Austin, Monitored: All sorts of redevelopment

Jobs and redevelopment take center stage in annual economic development report

From Chad Swiatecki:

The Economic Development Department says it supported more than 27,000 jobs and distributed over $54 million in community investments during fiscal year 2024, according to its recently released annual report. The report outlines the department’s evolving priorities, including the transfer of its cultural programs to a new Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment and a sharpened focus on workforce development, business support and place-based redevelopment.

City manager T.C. Broadnax described the department’s 2024 efforts as a foundation for “inclusive economic growth.” Interim EDD director Anthony Segura called the year transformative, citing the launch of the Austin Infrastructure Academy as a model for local economic mobility.

As Acacia Cliffs rezoning is approved, Critics say Council has sold out on its affordability commitments

From Kali Bramble:

Despite months of tenacious organizing, the residents of Acacia Cliffs lost the battle for their apartment complex last Thursday when Council unanimously voted to approve its rezoning under the density bonus 90 program (DB90), clearing the way for a brand new, seven-story building granted extra square feet in exchange for providing roughly 80 of its 700 proposed units at 50-60 percent of the median family income (MFI). Yet the development will also mean the loss of the 290 existing apartments offering rent at an increasingly rare 30 to 45 percent MFI, an outcome that critics say is incomprehensible under a program that, when passed last February, was framed as a means of generating affordability.

In weeks leading up to the vote, Mayor Kirk Watson took to City Council’s message board and his newsletter ‘The Watson Wire’ to announce forthcoming reforms to the density bonus program, which he acknowledged had “unintended consequences” that “need to be addressed”. Given the admission, Council’s move to grant those same entitlements to the project at Acacia Cliffs left tenants and their supporters expressing outrage.

If at first you don’t succeed… 

The proposed demolition of 607 E 38th Street, a 1935 duplex adjacent to Hancock Golf Course, raised some interesting questions at the most-recent meeting of the Historic Landmark Commission. Several neighbors spoke against the demolition, citing a wish to preserve the historic character of the area and expressing concerns that the house would almost certainly be replaced with a far less affordable housing option. They asked for time to consider the case at their upcoming neighborhood meeting. Though city preservation staff was not able to recommend the home as an individual historic landmark, they did urge the owner to preserve and rehabilitate it instead of going down the path to demolition.

“Was this demolition not approved in 2022?” asked Commissioner Kevin Koch, who explained that his research found that the owner had gone through this process previously. “We approved the demolition,” he said. “It’s right here.” City staff later explained that the previous demolition permit was withdrawn after approval because the owner at the time did not submit the required documentation package. That permit expired and the current request, they said, comes from the new owner of the home. 

As for neighbors’ concerns, Koch expressed a shared an affection for the house, but warned against too much optimism about its future. 

“We can’t really deny a demolition application unless it’s already designated historic,  he said. “The bar is very high for designation against an owner’s wishes, but we have to keep showing up and fighting the good fight so that people know we care.”

Commissioners voted unanimously to postpone the case until July. They can delay the case up to 75 days, giving neighbors time to explore their limited options. 

…Try try again

Over at the other end of that timeline, Commissioners watched the clock run out on a series of postponements aimed at preventing the demolition of 705 West Lynn Street. Though the Historic Landmark Commission opted to take no action on the permit, the demolition will move forward with some hope that the facade of the 1895 house will nonetheless be preserved. That, apparently, is dependent on the ability to remove a heritage tree that has been evaluated as in fair condition by an arborist. 

“If asked to choose between a fair condition tree and a fair condition house, we would choose the house,” said Donna Osborne, who was speaking on behalf of OWANA. “Austin’s historic neighborhoods are under intense pressure from density and change, often at the expense of the fabric and stories that make our neighborhood special. We urge the commission to consider the value of preserving the historic structure equal to, if not greater than the value of retaining a compromised tree. Both matter, but in this case, one offer is an enduring architectural contextual value that cannot be replaced.” 

Commissioners voted twice on the demolition permit, which would allow for the destruction of the whole home, should the tree gambit not come through. The first vote would allow the demolition without their endorsement and the second would explicitly approve the demolition, but require a documentation packet from the owner to do so. Both motions failed, meaning the demolition of any part of the building is not endorsed by the commission, but is permitted by state law.

Elsewhere in the News

As we reported yesterday, the redevelopment of the Statesman site will move forward after a judge’s ruling. Here’s a longer story from KUT on the topic.

And, as predicted, Trump’s renaming crusade has brought Fort Hood back to the area.

As of Wednesday evening, the Texas National Guard was on standby to “help” with immigration protests in Austin.

And, the city of Austin is looking for feedback on its 2026 bond program.

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