CodeNEXT could allow new music districts and creative spaces around Austin

Affordability – for both the city’s mostly lower-income artists and the venues and galleries where they work – will be the creative community’s biggest concern as Austin rolls out and gradually revises its CodeNEXT plan, a comprehensive rewrite of the…

Parks compliance with ADA to take 10 years

Nearly a year after the city’s established compliance deadline for the new American with Disabilities Act requirements, the Parks and Recreation Board heard a presentation on the city’s ADA transition plan during its Dec. 6 meeting. Jesus Lardizabal from Altura…

Council members consider ways to lower neighborhood speed limits

Testimony included talk of a birthday. “Ben turned 10 on Monday at a rehabilitation facility in Dallas,” Kathy Sokolic told members of the City Council Mobility Committee on Wednesday. As we’ve chronicled before, a car hit Sokolic’s nephew, Ben, outside…

Grove affordable housing plan explained

If approved on third reading, the new plan for affordable housing for the Grove at Shoal Creek will not only increase the amount of affordable housing available but will also save Austin Water more than $5.3 million over 20 years. These…

Lamar beach

Parks board OKs Lamar Beach Master Plan

In advance of its appearance at the Dec. 8 City Council meeting, the Lamar Beach Master Plan was approved with recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Board when it met on Dec. 6. “This is a bad deal for the…

State lawmakers veer into robot car conversation

The transportation buzz around the state Capitol during the buildup to the 85th Texas Legislature has included word of statewide ride-hailing regulations, toll road reform and now – perhaps inevitably – autonomous vehicles. The House Transportation Committee on Wednesday hosted…

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The Grove at Shoal Creek moves closer to final Council OK

After months of discussion and more after-hours debate and testimony at City Hall last night, City Council is moving forward with plans for a controversial development known as the Grove at Shoal Creek. As with most discussions on the case,…

Human Rights Commission prepares to take on Trump and SB 92

Austin’s Human Rights Commission is testing how much influence city government can have at both the state and national levels this year. Members of the commission are proposing to take a strong stand against President-elect Donald Trump in January and…

Travis County bush

Commissioners Court considers next steps in DNA lab catastrophe

The Travis County Commissioners Court is moving forward with its version of damage control in the wake of revelations about the Austin Police Department’s DNA testing lab. On Tuesday, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt explained to the court how her plans…

Council questions city manager hiring process

Apparently responding to criticism of the process for selecting a recruiting firm to find a new city manager, some members of City Council indicated that they want staff to move in a new direction during Tuesday’s work session. Choosing from…

APD updates commission on DNA backlog

The Austin Police Department hopes to have the backlog of sexual assault kits eliminated within the next year, Assistant Chief Troy Gay told the Public Safety Commission on Monday. APD will soon begin sending 100 batches of evidence every two…

Ethics complaint filed against wrong person

Northwest Austin neighborhood leader Linda Bailey thought she had discovered a major ethics violation by City Council Member Sheri Gallo’s appointee to the Zoning and Platting Commission and filed a complaint against Susan Chiles Harris on Monday morning. By the…