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Event series stresses involvement over votes for political novices

Not long into Thursday’s launch party for the Good Politics meet-and-greet event series, co-organizer Nathan Ryan knew he’d found a kindred spirit and a kind of ideal participant when he spied a male attendee sporting a sticker reading “Vote the…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 27, 2018

Reporter's Notebook: Payback

Adler strikes back… Mayor Steve Adler returned fire at Travis County Thursday over commissioners’ threat to challenge Austin’s authority to allow McKalla Place to be tax exempt after Precourt Sports Ventures takes over the 24-acre parcel to build a soccer…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Aug 27, 2018

Affordable housing crisis: To conserve or to create?

As Austin struggles with an ongoing shortage of affordable housing, some housing activists and elected officials believe the city’s top priority should be creating new housing, both by allowing the market to build new units that target various income levels…

Housing • By Jack Craver • Aug 24, 2018

Troxclair brief opposes city's ballot language

Writing on city of Austin stationery, City Council Member Ellen Troxclair has filed an amicus brief with the Texas Supreme Court in support of a writ of mandamus seeking to overturn the ballot language Council proposes for a proposition requiring…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Aug 24, 2018

Austin skyline looking down Congress

As hotels and short-term rentals grow, a look at their impact on Austin

With Austin on pace to have more than 13,000 hotel rooms in the downtown core by 2020 – nearly double the number of rooms in 2014 – the construction of new chain and boutique hotels continues to have an impact…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 24, 2018

Flats on Shady plan

Council OKs Shady Lane project on first reading

Council approved multifamily zoning for the Flats on Shady at 1125 Shady Lane on first reading Thursday, with only District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria dissenting. The developers at Barton Creek Capital plan to build about 300 units, with 15…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Aug 24, 2018

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money

Citizens simply ask for more at budget hearing

A significant majority of those who spoke at Wednesday’s public hearing on the city’s Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget seemed pleased with the money city staff had recommended allocating to their specific interest. Several praised City Council and City Manager Spencer…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 23, 2018

apartment building

How can Austin incentivize affordable housing?

Members of City Council believe it’s time for a change to the city’s density bonus programs. Currently, Austin has 13 “development incentive programs” that offer developers additional building entitlements if they provide a certain amount of housing that is affordable…

Housing • By Jack Craver • Aug 23, 2018

bastrop development

Citing flooding concerns, Bastrop temporarily stops new development

Development in Bastrop has been temporarily put on hold. The Bastrop City Council voted unanimously last week to put a 90-day moratorium on development permits. The city wants to use this time to update its land development rules to try…

Development • By Syeda Hasan • Aug 23, 2018

contemporary dance performance

Memo points toward cultural trust to save arts spaces

It appears City Council will move ahead with the creation of a cultural land trust and an economic development corporation in the coming months, both attempts to combat the rising cost of real estate for residents and local artists. A…

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

police officers saluting

Police union contract includes surprises

The union representing police officers has presented the city with a proposed contract, as well as a study by Angelou Economics challenging the city’s well-worn assertion that Austin officers are paid more than their cohorts in other Texas cities. In…

Police • By Jo Clifton • Aug 22, 2018

County commissioners eye legal options on city's soccer stadium deal

Travis County commissioners voted Tuesday to preserve their option to challenge the city of Austin’s deal to make a piece of North Austin land tax-exempt to facilitate the construction of a professional soccer stadium. The unanimous decision came in the…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 22, 2018

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