Following the recent controversy surrounding a Riverside Drive apartment complex demolition permit that displaced around 100 low-income families, City Council has taken a step toward establishing new rules to assist tenants in similar situations in the future. Council approved a resolution Thursday directing city staff to draft an ordinance that would establish “tenant relocation assistance requirements” for developers that intend to demolish multifamily properties that would result in the displacement of current tenants.

fforts to require developers to contribute more toward new parkland passed only on first reading during an early-morning conversation among Austin City Council members. Both sides of the debate agreed to increased parkland dedication fees and increased fees in lieu, which go toward developing new park space. However, some City Council members expressed concerns about a new formula that nearly doubles the amount of required parkland developers must dedicate.

The city of Austin’s Vision Zero task force plans to bring a proposed two-year action plan aimed at reducing the number of preventable traffic fatalities to City Council’s Dec. 8 work session. Frances Reilly, a planner with the city’s Planning and Zoning Department, said the number of traffic fatalities is now 84—he clarified that did not include recent fatalities that occurred during the weekend. The figure surpasses record number of traffic deaths from a single year—81 in 1986. “We can solve this,” he told members of the city’s Urban Transportation Commission on Nov. 10. “Traffic deaths and serious injuries are absolutely avoidable.”

Veteran's Day is here and although recent studies point out Austin as a good home for Veterans, many still find themselves in need of proper housing. Mayor Adler pledges to get to zero homeless veterans by the end of the year and cites new collaborations as key to making the goal a reality. 

Austin-area elected officials, advocates and community members gathered at Austin High School on Monday for a forum on the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s proposed MoPac South tolled expansion. The event revealed a general dissatisfaction and frustration with the available options.

In a tight race, Travis County voters defeated a proposal for $287.3 million in bond funds to build a new civil and family courts complex, or CFCC, in downtown Austin, according to unofficial results released Nov. 3 in a final report from Travis County. Voting results showed 50.73 percent of voters opposed the courthouse proposal, with more than 37,122 votes counted. According to Travis County tallies, 49.27 percent cast their ballots in support of the proposal, with 36,058 votes. 

As we wait for Waller Creek's next Creek Show, Peter Mullan talks about the exciting opportunities this unique project affords. Austin loves its parks and trails, but there are still parks in our city with unmet potential. Take a look at what the Waller Creek Conservancy has planned to bring a new focus to this once overlooked space.

Mobility Week is a call to action for all businesses and community members: help reduce traffic through mobility solutions.  During this week of collective effort, you can make a difference by taking alternative forms of transportation instead of driving alone. During the week of November 2nd-6th individuals as well as companies and their employees will try different commuting options, program ideas, and even steps to promote changing how they commute.

NACTO's Designing Cities Conference brought together some of the country's most progressive transportation thinkers here to Austin to rethink urban mobility and the role streets serve in shaping a city. Take a look back at some of the exciting ideas and conversations from last week's events.

Last week's NACTO conference brought some great perspectives and new voices on better street design to Austin, but it's great to know that local voices are still taking part in the conversation even after our guests have left. Thanks to Jace Deloney for summing up this new shift in thinking about 'efficient' transportation into one simple question: "As Austin continues to grow, what would happen if we started focusing on moving people instead of cars?"

Change can be scary, but why do changes in density seem to be the scariest of all? ULI's recent panel takes a look at the issues that arise and the fear that density and growth can illicit when planning and development is pursued on a small scale without a larger, regional perspective. What happens to NIMBYism when people look at the bigger picture and plan for their city and region as a whole instead of bit by bit?

John Simmerman from Strong Towns weighs in on what it's like to be back home in Austin for all the excitement of NACTO's Designing Cities Conference and Better Streets Week. Make sure to check out all the free and open activities HERE to join in on the fun!

If you spend much time around Austin this sight might be familiar: A new building goes up, or a street is completely redesigned. Along with that development a row of young trees is planted along the sidewalk. Then, several months later, some of those trees are dead. KUT takes a closer look at why so many of these trees are planted and forgotten and what we can do to change the trend.

After a record breaking year of traffic fatalities here in Austin, City Council voted Oct. 1 to incorporate goals from Vision Zero, which seeks to go one year without any Austin traffic fatalities, into the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan. Find out more about the new safety initiatives and infrastructure updates that are being rolled out around town to make traffic deaths a thing of the past. 

As Austin changes and boundaries shift, how do our new 10-1 districts redraw the lines of neighborhoods and identities? With collaborative efforts from the City's Cultural Arts Division, planning departments, and organizations such as GO Collaborative and Public City, 'Drawing Lines' is a project meant to creatively explore the identities of these emerging political communities. 

The numbers are in and 2014 Census statistics show a healthy labor market with across-the-board job gains in every major industry and occupation. Community Impact takes a closer look at recent job market statistics and what that might mean for a growing and aging Austin workforce.