Historic Landmark Commission once again denies development proposal for Parker House

The family-owned Parker House sits on a 0.32-acre tract of land in West Campus that is worth $1.7 million. In an effort to preserve the historic home at 2404 Rio Grande St. and also develop the back portion of the…

Hotel taxes forecast to fall by $36M, leading to expected deficit in city arts funding

With the city projecting a $36 million decrease in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue because of lower hotel bookings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, arts funding for the current budget year is expected to see a $1.5 million shortfall. The Arts…

Landmark Commission approves demolition of former West Campus grocery store

A two-story brick building at 601 W. 26th St. that has been around since 1890 may soon be replaced by high-rise student housing. Since the original building was altered in the 1950s in a way that has compromised its historical…

Austin History Center chronicles the pandemic

The Austin History Center is a treasure trove of posters, books, photographs, and records from across the city’s history. And while the center is currently shuttered due to Covid-19, it is still doing the work of collecting records of the…

Council OKs SOS amendment for Lantana tract

With the blessing of the Save Our Springs Alliance, City Council voted unanimously last week to approve a zoning change on the Lantana property at 7415 Southwest Parkway, allowing for the development of multifamily housing instead of the office complex…

Council pushes for economic development body to lead purchase, preservation of venue spaces

City Council is pushing staff to act this summer to create an economic development corporation that could be used to preserve and acquire real estate properties to be used for cultural arts events and meeting space. That body, possibly in…

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City to exit driver's license hold contract with DPS

City Council voted unanimously Thursday to direct the city manager to discontinue the city’s participation in a state Department of Public Safety program that places holds on driver’s licenses when people fail to pay or miss payments on class C…

Council passes changes to consumer lending policies

On Thursday, City Council adopted changes to a city ordinance governing Registration of Credit Access Businesses to ensure that city regulations on consumer lending also apply to credit service organizations like payday and auto title lenders. The change, passed on…

Council approves $6.9M in agreements for remaining RISE funds

City Council doled out nearly $6.9 million to 12 social services organizations in a unanimous vote Thursday, spending the remainder of the $15 million Relief in a State of Emergency, or RISE, fund approved by Council on April 9. Mayor…

Ultimate vision for Burnet loses center-running dedicated transitways, gains two traffic lanes

The Austin Transportation Department’s 2013 Corridor Development Program for Burnet Road envisions a future of cycle tracks, bus stop pullouts, shade trees, and for the roadway section between U.S. Highway 183 and MoPac Expressway, “two exclusive (bus rapid transit) lanes…

Federal appeals court temporarily halts expansion of mail-in voting in Texas

An expansion of Texas’ vote-by-mail program during the pandemic is on hold, again. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday temporarily blocked a lower court ruling from a day earlier that opened up mail-in voting to people under…

Opposition to RV park diminishes

Although members of the Lower Boggy Creek Neighborhood Association have opposed a zoning change that would allow construction of an RV campground, cafe and convenience store on Delwau Lane, it appears that they will accept the new development after negotiating…