Board of Adjustment rules rewrite is postponed, again

For over a year the Board of Adjustment has been discussing how to amend its rules in order to ensure that a fair and open appeals process is available to the public. This exercise came about as the board searched…

UT study at center of debate on tourism, hotel tax and expansion proposal

A forthcoming report from a group of University of Texas architectural students may be the next significant piece of research shaping the ongoing debate over how the city uses its Hotel Occupancy Tax funds. That study – commissioned last year…

City-approved wellness center project not OK'd by BOA for second time

Sometimes, one commission’s idea of a good project is not supported by another commission, which seemed to be the case for the project at 1800 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Sharon Shuppert, who owns the property and is a…

City hopes 10-foot fence will deter crime on Red River

The city of Austin is inching toward a “short-term” solution to a downtown alleyway that police and business owners say has become a magnet for criminal activity. Drug dealing, prostitution and human waste are frequent issues in the alley between…

Environmental Commission debates 30 years of history to approve project

At the Environmental Commission, the third time was not the charm to recommend a change to the land plan of the Senna Hills Municipal Utility District. The proposed change would repurpose 11.73 acres of irrigation land with two developable acres…

Austin Energy tries to encourage Austinites to buy electric cars

Last week, the city of Austin was awarded a coveted $2.5 million grant from a foundation funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to pursue a number of environmental initiatives focused on energy efficiency and green transportation. While the…

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County to issue non-voter approved debt for courthouse

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved the use of Certificates of Obligation to fund its new civil and family courthouse Tuesday morning. “This is not something that we just want,” said Commissioner Jeff Travillion. “This is a statutory responsibility that…

Austin Police Department orders outside audit after state finds it misclassified cleared rape cases

The Austin Police Department has ordered a third-party audit of rape investigations after state auditors found it misclassified certain rape cases. “This review will look from the beginning to the end,” Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said. “From the moment…

Better session ahead, legislators say

Senator Kirk Watson told those gathered at the Real Estate Council of Austin luncheon on Wednesday that he is “more optimistic than I have been in the past by quite a bit” about the possibility of resolving numerous problems related…

IndyAustin PAC will not be involved in stadium battle

Linda Curtis, the Bastrop-based activist best known for gathering signatures for various citizen initiatives in Austin, has disbanded a political action committee linked to her advocacy group, IndyAustin. The group will continue to engage in advocacy, Curtis said in an…

Workforce housing group eyes four apartment complex purchases in 2019

An investment group focused on preserving workforce housing units around Austin has announced plans to add 1,200 more apartment units to its portfolio in 2019. The Austin Housing Conservancy Fund expects to purchase four apartment complexes around the city this…

Oak Hill Parkway project approved for construction

The Oak Hill Parkway project was added to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program by unanimous vote at the Transportation Policy Board meeting Monday evening. The decision places the 12-lane elevated highway at the congested intersection…