Stories by Elizabeth Pagano
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Elections
Flannigan and Kelly showdown in District 6 forum
District 6 voters once again have a choice between two candidates: incumbent Jimmy Flannigan and challenger Mackenzie Kelly. In November, Flannigan won just over 40 percent of the vote and Kelly just over 33 percent. On social media and at…
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Elections
Virden and Alter face off in runoff forum
This week, District 10 voters will get their second opportunity to pick a City Council candidate in a runoff that pits incumbent Alison Alter against candidate Jennifer Virden. With seven names on the District 10 ballot, a December runoff was…
Monday, November 30, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Landmark commission OKs historic zoning for Baker School and its parking lots
The Historic Landmark Commission voted to zone the entirety of the Baker School property historic at its recent meeting, despite a staff-supported alternative that would omit the surrounding parking lots. AISD sold the school, which was built in 1911, to…
Friday, November 20, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Landmark commission moves to block demolition of Delta Kappa Gamma building downtown
The Historic Landmark Commission has voted unanimously to initiate historic zoning for the Delta Kappa Gamma International Headquarters Building, against the owner’s wishes. Currently, 416 W. 12th St. continues to serve as the office building for Delta Kappa Gamma, which…
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
A ‘modest’ proposal: Lake Austin lot seeks variance
Citing excessive constraints on their land, one Lake Austin property owner went to the Board of Adjustment Nov. 9 seeking a break that would allow them to move forward with building a home. Eric Gomez, representing owner Malia Muir, said…
Friday, November 13, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Preservation
Landmark commission stalls stone cottage demolition
The fate of a stone cottage on Elizabeth Street hangs in the balance after a postponement at the Historic Landmark Commission last month. Historic Preservation Officer Steve Sadowsky said while the house at 910 W. Elizabeth St. appears to be…
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Board of Adjustment raises renovation cap in Rosedale
Generally speaking, Austin’s Board of Adjustment isn’t wild about granting variances from the Land Development Code to those who have bought their way into a preexisting situation. Luckily for one family in the Rosedale neighborhood, that’s not always the case;…
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Elections
Flannigan and Kelly to face off in December
District 6 is primed for a runoff between incumbent Jimmy Flannigan, who won just over 40 percent of the vote, and challenger Mackenzie Kelly, who earned just over 33 percent. Unlike other City Council districts, a significant portion of the…
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Elections
Alter, Virden will compete in runoff for District 10
As predicted, there will be a runoff in District 10, but in a somewhat surprising turn, the runoff will take place between incumbent Alison Alter and challenger Jennifer Virden. In order to avoid a runoff, candidates must win a simple…
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Health & Human Services
City tracks $450M cost of Covid
About eight months in, the Covid-19 pandemic has cost the city $449.9 million. The total, according to an Oct. 30 memo from Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo, represents the initial $271.6 spending framework approved by City Council in May…
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Planning
Plan for new Domain substation leaves Council, moves forward
City Council has approved a plan to construct a much-needed Austin Energy substation, hoping it will speed through the city’s zoning process with public input as quickly as possible. Mayor Steve Adler opened the discussion by stressing the urgency of…
Monday, November 2, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
City Hall
City ethics commission wrestles with access during pandemic
In its previous, pre-pandemic incarnation, the city’s Ethics Review Commission met in a back room of City Hall that was often jammed full of commissioners, accusers, defenders, and occasionally, reporters. But the meetings were open to the public, and once…
Monday, November 2, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
BoA consciously postpones Galindo variances
A request for two variances in the Galindo neighborhood forced Board of Adjustment members to think realistically about their future actions last month, and determine whether a postponement was really fair to the applicant. Lauren Jones, speaking on behalf of…
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
BoA holds off on approval for ‘flipped’ ADU plan
While a request to build an accessory dwelling unit larger than the existing home was not a sticking point, the lack of a preservation plan for a variance that hinged on preservation did present a problem for the Board of…
Thursday, October 22, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Environmental benefits fail to win Board of Adjustment dock variance
The Board of Adjustment has made it clear that “the greater good” isn’t enough when it comes to getting an exception from the city to build a boat dock. The requested variance would allow the owner of 3002 Scenic Drive…
Thursday, October 15, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Zoning
Reworked Kemp Street rezoning continues to draw fire
Today, Austin City Council will take up a contentious Montopolis zoning case that opponents say will speed gentrification and wreak havoc on a nearby preserve. But supporters of the reworked plan for 508 Kemp St. tout the creation of affordable…
Monday, October 12, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Transportation
Memo reveals details of Grove traffic plan
The development is here, years have passed since its final contentious City Council hearing, and now a watered-down traffic program for the 75-acre Grove planned unit development is underway. The original $1.3 million transportation plan created jointly by the Bull…
Thursday, October 8, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Austin
Abbott allows Texas bars to open again
Texas bars will soon be allowed to open at 50 percent capacity indoors at the discretion of the presiding county judge, according to a new order from Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott’s newest executive order applies to areas with “low Covid-19…
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Elections
Money flows into quiet races for Council
All Austin City Council candidates are required to file a campaign finance report 30 days before the election. Most of the candidates for the Nov. 3 election filed their reports Monday or a few days before. Despite the pandemic, there…
