Austin American-Statesman

Density is Victim of the Economy

In Austin, TX, a planned transit-oriented development went bust. The new developer is taking the density down from 1,200 homes to "plus or minus 700."
9 July 2009 - 12:00pm
Austin American-Statesman

Solar-Powered Parking Meter Considered

Austin joins cities across the U.S. and elsewhere in shifting away from individually-metered spaces and towards pay stations in an effort to increase revenue and efficiencies.
5 March 2009 - 9:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Too Many Cars, Not Enough Driveways in Austin

A suburban city near Austin tried to beautify with a parking ordinance, but city leaders are rethinking it.
21 February 2009 - 5:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Going After Graffiti

The city of San Marcos, Texas, near Austin, plans harsher measures to crack down on graffiti, including holding a minor's parents responsible and banning certain graffiti-making tools.
10 February 2009 - 7:00am
Austin American-Statesman

A Major Step Toward An Ambitious Energy Goal

The City of Austin is set to take in a record amount of solar power to advance towards a goal of deriving 30% of local energy from renewable sources by 2020.
2 February 2009 - 8:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Austin Aims For Greener Events and Festivals

Officials in Austin, Texas, are drafting what's believed to be the nation's most substantive sustainability policy for special events--including measures to reduce waste and conserve water and energy.
15 November 2008 - 11:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Cities Embracing Music Festivals

The Austin City Limits music festival, held at the city's major public park, has inspired other cities to invite festivals to their parks, despite the inherent challenges.
26 September 2008 - 6:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Lance Armstrong is #1 in Austin

Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong tops a list of heavy water users in a city trying hard to conserve while meeting rising demand during a drought and steady or rapid population growth.
26 August 2008 - 11:00am
Austin American-Statesman

'Wood Waste' Power Plant Raises Questions in Texas

The city of Austin considers a multi-billion dollar investment in a "biomass" power plant, burning wood waste in East Texas as a carbon-neutral, renewable energy source.
15 August 2008 - 11:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Chickens Aren't Just For Countrysides Anymore

Residents of Austin, TX are risking violation of city ordinances forbidding loud animals to raise chickens in their central city neighborhood backyards. It's partly a way to cut out-of-pocket expenses.
11 July 2008 - 10:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Do Cities Have Room For Golf Courses?

Stakeholders in Austin debate the future of a public golf course in the center of town while the University of Texas, owner of the land, debates whether to seek greater profits off the land. Neighbors champion the course as vital open space.
9 July 2008 - 12:00pm
Austin American-Statesman

It's Not That Easy Greening Your Fleet

Austin and a number of other cities are working to reduce the carbon footprint left by their fleets of city vehicles. Austin officials are looking for ways to offset their remaining emissions.
3 July 2008 - 11:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Differences Over Mixed-Use Emerge In East Austin

After initially supporting the city's new mixed-use ordinance, some residents of East Austin asking the city to apply the brakes on adoption of the measure due to concerns about gentrification.
18 May 2007 - 8:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Long Commutes Are Bad For Your Health

While long solo car commutes are tough on the environment (and increasingly the pocketbook), new research shows they has a negative effect on a person's health as well.
18 April 2007 - 10:00am
Austin American-Statesman

$1.5 Billion Plan To Bring Hollywood To Austin

An ambitious $1.5 billion mixed-use project announced recently in Austin, Texas, proposes to anchor a 681-acre development with sound stages and other media-focused infrastructure. Will this project die a slow death like similar efforts before it?
17 April 2007 - 6:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Austin Permitting System Goes Online

Developers, neighborhood leaders and all interested parties will be able to track project approvals at every stage of the process.
3 March 2007 - 7:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Austin Hopes For Consensus Plan Around Downtown Redevelopment

With a flurry of residential and mixed-use development planned for the city's downtown, local officials hope to create a comprehensive vision that all stakeholders in the area can support.
3 January 2007 - 9:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Austin To Consider New Fund To Save Downtown 'Mom and Pops'

With new development threatening quirky non-chain restaurants and other retail stores, the City of Austin wants to create a fund to support and attract certain types of downtown businesses.
24 December 2006 - 5:00am
Austin American-Statesman

Austin, Texas OKs Stricter Guidelines For Big-Box Retail

New rules approved by the Austin City Council require that neighbors be notified of proposed big-box development and that a public hearing be held for the project.
18 December 2006 - 12:00pm
Austin American-Statesman

Encouraging New Mixed-Use Development Without Sacrificing Affordable Housing

With Downtown Austin exploding with new mixed-use development, the redevelopment of a low-income apartment complex into a new mixed-use project has affordable-housing advocates worried that the city's supply of below-market-rate housing is vanishing.
16 November 2006 - 11:00am
Austin American-Statesman
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