Austin seeks to add additional shelter beds as summer approaches "Last week, in a memo to city staff, interim City Manager Jesús Garza said the city would add about 450 additional shelter beds by the end of the summer. The city will begin by increasing capacity at its bridge shelters – both north and south locations – and then converting a Southeast Austin warehouse, the Marshalling Yard, into a temporary shelter." (Luz Moreno-Lozano, Austin American-Statesman)
New poll reveals Austinites' opposition to new Zilker Park Vision Plan "A new poll has revealed hundreds of Austinites' stark opposition to the City's Zilker Park Vision Plan, which proposed $150 million in construction to develop new bike trails, pedestrian bridges, parking garages, and other amenities in the city's most prominent park." (Amber Heckler, CultureMap Austin)
Work begins on Bastrop multifamily project "Wood Partners and SCOA Real Estate Partners broke ground on Alta Blakey in the rural community, according to a May 17 announcement. The Atlanta-based co-developers will bring more than 300 apartments to a fast growing section of the Austin metro with plenty of raw, undeveloped land."(Cody Baird, Austin Business Journal)
Reconsidering an Ocean of Asphalt at the Anderson Square Shopping Center "The owners of a longtime North Austin shopping center with one of the city’s most perpetually empty parking lots are currently weighing the possibilities of a denser redevelopment, according to a meeting of the Wooten Neighborhood Association earlier this month." (James Rambin, Towers)
Council votes to make it easier to build along highways "City Council voted Thursday to eliminate a section of the Land Development Code that governs development along highways, hoping the change will help add housing units in the city and 'eliminate barriers to the creation of income-restricted units under established city density bonus programs.'” (Jo Clifton, Austin Monitor)
Austin's neighbors lead the country in population growth (again) "Four of the top five fastest-growing cities in the U.S. are in Texas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Georgetown tops the list, as it did last year, with Kyle and Leander in the No. 3 and 4 spots, respectively. Little Elm, north of Dallas, placed fifth on the annual list." (Andrew Weber, KUT 90.5)
City officials warn to avoid contact with algae found at Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake "Cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae, were found at sites along Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin, except for Walsh Boat Landing, between May 2 and May 12 as the city of Austin resumed its algae monitoring program, according to a news release from May 16 by the Austin Watershed Protection Department." (Andrew Weber, Elle Bent, Community Impact)
