Stories by Sean Saldaña
Former Threadgill home on its way to historic designation
Commissioners at the Jan. 25 meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission voted to advance the historic designation process for 4310 Rosedale Ave., the former home of Kenneth and Mildred Threadgill. Kenneth Threadgill, an Austin-based country musician who collaborated with national…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Feb 2, 2021
Environmental Commission unanimously votes to advance Goodnight Ranch zoning change
A proposal to amend zoning requirements for a South Austin residential development was discussed and subsequently approved by the Environmental Commission at its Jan. 20 meeting. Goodnight Ranch is a master planned unit development that covers 695 acres encompassing the area…
Development • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 26, 2021
Environmental Commission discusses its role in political advocacy
The Jan. 20 meeting of the Environmental Commission addressed a resolution that would support the city’s 87th State Legislative Agenda, a City Council resolution that passed in September of last year. According to the city, the agenda – which has no…
Texas State Legislature • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 25, 2021
Zero Waste Advisory Commission reassembles C&D ordinance subcommittee
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission discussed the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance, a law that went into effect in 2016. The ordinance mandates that building permits with more than 5,000 square feet of new, added…
Resources • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 19, 2021
Austin Animal Center’s December report looks bright
The Animal Advisory Commission convened on Jan. 11 to discuss, among other things, the accomplishments of the Austin Animal Center at the end of 2020. One recent highlight was the implementation of a new chatbot designed to field questions residents may…
Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 14, 2021
Historic Landmark Commission delays log cabin relocation decision
Last month, the Historic Landmark Commission discussed a proposal to deconstruct and relocate a log cabin located at 5613 Patton Ranch Road. The cabin is on property owned by St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, a K-12 private school. The organization is…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 11, 2021
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Landmark commission approves former Barton Springs florist shop for demolition
The building at 605 Barton Springs Road has been home to McPhail’s Florist, Austin’s most prominent florist, for decades. But the 92-year-old building may soon be demolished. The flower shop, which ceased operations in 2018, has become – at least…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 23, 2020
Landmark commission denies Congress building owner’s request for mural
Last month, the Historic Landmark Commission discussed a proposal to install an eye-catching, soccer-themed mural at 506 Congress Ave. The mural, which would have been completed by the artist Ruben Sánchez, was noteworthy because it would be located near the…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 22, 2020
Historic designation recommended for Delta Kappa Gamma HQ, against owner’s wishes
The Delta Kappa Gamma building at 416 W. 12th St. could be on its way to a historic designation, which, given the home’s long history as headquarters of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, may come as no surprise. Founded…
Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 21, 2020
Urban Transportation Commission creates working group to form I-35 recommendations
A Texas A&M Transportation Institute report recently ranked the segment of Interstate 35 that goes through Austin the most congested roadway in the state. This congestion is one of the reasons behind the I-35 Capital Express Project, a multiyear, multibillion-dollar…
Roads • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 16, 2020
Parks board tables renaming recommendations for Council
The Parks and Recreation Board has once again taken up the task of suggesting revisions to the city’s naming and renaming ordinance, the law that lays out guidelines for the naming process behind city facilities like parks, sports complexes, pools,…
Parks • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 14, 2020
Cronk proud of city's accomplishments in 2020
By many metrics, this year has been a difficult one for the city of Austin. The pandemic has played a role in the local unemployment spike, led to a number of permanent business closures and strained the city’s medical staff.…
