Stories by Josh Rosenblatt
Council OKs historic zoning status for two properties rejected by ZAP
Two weeks after members of the Zoning and Platting Commission turned consideration of two homes in West Austin into a heated discussion about the pros and cons of historic zoning in the city, the City Council voted unanimously Thursday to…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 30, 2010
Cap Metro board hears recommendations for altering MetroAccess service
Capital Metro staff addressed the always-delicate issue of MetroAccess at a presentation before a joint meeting of the Operations/Planning and Finance/Audit committees yesterday. Attempting to juggle community needs, federal requirements, and cold fiscal reality, board members heard information they will…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 27, 2010
Council approves East Block rezoning on first read
On a vote of 6-1, Council approved rezoning to allow for greater height at 835 West Sixth Street, known as the East Block property, on first reading last Thursday. Council Member Laura Morrison offered the only vote against the change.…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 27, 2010
Cap Metro board approves second agreement for payments to city
Continuing its efforts to put the Austin public transit authority’s financial house back in order, Capital Metro’s board voted Monday on new payment arrangements for a second agreement with the City of Austin. The vote was a carry-over item…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 20, 2010
Cap Metro board OKs plan to pay back $51 million owed to city
The Capital Metro Board of Directors approved a plan Thursday to begin reimbursing the city $51.1 million it owes in back payments. Board members approved an amendment to an interlocal agreement with Austin to repay the balance of a one-quarter-cent…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 16, 2010
Cap Metro committee looks at rail service, considers improvements
With two weeks of full, pay-to-ride commuter rail service under its belt, the Capital Metro Rail committee met yesterday to discuss what has gone right with Metro Rail, what needs to be fixed, and what the future looks like. …
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 13, 2010
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Council OKs ordinance mandating disclosure signs at pregnancy centers
The City Council took on the hot-button issue of family planning yesterday, resulting in a new ordinance that will require all limited service pregnancy centers in the city to post signs disclosing that they do not provide or refer for…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Apr 9, 2010
Council OKs VMU zoning for 18 tracts in Rosewood neighborhood
Two items on last week’s Council agenda conspired to create confusion among Council members as they tried to parse out the subtleties of mixed use (MU) and vertical mixed use (VMU) in the Rosewood section of East Austin. At…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Mar 30, 2010
Council approves putting Mueller substation on golf course
On Thursday, the City Council approved the construction of a long-awaited substation to distribute power to the Mueller development and surrounding neighborhoods. Under the terms of the resolution Austin Energy will use approximately 5.87 acres of the Morris Williams Golf…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Mar 26, 2010
South Austin “cathedral” cited for code violations
Since South Austin resident Vince Hannemann started assembling his Cathedral of Junk in 1988, the now-60-ton, multi-tiered edifice made of donated cast-offs and brick-a-brack has become something of an Austin institution and tourist destination. Discarded bed frames, cans, car parts,…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Mar 24, 2010
MetroRail opens to positive numbers and only minor confusion
Austin’s brand-new commuter train, MetroRail officially opened yesterday and with it came the first report from Capital Metro staff on the status and progress of the line. At yesterday’s meeting of the Cap Metro board of directors, Project Manager…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Mar 23, 2010
Little Woodrow’s gets permit to rock out, but below 70 decibels
Council members voted on March 11 to modify a previously approved permit to allow for a compromise between a University of Texas area bar and its neighbors. The move will allow Little Woodrow’s bar the opportunity to have live music…
