Development

City works to resolve decadelong feud over Crestview gate

The Austin Transportation Department closed a chapter of Crestview history last Thursday, passing to City Council its recommendation to permanently remove the infamous gate blocking vehicle access from Easy Wind Drive to Morrow Street. The gate, the subject of a…

Planning • By Kali Bramble • Jan 18, 2022

Planning Commission rejects historic zoning for San Jacinto warehouse

The Planning Commission Tuesday voted against historic zoning for a former warehouse in downtown Austin, siding with the property owner who wants to demolish the building over preservationists seeking to save it. The case began last year when the Historic…

Preservation • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 14, 2022

Project Connect team unveils report on anti-displacement strategy

Project Connect is one step closer to realizing its $7.1 billion public transportation investment, after a report outlining plans for the $300 million set aside for anti-displacement programs was completed last Thursday. The report, developed by a team of impacted…

Planning • By Kali Bramble • Jan 13, 2022

County processes final rental assistance applications, but will need more money to prevent evictions

On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court received news that only 443 applications for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program – a recently discontinued county program – have yet to be processed, a number significantly down from last week’s 995. The…

Housing • By Seth Smalley • Jan 13, 2022

ZAP members OK 'spot zoning' for ADU

Last Tuesday, the Zoning and Platting Commission heard what may be one of the last requests to build an accessory dwelling unit on a Single Family Residence-Standard (SF-2) lot after City Council resolved to allow ADUs in such spots in December.…

Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 11, 2022

Council moves toward creating South Central Waterfront TIRZ

At its final meeting of the year, City Council gave preliminary approval for the South Central Waterfront tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ in city parlance. Council members Leslie Pool and Greg Casar did not participate in the Dec. 20…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Jan 7, 2022

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Statesman PUD gets first Planning Commission hearing

As the long-anticipated redevelopment of the Austin American-Statesman site at 305 S. Congress Ave. heads toward a City Council vote next year, the development team presented its vision to the Planning Commission on Dec. 14. Preliminary plans for the nearly…

Development • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 20, 2021

Mixed-use options considered for future of police HQ site downtown

Planners see a variety of possibilities for the eventual redevelopment of the Austin Police Department headquarters site downtown, with office space, affordable housing, retail, an event space and recording studio among the possible uses. Those were some of the ideas…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 20, 2021

520-unit multifamily project on the way to St. Elmo area

Eight acres of vacant land in South Austin may soon turn into 520 apartments and condos. The Planning Commission Tuesday recommended a zoning change for the project at 4700 Weidemar Lane, but not before addressing neighbors’ concerns about the rerouting…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 17, 2021

Council to allow ADUs in more places

In response to rising housing costs, last Thursday City Council proposed several changes to allow accessory dwelling units in more neighborhoods and to make them easier to build. ADUs are set to become legal in Single Family Residence-Large Lot (SF-1)…

Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 15, 2021

Amid affordability crisis, Austin will consider studying what it costs to build new housing

Austin City Council members on Thursday asked city staff to look into what it would cost to analyze how much it, well, costs to build new housing. The study, if given the green light early next year, would also focus…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 13, 2021

After long wait, Toomey Road rezoning wins initial approval

At the urging of Council Member Ann Kitchen, City Council gave first reading approval for rezoning the apartment complex property at the corner of Toomey Road and Sterzing Street close to Zilker Park. Tenants of the complex, which will be…

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