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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

North Shoal Creek plan prompts debate over density

City Council may have given up on CodeNEXT, the proposed comprehensive rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code, but the debate over growth and development is certainly not going away. On Thursday, Council will take up the North Shoal Creek…

City Council • By Jack Craver • Aug 22, 2018

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The Austin city clerk is no longer challenging Lewis Conway Jr.'s City Council bid

The Austin city clerk has reversed her decision to challenge Lewis Conway Jr.’s candidacy for Austin City Council. Conway, a candidate for District 1, has a felony record, and City Clerk Jannette Goodall requested clarification on his eligibility to run…

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

side view of an EMS truck

City, EMS negotiators reach tentative deal

Labor negotiators for the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association and the city of Austin have reached a tentative agreement. Council is scheduled to discuss the proposal today in executive session. Union President Tony Marquardt said union members have…

EMS • By Jo Clifton • Aug 21, 2018

Austin city clerk challenges convicted felon's eligibility to run for City Council

Lewis Conway Jr., a candidate for Austin City Council who has a felony record, may not be able to run after all. Austin City Clerk Jannette Goodall sent Conway an email Friday challenging his eligibility and asking for documents showing…

Elections • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 21, 2018

Construction in Austin

Despite progress, builders complain of long waits for permits

Among the many factors blamed for Austin’s affordability crisis are the city’s notoriously complicated development regulations. The development review process is so cumbersome, critics say, that builders have to hire agents to get their permits approved, creating a cost that…

Development • By Jack Craver • Aug 21, 2018

lot plan

BoA considers a quirky corner case

Sometimes, a permit can be granted or revoked based on a four-degree angle. “Even though I’m at an intersection, the city does not consider this a corner lot,” Joshua Lien, the owner of 14000 Echo Lane, explained to the Board…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Aug 21, 2018

City facing two suits over ballot wording

On Friday afternoon, attorney Bill Aleshire filed suit on behalf of a voter against the city of Austin over language City Council adopted to describe the proposition on the November ballot related to CodeNEXT or any other rewrite of the…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Aug 20, 2018

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