Panelists see progress, problems in Austin’s management of nightlife economy

Entertainment industry leaders see promise in Austin’s recent land use and policy changes that could positively impact the area’s nightlife economy, though they plan to push for further changes to streamline planning and approvals for those businesses. An online panel…

Major upzoning in Zilker neighborhood draws opposition

On Sept. 12, City Council approved a zoning change for a 0.42-acre property in the Zilker neighborhood that will allow the developer to build to 90 feet, falling under the Density Bonus 90 category. The property at 2130 Goodrich Ave.,…

Fuentes airs budget concerns over move to keep Marshalling Yard shelter open indefinitely

City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes has signaled her concerns with a resolution scheduled for next week’s meeting that could result in keeping a 300-bed emergency shelter open far longer than it was originally budgeted for. The resolution directs the city…

Travis County commissioners postpone tax rate increase for Central Health amid financial transparency concerns

After last week’s confusing and concerning audit report on Travis County’s health care district Central Health, the Commissioners Court this week put off voting on the district’s budget and a 6.5 percent tax rate increase for Fiscal Year 2025 amid…

Austin said a report on water utility leaks would be final months ago. It's still not public.

Austin has a leaky pipe problem. The city’s water utility estimates it loses about 21 gallons of water per resident per day from leaks and breaks in the system. Last year that added up to over 7 billion gallons of treated…

After leak repairs, Barton Springs reopens weeks earlier than expected

In a piece of good news – especially as recent sweltering temperatures have confirmed that summer doesn’t end till late September – Barton Springs is set to reopen today, on a Thursday, no less. During weekly pool maintenance Aug. 29,…

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Travis County sues Paxton over voter registration efforts

Travis County is fighting back. That’s the message that County Judge Andy Brown, County Attorney Delia Garza, County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Bruce Elfant and County Commissioner Jeff Travillion delivered at a press conference on Tuesday. They denounced Texas…

City Council puts South Central Waterfront Plan on ice

Following the lead of Mayor Kirk Watson, City Council unanimously approved an indefinite postponement of the South Central Waterfront Combining District and Density Bonus Program at its most recent meeting. “The South Central Waterfront area is very crucial. We all…

Arts Commission weighs sizes of grants to aid underserved groups

Members of the Arts Commission want the city to show how effective new grant programs have been at reaching arts organizations from underserved communities, out of concern that large award amounts for the Thrive grant program may result in too…

Tourism Commission considers consequences of decaying Dougherty Arts Center

Local arts leaders and members of the Tourism Commission hope to bring City Council’s attention to the lack of action on the deteriorating Dougherty Arts Center, which has been caught in a sort of planning and budgetary limbo for more…

Watson collects the most endorsements among mayoral candidates

Campaigns for City Council and mayor are heating up just as the weather is cooling a bit, by Austin standards at least. Mayor Kirk Watson is touting his many endorsements, with a full page devoted to the 14 unions that…

Austin Pickle Ranch seeks rezoning to restore rooftop pickleball operations

A request to rezone Hartland Plaza to permit the continued operation of Austin Pickle Ranch set off a contentious back and forth at last week’s Planning Commission meeting as local residents pushed for more measures to mitigate sound and light…