District 9

City eyes expanded district plan for downtown and beyond

As city leaders prepare for a major overhaul of the Downtown Austin Plan, staff recommendations for the initiative could significantly expand the geographic area and project scope of the city’s long-range strategy for its urban core. A May 9 memo…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 15, 2025

Survey says Austin could benefit from promoting historic structures

The city, interested members of the public and HHM & Associates, Inc. have been working on a survey of historic downtown and near downtown buildings, trails and bridges to identify what landmarks might attract history-minded tourists to Austin. The survey…

Preservation • By Jo Clifton • May 15, 2025

West Campus zoning program set for changes as city plans density-focused upgrade

Austin’s West Campus neighborhood may be about to enter a new era of development, as city staff plan to update a special zoning overlay that has guided new building in the area since the early aughts, according to a presentation…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Apr 15, 2025

Council OKs next steps in planning improvements to Sixth Street district

With early data suggesting the area’s safety can continue to improve, City Council approved a detailed resolution Thursday directing city staff to pursue a wide-ranging set of improvements and operational changes aimed at encouraging daytime activity in the Sixth Street…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 11, 2025

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Preservationists praise developer for giving Sixth Street historic buildings ‘some love’

As Dallas-based Stream Realty moves forward with efforts to revitalize more than 30 properties it owns along East Sixth Street, the company is evincing a notable shift in strategy: preserving historic buildings instead of replacing most of them with new…

Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 25, 2025

Vision for transforming city core draws scrutiny ahead of likely Council vote

With Downtown Austin poised for overlapping mega-projects over roughly the next decade, City Council’s Mobility Committee took a closer look last week at the draft Austin Core Transportation Plan, which aims to tie all of the projects together. Committee members…

Transportation • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 24, 2025

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Historic survey of downtown Austin nears completion

Austin’s Preservation Office is poised to complete its Historic Resources Survey of the downtown area by the end of the year, wrapping up years of work documenting sites of cultural interest. Preservation Office Planner Sofia Wagner met with Historic Landmark…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Mar 21, 2025

Planning Commission reverses city rejection of university-area site plan in an unusual case

The Planning Commission voted unanimously last week to reverse a decision by city planning staff to reject a site plan for a 142-unit student-oriented development at 2610 Hume Place, on appeal from the applicant, marking a rare use of the…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Mar 19, 2025

New strategic plan for downtown streets keeps momentum with stamp from Planning Commission

The Planning Commission recommended a new plan for the city’s downtown streets with several amendments during a meeting on March 11, joining the Urban Transportation and Design commissions and including some of their respective recommendations for the plan. The document…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Mar 18, 2025

Urban Transportation Commission recommends new strategic plan for downtown streets

The Urban Transportation Commission voted unanimously to recommend that City Council approve a new strategic plan from the Department of Transportation and Public Works for the streets of Austin’s small-yet-mighty downtown, along with a list of their own recommendations regarding…

Planning • By Miles Wall • Mar 7, 2025

Early data suggest opening Sixth Street to traffic has improved public safety

Early data from the Austin Police Department suggests that a new public safety initiative aimed at reducing crime and violence on East Sixth Street is yielding positive results. The changes, which took effect in December, reintroduced vehicular traffic on weekend…

Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 6, 2025

Student housing union advocates for renters ahead of city’s UNO update

The University Tenants Union student group at the University of Texas has launched a new housing toolkit aimed at helping student renters better navigate the housing market in West Campus and surrounding areas. The organization, which advocates for tenant rights…

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District 9

City eyes expanded district plan for downtown and beyond

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 15, 2025

Survey says Austin could benefit from promoting historic structures

Preservation • By Jo Clifton • May 15, 2025