Stories by Chad Swiatecki
City leaders focus on the importance of green space
As the ambitious $5 billion plan to lower the downtown sections of Interstate 35 moves slowly forward, those who have lived through a similar effort in Dallas emphasize the need and opportunity to emphasize green space in any cap-and-stitch plan…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 30, 2022
Feedback fueling progress on redevelopment of blocks 16 and 18 downtown
Residents along the eastern edge of downtown Austin have had many, many opportunities through the years to share their thoughts about how the city should redevelop two blocks on East 11th Street, with not a lot to show for it.…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 29, 2022
Esperanza's hiatus underscores city's lack of shelter options for homeless campers
The staff at the Camp Esperanza site in Southeast Austin that is currently under construction to provide permanent small homes to formerly homeless residents acknowledge they will likely continue to receive visits from people they are unable to help for…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 26, 2022
APD officers continue to direct homeless to campsite closed for new residents
The Austin Police Department has for months continued to direct homeless individuals to a camping site that has been closed to new residents, leaving people with no legal place to find shelter while staying with their belongings. At Wednesday’s meeting…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 23, 2022
Creative spaces, affordable homes possible for two city-owned East Austin sites
The city’s Housing and Planning Department has identified parts of city-owned parcels that could incorporate creative spaces and affordable housing for artists, with development plans likely to be handled by the Austin Economic Development Corporation. Mandy De Mayo, deputy director…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 21, 2022
Supportive housing institute to push 550 new units toward city goal of 1,300
The city’s goal to build its way out of its homelessness crisis will get a boost next year from six local organizations going through training from one of the national leaders in creating supportive housing for the homeless. Last week,…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 19, 2022
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Music Commission seeks say in land use around affordability, creative spaces
Members of the Music Commission have set their sights on influencing how the city handles land use specific to affordability, in the hopes that more homes and commercial spaces can be created for local musicians and artists. The commission voted…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 14, 2022
Preservation leaders show concern over delay in Sixth Street historic district
The push to designate the East Sixth Street entertainment district as a city historic district has been postponed, with Council Member Kathie Tovo opting to wait for proposed new designed guidelines for properties that could be reconstructed as part of…
Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 13, 2022
Nearly half of homeless residents exit HEAL program without housing
Despite the city’s work to move those living in homeless encampments into permanent housing, nearly half of all temporary shelter inhabitants exit the system and return to homelessness. One hundred and two people – 48 percent of those moved into shelter…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2022
Council seeks to incentivize new creative spaces
The city will look for ways to incentivize developers to build creative spaces such as galleries and theaters into new projects in the coming years, building on a decision last month to incentivize new live music venues. At last week’s City…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 8, 2022
Residents helping to shape final details of Home Depot redevelopment
With the city still working to finalize a master development agreement for the redevelopment of the former Home Depot property in the St. Johns neighborhood, residents will have more opportunities beginning this week to weigh in on the final plans…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 7, 2022
Real estate, transit leaders see potential for change in Project Connect plans
As planning and early design work on the Project Connect mass transit plan moves forward, with cost increases mounting due to inflation and scope expansion, a Dallas developer told Austin real estate leaders recently that the city has an opportunity…
