Stories by Elizabeth Pagano
Friday, January 12, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Austin
Whellan joins Armbrust & Brown
Today, Armbrust & Brown PLLC announced that attorney Michael Whellan, who is a former president and shareholder of Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody will be joining their firm on Jan. 15.It’s a big change for Whellan, who is well-known at…
Thursday, January 4, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Council
Troxclair continues to fight
In 2018, Council Member Ellen Troxclair will be having a baby and running for office in addition to continuing to serve as the lone conservative on City Council. Despite a crowded agenda ahead, Troxclair sat down with the Austin Monitor…
Thursday, January 4, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Council
Tovo keeps chipping away
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo came prepared with folders of articles for her look back on 2017. Immediately, she notes that this year’s progress looks a lot like last year’s, but there is a reason for that. Her focus has…
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Council
In 2017, Kitchen worked on the big issues
For Council Member Ann Kitchen, 2017 was a year of progress. In an interview with the Austin Monitor, she highlighted some of the ongoing work her office has done over the past year that deals with some of the city’s…
Thursday, December 28, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Council
Houston stays true to her district
Council Member Ora Houston sums up this past year as “very interesting.”Speaking to the Austin Monitor, Houston started her review of 2017 by stressing her continued commitment to outreach in her district, which informs the work she does downtown at…
Monday, December 18, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Council
Resolutions could change how demolitions are done in Austin
On Thursday, City Council approved two resolutions that direct the city to take a look at the literal and figurative cost of demolitions in Austin. Each could lead to increased fees for the growing number of building demolitions in Austin.…
Monday, December 11, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Historic commission rejects CodeNEXT draft
“CodeNEXT continues to enable the demolition and replacement of existing housing stock with new construction. Consequently, the Commission cannot recommend the adoption of CodeNEXT as written.”That’s the consensus of the Historic Landmark Commission, according to a resolution about the second…
Monday, November 27, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Sounds of the city
This week, we try something a little different. Kicking off the Thanksgiving holiday, Austin Monitor editor Elizabeth Pagano struggled to find music that tackles Austin’s issues and songs that celebrate City Hall. Did she succeed? Tune in to the fairly…
Tuesday, November 14, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Could a new historic district save this home?
There’s another push to create a local historic district in Travis Heights. The fate of 501 E. Mary St. became entwined with the proposed district at the most recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission, where the home’s demolition was…
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
New plan for Old Negro Women’s Home gets OK
After striking out once, a new plan to save a piece of East Austin’s history won the support of Historic Landmark Commissioners at their most recent meeting.In July, commissioners recommended historic zoning for the Old Negro Women’s Home (also known…
Friday, November 3, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Hyde Park loses another historic home
At their most recent meeting, Historic Landmark Commissioners were dismayed to find a Hyde Park project that they had approved had taken a turn for the extreme.“This a virtual demolition,” declared Commissioner Terri Myers.The house at 4207 Ave. H was…
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
The Code
BoA denies digital billboard end run
Another attempt to legalize digital billboards in Austin was shot down last week. This time, the Board of Adjustment was the arena for a battle that has been going on in Austin for years.Under current city regulations, billboards are not…
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Historic naming procedures enshrined
Following up on a request from one historic home owner, the Historic Landmark Commission has filled a gap in their rules and officially established naming conventions for historic buildings.Up until this point, according to Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky, historic…
Tuesday, October 24, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Hyde Park variance no-show flops at BoA
Though there are no guarantees for getting a variance at the Board of Adjustment, a recent Hyde Park case proved one thing for sure: You might want to show up.David Rudick, the owner of 4008 Ave. C, was not present…
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Commission considers a house by other name
Much like Tara and Wuthering Heights, historic homes in Austin have names of their own. But a recent bid for immortality on Judges Hill at the Historic Landmark Commission revealed the naming process might stand to have a few established…
Thursday, October 12, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Misgivings clear the way for an East Austin ADU
Doubts about CodeNEXT and a belief in the capricious nature of city staff added up to a win for the future of an East Austin accessory dwelling unit at the most recent meeting of the Board of Adjustment.Jim Wittliff spoke…
Thursday, October 5, 2017 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Council
Council issues stern warning to ZACH Theatre
Is management at ZACH Theatre interfering with employee efforts to unionize? The answer could cost them $272,500 from the city.The money in question is part of the city’s annual cultural arts contracts. Though more than $8.4 million in contracts passed…
