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Stories by Chad Swiatecki

Vision for transforming city core draws scrutiny ahead of likely Council vote

With Downtown Austin poised for overlapping mega-projects over roughly the next decade, City Council’s Mobility Committee took a closer look last week at the draft Austin Core Transportation Plan, which aims to tie all of the projects together. Committee members…

City pauses $10M in airport art over concerns local creatives were excluded

The city has paused three significant public art contracts intended for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion, in a move that may signal a reconsideration of how prominently the city should promote local artists in major public spaces. Three contract approvals…

City readies final changes to revised business expansion programs

The Economic Development Department has announced final modifications to its Business Expansion Program, a key component of the city’s Chapter 380 economic development incentives. The updates, approved by City Council in September 2024 under Ordinance 20240926-013, are designed to increase…

Resource, funding needs will delay South Shore cultural district until 2027

The South Shore Cultural District remains in limbo as the city prioritizes funding and resources for other cultural districts, pushing any substantial progress on South Shore until at least Fiscal Year 2027. A recent city memo from Anthony Segura, interim…

City IDs progress, funding needs to carry out area food plan

A pair of recent city memos shows progress and the need for additional funding sources to implement the first comprehensive food plan for the Austin area. The two memos were released last week, outlining nine goals and 61 strategies aimed…

SXSW shrinks as indie venues contemplate competitiveness

Last week, advocates and leaders in the independent music venue community gathered during South by Southwest to discuss how those thin-margined businesses can improve their chances to stay in business. A few days later, news came out that the festival…

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SXSW panelists examine causes, effects of the city's lack of Black homeowners

A South by Southwest panel discussion earlier this week didn’t gloss over the challenges Black communities in Austin face if they’re not already owners of highly valuable residential real estate. During the panel Advancing Black Homeownership Through Housing Equity, Habitat…

Icon Homes prepping smaller home printing tech to meet Austin's infill push

Austin-based 3D-printed home manufacturer Icon Homes has plans to use new building technology created specifically to take advantage of the city’s push for smaller infill homes. After speaking at a South by Southwest panel last week focused on the push…

Housing panelists examine what's worked in Austin, and across Texas

At a South by Southwest panel discussion last week on housing policies in Texas, City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison shared possible new components of the “agrihood” housing-plus-agriculture approach she championed last year. While sharing her views on steps the city…

SXSW panel looks at national housing shortage – and how Austin is responding

Cities across the nation are facing the same housing crunch that Austin has spent recent years trying to correct, with a new report from Realtor.com showing a gap of 3.8 million houses and apartment units across the country. Those findings…

Watson warns of Austin's 'budget asteroids' in speech to real estate council

At last week’s annual address to the Real Estate Council of Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson stressed a number of “budget asteroids” the city could face as a result of upcoming state and federal policy decisions. Along with the potential impact…

Prompted by convention center controversy, Council seeks changes to public art program

In response to increasing scrutiny over Austin’s handling of public art, City Council voted Thursday to modernize the Art in Public Places program by updating policies to prevent mishandlings like the controversial deaccessioning of artwork at the Austin Convention Center.…

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