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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…