About the Author
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.
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Stories by Chad Swiatecki
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Program expansion more than doubles cheap nighttime parking downtown
The city is more than doubling the amount of affordable parking spaces available for evening-hours workers in downtown Austin businesses, building on the success of a pilot program that started in 2016.The expansion of the Affordable Parking Program will see…
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Creative groups highlight CodeNEXT’s impacts on arts, music spaces
A collection of arts and music organizations throughout Austin hope to do the next-to-impossible: bring a level of clarity and understanding to the city’s massive CodeNEXT document by focusing on the sections impacting the increasingly endangered creative community.In a treatise…
Monday, July 30, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Term sheet lays out stadium deal for rent, possible rail station
The term sheet for a proposed professional soccer stadium on city land ups the financial outlay of the Major League Soccer team’s to the city, with the possibility of bringing a metro rail line to the property as an ongoing…
Friday, July 27, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Talking talent, and why Austin companies can’t find enough workers
On top of complimentary food, coffee and other treats, music rooms for relaxing, and other perks typical of the Silicon Valley digital life, Austin-based job search firm Indeed has had to become something of a transit provider while trying to…
Thursday, July 26, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
IndyAustin targets stadium proposal, suggests petition for referendum
The local political action committee that helped to force an upcoming public vote on the implementation of CodeNEXT has set its sights on the city’s McKalla Place property and the push to build a professional soccer stadium there.IndyAustin is in…
Thursday, July 26, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Housing
Affordability on the minds of housing experts gathered in Austin
Business leaders from throughout the real estate industry spent most of this week in Austin focused on solving the affordable housing shortage that is reaching crisis levels in Austin and most other major cities around the country. The draw for…
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Economic development corp. stands out as answer to creative space crunch
A long-burgeoning effort to have the city create an economic development corporation that would help public and private entities to partner on ambitious development projects may be the best solution to help Austin’s creative community address a rapidly worsening space…
Monday, July 23, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Questions on finances, floodwater remain after stadium info session
Thursday’s information session at the Central Library offered those on both sides of the prospect of building a soccer stadium on city property in North Austin a chance to air their opinions, without producing much clarifying information on how the…
Friday, July 20, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Environment
City’s new flood plain maps would affect building regulations
New federal data on Austin’s rainfall patterns will cause the city to expand the size of areas in the 100-year flood plain and likely lead to a change in development requirements for properties exposed to flash-flooding risk.The city’s Watershed Protection…
Thursday, July 19, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
City Hall
Oyervides passes arts program concerns to his MACC board replacement
One of the longest-serving members of the advisory board for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center – and a frequent critic of city staff and programs affecting the Latino community – says he plans to stay vocal even…
Tuesday, July 17, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Case management, facilities improvements among recommendations for new ARCH contract
An analysis by a national agency focused on ending homelessness has given the city its recommendations on how to revamp services and operations at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. Among them are a change to make the downtown…
Monday, July 16, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Another report, same story: Austin’s too pricey for artists
Don’t stop, even if it seems like you’ve read this one before: A new city report finds that Austin’s musicians and creative class are feeling the financial squeeze while the rest of the city prospers.That finding, released last week, comes…
Friday, July 13, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Planning
Winnebago tract could blossom with Urban Roots agreement
The city is exploring a possible deal that would see the 9-acre East Austin parcel widely known as the Winnebago tract used as a site for urban farming, job training and possible collaboration with Austin’s arts community.Council approved a resolution…
Thursday, July 12, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Bonds & Propositions
Arts, music supporters eye bond money to assist existing creative spaces
Leaders in Austin’s arts community appear to be in favor of using $12 million in proposed bond money to help existing creative businesses in purchasing their current spaces before they can be priced out or forced to move because of…
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
SXSW economic impact grows north of $350M
The economic impact of the South by Southwest festival inched across the $350 million mark in the latest analysis by Greyhill Advisors of the spring festival’s effect on the community. The $350.6 million total for the 2018 festival represented growth…
Friday, July 6, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Questions of timing, community benefits linger over stadium negotiations
With little more than a month before City Council is expected to formally consider an agreement to possibly provide city land for the construction of a professional soccer stadium, it seems one of the most important considerations is what constitutes…
Tuesday, July 3, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Possible changes to panhandling ordinance draw concern from business leaders
A possible revision of the city’s ordinance regulating panhandling is drawing concern from downtown business leaders who say the proposed changes would allow aggressive requests for money and could create safety issues in areas with heavy foot traffic.The amendments to…
Friday, June 29, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Council OKs stadium negotiation and other proposals, with early August deadline
Austin will move forward with negotiations on a deal that could bring a Major League Soccer stadium to the McKalla Place property in North Austin, with an early August deadline to reach an agreement.City Council approved a pair of soccer-related…
Thursday, June 28, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Epstein, PSV held soccer meeting prior to McKalla proposal’s release
A co-owner of the Circuit of the Americas met with representatives from Columbus Crew SC owners Precourt Sports Ventures about a possible deal to use the property as the team’s new home, just prior to the city receiving a proposal…
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Draft audit recommends changes, improvements for Visit Austin
A draft summary from the Office of the City Auditor finds that the city’s convention center needs to improve its internal communication and tracking of deliverables related to its annual contract with the city of Austin.The complete audit is expected…
