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2402 San Gabriel

Historic building could be renamed after freed slave Rev. Jacob Fontaine

At their most recent meeting, Planning commissioners were briefed on a proposed name change of a historic building at 2402 San Gabriel St. near the University of Texas. The building was most recently known as home to Freedmen’s barbecue restaurant,…

Preservation • By Alyx Wilson • Oct 25, 2018

silty water

Boil water rule could end this weekend

Although a Travis County emergency management official told commissioners Tuesday morning that the current boil water advisory for Austin Water customers could continue for 10 to 14 days, city officials said Tuesday afternoon that such a scenario was unlikely. Mayor…

Water • By Jo Clifton • Oct 24, 2018

mayoral candidates

Mayoral candidates stress leadership on familiar Austin concerns

While common topics such as Austin’s transportation issues and the fate of the city’s CodeNEXT rewrite have been talking points at all recent forums for the four contested City Council seats, at Monday’s forum for the two most prominent candidates…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 24, 2018

1705 E Sixth

An East Austin family unites to fight against historical designation for their home

Sometimes, despite their home’s historical ties, a family still believes it is time to sell it to a developer. One such example is a small 19th-century Victorian folk-style home at 1705 East Sixth St. It is one of the few buildings…

Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • Oct 24, 2018

Travis County bush

Public defender office task force off to a slow start

Having decided to establish a public defender office in Travis County, the Commissioners Court now faces the task of organizing the preliminary steps to begin that process. After a recommendation to the court last Tuesday in a report from the…

Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 24, 2018

What does early voting's first day mean?

Election officials across Texas reported record turnouts for a nonpresidential election on Monday, and the first day of early voting for the midterm elections in Travis County was no exception. In Travis County, 6 percent of registered voters cast ballots…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 23, 2018

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band on a stage

Noise enforcement called key to new push for 'agent of change' ordinance

The city is making another attempt to find peace and common ground between music and entertainment venues and high-rise hotels or residences as those two land uses becoming increasingly intermixed while Austin continues to grow. A resolution passed under consent…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 23, 2018

Hope Farmer's Market

City staff gets green light to research public plaza program

While it’s fashionable in the U.S. for private enterprises to attach the word “plaza” to many things that are not, like shopping malls or condominiums, a public plaza can be hard to find (Austin’s beautiful Plaza Saltillo actually prohibits “loitering,”…

City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Oct 23, 2018

ZAP favors half of zoning case

In the end, the Zoning and Platting Commission approved a rezoning for 200 feet of a property just east of U.S. Highway 183 at 7712 FM 969. However, the approval was made not exactly at the recommendation of staff or…

Zoning • By Alyx Wilson • Oct 23, 2018

Austin Monitor Radio: District 3, Part II

This week, City Council candidates Amit Motwani and Susana Almanza join incumbent Pio Renteria for a … spirited … discussion with Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano. Tune in for a discussion about why each candidate is…

Elections • By Austin Monitor • Oct 23, 2018

Laura Morrison and Steve Adler

Here are the candidates running to be Austin's next mayor

If you’re tired of hearing about the face-off between Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Beto O’Rourke, maybe it’s time to turn your attention to local elections, like the mayor’s race. Mayor Steve Adler is fighting to retain his seat against…

Elections • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 22, 2018

district 9 map

Transit, CodeNEXT, homelessness grab attention for District 9 candidates

The candidates vying for City Council’s District 9 seat next month have their pick of issues and pain points that need fixing. From transportation to homelessness to the recently scrapped CodeNEXT process to update the city’s Land Development Code, there…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 22, 2018

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