Austin’s Seaholm Waterfront Project Finally Moves Forward Next Week "The first phase of this Art Deco-inspired facility’s rehab involves locals like the Parks and Recreation Department, the Trail Foundation, the Austin Parks Foundation, and architecture firm Cotera + Reed. It’s perhaps the most critical stage of the plan, if not the sexiest on paper — in the city’s language, the goal of that $3.2 million is making the structure '…safe and inhabitable for small programs and events by restoring character defining features and updating the building for code-compliant occupancy.'" (James Rambin, Towers)
Corporate tax break program at risk after failing to clear Texas Senate "In a big blow for proponents of using tax breaks to attract economic development to Texas, a top state incentive program for businesses is in jeopardy of expiring after a key deadline passed Wednesday night without lawmakers renewing it. The so-called Chapter 313 program — named for the section of the tax code in which it appears — has been lauded by advocates for enticing jobs and investment to Texas but derided by critics who call it a mechanism for publicly funded giveaways to corporations." (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin condo development sells out in 5 hours "A South Austin condominium development held a sales launch event last week and sold out in what developer and investor Legacy Communities believes to be record time: 132 condos sold in just five hours. The Station at St. Elmo, located at 4510 Terry-O Lane in the rapidly changing St. Elmo neighborhood a few minutes south of downtown, will be made up of units running from $200,000 to more than $600,000. Crews will begin construction this August with a target opening date of fall 2022." (Austin Business Journal)
New Data Shows Slightly Fewer Unhoused Austinites "Responding to calls for updated data, the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) released a report today showing a decrease in the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Austin since January 2020. Using a different methodology than the Point in Time Count conducted annually prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ECHO concludes that on Jan. 28, 2021 approximately 2,238 people in Travis County were living in tents, personal vehicles, abandoned structures and other locations not intended for human habitation, compared to 2,262 individuals on the same date in 2020." (Austin Chronicle)
Austin FC releases transportation plan with details for off-site parking, rideshare drop-off zones "In anticipation of tens of thousands of fans set to converge on Q2 Stadium for Austin FC’s June home opener, the professional soccer club has released its comprehensive transportation plan for fans arriving and leaving the North Austin stadium site. Austin FC on May 26 presented its transportation and mobility plan, which includes preparations for public transit, pedestrians and cyclists, rideshare options, private shuttles, and parking lots" (Community Impact)
As temporary Healthy Streets close, permanent version prepares to open "As Austin’s Healthy Streets program winds down, with less than four miles of the temporary slow streets remaining, the city is preparing a new pilot program for 10 permanent Healthy Streets. The pilot will 'test the application of our Healthy Streets principles – calming traffic, opening up street spaces to people walking, biking, driving, parking, and generally just interacting safely in shared street space,' Laura Dierenfield with the Transportation Department told the Mobility Committee on Thursday." (Austin Monitor)
Foreign investors bank on Austin as No. 1 commercial real estate market in U.S. "In a recent survey released by AFIRE, an industry group for real estate investors, foreign real estate investors favored Austin over any other U.S. city for buying property in 2021. Boston ranked second, with Dallas in third place. Houston tied for No. 14, and San Antonio tied for No. 15." (CultureMap Austin)
Texas Winter Storm Death Toll Could Be Much Higher Than The State's Count, BuzzFeed Data Review Found "While Texas officials have confirmed that 151 deaths were related to the freeze in February, the death toll could actually be four or five times higher, according to a BuzzFeed data review. Using mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BuzzFeed said it compared the number of deaths from all causes that were reported in Texas during and after the storm with the number of fatalities that are normally reported during ordinary conditions. That method is known as 'excess fatalities' and has been employed during other disasters, like the COVID-19 pandemic, to estimate related death tolls. ... Texas lawmakers are currently considering legislation meant to prevent further blackouts." (KUT)
