Austin’s public transit has some issues. But ignore the haters for a second, because the novelty of riding a train in Austin still hasn’t worn off, and the MetroRail system has the potential to bring a car-free (or, let’s be honest, car-reduced) future to your doorstep. The best way to entice locals to give it a try? Booze. Here…
East Avenue Apartment Tower Planned for the Downtown Austin Panhandle
A tiny scrap of land just south of the Town Lake Holiday Inn might become downtown’s next point tower. First this site was being planned as the North Shore Lofts, then Town Lake Lofts, and now the project appears to have settled on East Avenue Apartments, at least for the time being. The current plan for the site includes: 32 stories…
A Park Divided: Finding the ‘Magic Trick’ for Lamar Beach
There may not be a piece of downtown real estate more Balkanized, and by implication more challenging, when it comes to reaching consensus on a master plan than Lamar Beach. The stakeholders include the Parks and Recreation Department, the West Austin Youth Association (WAYA), Austin Pets Alive! , Austin Independent School District, Austin Arts in Public Places, and a second handful of…
7 Austin Podcasts Your Ears Deserve
If your New Year’s resolution for 2017 involves spending less time staring at Facebook and more time expanding your mind, listening to a few podcasts is a good place to start. It’s not hard to keep it local — Austin’s got a fair share of solid shows produced within its city limits, but you have…
Austin’s Festivals Need More Space, District 1 May Save Them
According to the recommendations of the Austin City Council’s Parkland Events Task Force, the city should seek to reduce the number of events hosted at its three major downtown parks — Zilker, Auditorium Shores, and Festival Beach — in order to reduce wear and tear on the facilities, as well as ease noise and traffic in…
The View From Emancipation Park
A tiny tract of land in East Austin has neighbors all around it frustrated over its fate, but grateful that its legacy will at last be honored. At 2724 E. 12th Street NAPA Ventures LLC wants to construct a five-story, 30-unit, 60-foot tall, mixed-income apartment building. NAPA purchased the site in 2013, then in December 2015 filed a…