Austin Water aims to transform landscape requirements for new homes

Austin Water is planning a landscape transformation initiative for new single-family homes as part of the city’s long-range water conservation strategies, according to a progress report Wednesday to the Water and Wastewater Commission. Kevin Critendon, Austin Water’s assistant director over…

Project Connect lawsuit finally headed to court Monday

Although the matter has been postponed in the past, it seems likely that Monday will be the trial date for the Austin Transit Partnership and the city of Austin lawsuit to validate voter-approved bonds for Project Connect, combined with the…

Pursuing better business connections, Economic Development Corporation rebrands as Rally Austin

The Austin Economic Development Corporation has rebranded as Rally Austin, in an attempt to better communicate its goals of helping to create and preserve affordable housing and cultural spaces throughout the city. The change, which was announced Wednesday, comes as…

The UT tower against a blue sky.

UT Austin, one of the city's largest employers, is eliminating most remote work

UT Austin will require “almost all” staff members to return to working on-site, full-time ahead of the fall semester. In an email to the campus community Wednesday, UT President Jay Hartzell said leaders of individual colleges and schools will finalize…

At massive Hill’s Cafe redevelopment, cottage demolition put on hold

Pieces continue to fall into place for a planned mixed-use development at the former site of Hill’s Cafe, though Historic Landmark Commission members put one of those pieces on hold at their most recent meeting in the hopes that a…

Charts showing projected future climate over Austin

New climate report shows last summer's record-high temps might not be a fluke

The results are in from researchers at the University of Texas’ Climate CoLab, and those who hoped last summer’s record-breaking temperatures to be a deviation from the norm might want to adjust their expectations. The new Climate Projections report, which…

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Music Commission recommends fine-tuning city incentives for music venues, creative spaces

Members of the Music Commission want the city to explore more ways for a proposed incentive program for small businesses to address some of the specific real estate realities live music venues face throughout the city. Last week’s meeting included…

City’s historic preservation commission and code enforcement look to get in sync

After several recent cases that illustrated a divide between the city’s code enforcement policies and historic preservation aims, Historic Landmark Commission members are working to make sure things are more aligned and less hopelessly complicated for property owners who find…

City could revive idled homelessness prevention programs with its next budget

The city will likely look at restarting funding for homelessness prevention programs that were largely shelved in recent years in response to receiving federal funding that prioritized rapid rehousing efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week, City Council’s Public Health…

Staff shortages are still a problem at APD

Before a scheduled briefing on the Austin Police Department’s community policing program, members of the City Council Public Safety Committee heard a pitch from Ethan Cheramie of On Scene Services proposing that his company take over the duties of officers…

Condemned homes get a stay of demolition at landmark commission 

In an effort to sort out the complicated details, Historic Landmark Commission members have unanimously supported a delay on demolishing two East Austin homes that are both historic and condemned. Both homes, which were built around 1916, are Hofheinz houses,…

A 'heat dome' is back over Texas. Here's what that means (and why it's the worst).

Last year was a lot. It was the second-hottest summer in Texas. Much of that heat is because, well, Texas is hot as all get-out. Not just some get-out. It’s hot as all get-out. But last year, we thought, was novel: a pressure system,…