City Council calls for air, water studies over Austin airport's jet fuel tank site "After Southeast Austin residents raised concerns about jet fuel tanks set to be built within walking distance of homes and businesses on the western edge of Austin's airport, the City Council on Thursday called for an environmental study of the site, a list of alternative sites and improvements in communicating development plans with neighbors." (Natalia E. Contreras, Austin American-Statesman)
Traffic could be banned from the Drag under light-rail plan "Car and truck traffic on Guadalupe Street near UT would be severely restricted or banned completely under a pair of competing light-rail scenarios unveiled this week. The proposals are likely to raise concerns among drivers in a city where fewer than 4% of people commute to work via public transit, according to Census Bureau estimates." (Nathan Bernier, KUT)
Travis County buys easements to protect Hamilton Pool ‘for years to come’ "Hamilton Pool in western Travis County is one of the area’s most sought-after destinations for people looking to beat the heat during Central Texas summers, and county officials are trying to keep the land around it from developers. The county, using money approved by voters through a 2017 bond, bought seven conservation easements around Hamilton Pool Road to keep new builds off the land leading up to the popular spot." (Billy Gates, KXAN)
$77M deal in place for prime site owned by World Class "Washington, D.C.-based Carr Properties OC LLC is on the brink of acquiring a coveted downtown Austin development site for $77 million, according to court documents filed Dec. 6. The potential sale, which is set to be considered by a judge Dec. 15, could go down as one of the most expensive land sales in Austin history, measured by price per square foot. (Paul Thompson, Austin Business Journal)
City of Austin to provide update on I-35 crossing proposal "As the Texas Department of Transportation considers design options for a $4.9 billion overhaul of I-35 near downtown, the city of Austin plans to reveal details about its proposal to enhance crossings along the highway. The city and the Downtown Austin Alliance plan to share project updates and initial renderings for possible caps, large deck plazas and stitches—widened bridges—that would go over the highway during a virtual open house scheduled to begin Dec. 15." (Benton Graham, Community Impact)
Council pushing for infrastructure, operational improvements at COTA "The city is preparing to use the coming renewal of Circuit of the Americas’ ability to receive state funding for major events as an opening to assess road and infrastructure improvements around the Southeast Austin facility, along with enhancing youth education programs for nearby students. City Council was already set to consider the resolution that would have the Circuit Events Local Organizing Committee be the city’s designee to receive roughly $25 million annually from the state to cover expenses for the Formula 1 race held each fall at the racetrack." (Chad Swiatecki, Austin Monitor)
ACL Music Fest announces ticket presale and dates for 2022 event "With the goal of finally not having to play it by ear, one of Austin’s most renowned festivals is chiming in on its next big event. Austin City Limits Music Festival has announced the dates of its 2022 festivities, with the one-of-a-kind event set to take to the stages at Zilker Park October 7-9 and October 14-16, 2022." (Chantal Rice, CultureMap Austin)
Austin to buy hotel, convert it into shelter for family violence victims "Austin will spend $8.8 million to buy and renovate a hotel to be used as a shelter for victims of family violence, a move that will more than double the existing number of rooms operated by the SAFE Alliance, a nonprofit that helps people with limited options separate from their abusers. ... The hotel being purchased for use as a family violence shelter is in East Austin." (Ryan Autullo, Austin American-Statesman)
