for a city-owned storage site in North Austin as the plan for an ambitious redevelopment project combining affordable housing, mass transit, creative space and a park finally nears completion. City Council is expected…

Austin area sees jump in Covid cases as students return to classrooms

Lea esta nota en español New coronavirus cases in the Austin area have increased this week as students, teachers and staff head back to in-person classes. The city’s medical director, Dr. Desmar Walkes, told a joint meeting of Travis County…

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Renteria opposes Red River extension into Rainey Street, MACC area

Council Member Pio Renteria has come out against a proposal to create a new roadway through the Rainey Street district that would require using some of the land provided by the city for the creation of the Emma S. Barrientos…

ZAP fails to recommend rezoning for 100 percent affordable apartments

A tie vote at the Zoning and Platting Commission last Tuesday means that the rezoning for Fox Hollow, an affordable housing project, goes to City Council without ZAP’s recommendation. Half of the commission sided with neighbors who say the site…

Proposed code amendments could be the path to more trails

Urban trails provide multiple benefits, but getting those trails built isn’t always a walk in the park. With so many residents relying on Austin’s network of trails for recreation and multi-use transportation, city officials are hoping to respond to the…

City to expand federal aid for musicians, venues impacted by Covid-19

The city will provide more assistance for music venues and anyone involved in the music industry, using $4 million in federal money designated for Covid-19 relief. On Friday the Music Commission approved a recommendation for guidelines for city staff to…

Landmark commission weighs options in Tarrytown demolition case

At last month’s meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, committee members confronted both the evolving definition of what constitutes “cultural significance” and the bounds of their responsibility to those personally affected by their decisions. Representative of this dilemma was the…

Commissioners ponder putting millions into jail revamp

If the Sheriff’s Office gets its budget request granted, inmates in Travis County correctional facilities may soon be sporting radio-frequency identification wristbands to track their whereabouts within the jail at all times. According to the Sheriff’s Office, it intends to…