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District 4
Planning Commission recommends rezoning amid 'heartwrenching' testimony
A case at the Planning Commission Tuesday highlighted the vulnerability of renters amid Austin’s rapid growth, as older apartment buildings are increasingly torn down to make way for new development. At issue is the Old Homestead apartment complex, an 80-year-old,…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 13, 2022
Planning Commission prods developer to talk with tenants facing displacement
Tenants don’t often speak at public meetings on zoning cases that affect them. But when they do, people seem to listen. At least that was the case Tuesday when the Planning Commission heard from Andrew McKenna, a North Austin resident…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 15, 2022
Zoning battle ends in victory for Grady and Brownie project
More condos and retail space are coming to North Austin following City Council’s approval of a contentious zoning case last Thursday. Despite neighborhood opposition backed by a valid petition, Council unanimously approved zoning changes for the Grady & Brownie mixed-use…
Zoning • By Kali Bramble • Mar 29, 2022
Vela sworn in as District 4 Council member
José “Chito” Vela, who won the election to become the second City Council member for District 4 on Jan. 25, was sworn in Monday morning and took his seat on the dais. Vela joined Council before a large group of…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Feb 8, 2022
Disagreement over valid petition delays Northeast Austin zoning case
A controversial rezoning at the intersection of Grady and Brownie in Northeast Austin turned more contentious at City Council Thursday when a neighbor and the applicant accused each other of exploiting a nonnative-English-speaking family to sway their opinion on the case.…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 1, 2022
Vela easily wins District 4 race
A look at the election results Tuesday night showed that José “Chito” Vela would handily defeat his six opponents in the special election to replace outgoing Council Member Greg Casar. Vela won 2,137 votes for 59.23 percent. His closest rival,…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 26, 2022
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District 4 candidates face off before special election
Candidates vying for Greg Casar’s Council seat appealed to voters last Thursday at a forum hosted by the city’s Ethics Commission and the Austin chapter of League of Women Voters. Isa Boonto, Melinda Schiera, Jade Lovera, Jose “Chito” Vela, and…
Elections • By Kali Bramble • Jan 10, 2022
Casar says 2021 was about helping people in crisis
From community organizer to City Council member to congressional candidate, Greg Casar exudes the energy of someone eager to get things done. Since taking office in January 2015, he has accomplished much of the social agenda he put forward as…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Dec 22, 2021
Who's running for the District 4 seat?
As of the Thursday afternoon deadline, seven candidates had filed valid ballot applications for the Jan. 25 election to fill the District 4 City Council seat being vacated by Council Member Greg Casar. Casar, who is running for Congress, released…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Dec 17, 2021
For neighbors' sake, Planning Commission recommends downsizing multifamily project by half
In an attempt to appease neighbors wary of new multifamily development, the Planning Commission Tuesday recommended less dense zoning than was requested by the owner of several vacant lots at Grady and Brownie drives in North Austin. The commission followed…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Sep 17, 2021
Parks board says no to parkland compromise
Austin’s Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to reject a developer’s appeal related to city regulations for parkland dedication for a proposed apartment complex at 403 E. Koenig Lane. Only six members of the board – the…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Sep 16, 2021
Council chooses developer for St. John Home Depot site
After years of community engagement, redevelopment of the city-owned St. John Home Depot site is finally happening. City Council Thursday voted unanimously to select the joint proposal from developer Greystar and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. The…