Development

Environmental Commission approves heritage tree removal for East Austin housing project

The Environmental Commission voted to approve the removal of a 32-inch heritage pecan tree in East Austin to allow construction of a 120-unit supportive housing project for youth exiting foster care and the juvenile justice system. “This is the exact…

Development • By Madeline de Figueiredo • May 14, 2025

City plans navigator expansion, financing tools for HOME initiative

City housing leaders have found that efforts to expand and improve access to Austin’s HOME initiative are progressing on multiple fronts, with program refinements, interdepartmental coordination and new support strategies underway. A recent memo from the Housing Department outlines these…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • May 12, 2025

From 11th street and beyond, Rally Austin is blazing trails to keep the city's arts scene alive

Plans to revitalize two acres of city-owned land on East 11th Street are finally materializing, as Austin’s Economic Development Corporation makes moves to get brand new mixed-use developments up and running by 2028. Bound by Franklin’s Barbecue to the west…

Planning • By Kali Bramble • May 12, 2025

Council eyes vision plans for north and south transit centers

Vision plans for two major transit centers north and south of Downtown Austin are slated for City Council consideration later this month, capping a lengthy planning and public engagement process under the city’s emerging Equitable Transit-Oriented Development program. The ETOD…

Planning • By Amy Smith • May 8, 2025

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SMART housing to see changes in “phase two” of City Council-initiated review

A city incentive program intended to produce “Safe, Mixed-use, Accessible, Reasonably-priced and Transit-oriented” housing may be getting a little smarter with changes working their way towards City Council. The Housing Department is proposing four amendments to improve the “operation and…

Housing • By Miles Wall • May 6, 2025

Roughly 3,200 people experience homelessness in Austin on any given night

Just over 3,200 people in Austin and Travis County slept in tents, shelters or cars on one night in January. That’s about 800 more people, or a 36% increase, compared to 2023, the last time a homeless count was done.…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 2, 2025

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Density bonus programs under review to address affordability needs, market conditions

The city is moving forward with reforms to several of its density bonus programs, following the recommendations from an analysis completed earlier this year. A recent presentation to City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee outlined several modifications underway or in…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 2, 2025

Developer appeals denial of right-of-way vacation

The Urban Transportation Commission has rejected a request by the owner of one Old West Austin property to vacate right-of-way after hearing objections from the owners of a neighboring property that would be harmed by the street vacation. Commissioners voted…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • May 1, 2025

Geology takes center stage in Judge’s Hill zoning case

Some Judges’ Hill neighbors are spooked about a proposed redevelopment near 15th and Lamar and very near a geologic feature implicated in several landslides along Shoal Creek in recent years. But so far, the city seems to think they’re just…

Zoning • By Miles Wall • Apr 30, 2025

Future land use plans for CapMetro sites pick up a recommendation from Planning Commission

A bundle of subtle planning changes around two Capital Metro park-and-rides in North and South Austin may lay the groundwork for a major redevelopment on the sites, and some residents still aren’t happy about it. The Planning Commission voted unanimously…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Apr 29, 2025

Council committee briefed on proposed LDC amendments for wastewater treatment plant expansion

Austin City Council’s environmental committee received an update Wednesday on the $1 billion expansion of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will require several site-specific variances or amendments to the Land Development Code. The Council last month directed staff…

Planning • By Amy Smith • Apr 24, 2025

Panelists look at the airport's future of 'perpetual' construction

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is expected to remain in a near-perpetual state of construction for the next several decades, as city officials and regional leaders prepare for sustained, long-term growth in air travel demand and economic activity across the Central Texas…

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