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Recent study reveals benefits of Austin's historic neighborhoods

Longtime Austin residents and historic preservation advocates have new data to back up their defense of neighborhood character thanks to a report that has made its way into local CodeNEXT discussions. Last week, Council Member Leslie Pool shared a link…

toll roads

Ethics commission slaps CTRMA board member with fine

The Texas Ethics Commission has collected a small fine from one of Travis County’s appointees to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s Board of Directors. Charles Heimsath agreed to pay the $300 penalty after consenting to offer no further challenges…

Commission facing limited options, West Line demolition postponed

The Historic Landmark Commission once again exercised one of the few options it has and postponed a demolition in the West Line Historic District at its most recent meeting. Commissioner Kevin Koch pointed out that the commission’s options were “quite limited”…

Colony Park development expected to move forward this fall

The city’s next big planned unit development will begin moving forward this fall when potential developers begin showing their bona fides and ability to handle the multistage project. The Request for Qualifications process for the Colony Park community in Northeast…

Abbott takes aim at Austin's tree protections

Austin leaders who watched with dismay as GOP lawmakers spent much of the recently concluded legislative session undermining city policies on immigration, ride-sharing and short-term rentals could at least take comfort in the fact that the state did not completely…

Eckhardt sends Adler a HOT letter

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt has put Mayor Steve Adler and Interim City Manager Elaine Hart on notice that the county is still keeping alive its interest in levying a tax on tourists. In a letter sent to both city…

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Push to landmark 1960s dairy homestead gets new life, and death, at City Hall

For a second time, the Historic Landmark Commission has denied historic zoning for a home that was once the site of the Schieffer Dairy. Though the house at 3901 Brookview Road is now headed for demolition, it has spurred the…

Council approves workforce training audit

It took a while for City Council to wrap its collective head around the concept, but after an hour and a half of discussion it overwhelmingly approved a study that will try to assess the effectiveness of some area workforce…

New proposal connects residents to transit corridors via parklands

Austin residents are calling for a more compact and connected city. Thanks to a proposed strategy to reimagine the use of parklands around the city, Sustainable Neighborhoods might have the solution residents are seeking. Steve Zettner of Sustainable Neighborhoods presented…

Arts groups line up for city venue assistance funds

It appears competition will be thick among local arts groups looking to get a piece of the $200,000 the city has made available to keep those groups from being priced out of the studios and other buildings they call home.…

Commission fights for seat at CodeNEXT table

The Zoning and Platting Commission has been perceived by some as the proverbial “stick in the mud” since the CodeNEXT drafting process began earlier this year, but a resolution passed at City Council’s most recent meeting reiterates the commission’s inability…

Austin public libraries to expand videoconferencing

The Austin Public Library Friends Foundation received a $120,000 grant from Google.org last Friday for Austin Public Library to expand videoconferencing to the rest of its branches. The foundation applied for the grant that will fund needed technology, and it…