The future of Interstate 35 through downtown Austin hasn’t looked particularly bright over the last few years, as the slow development of plans by state transportation agency TxDOT to widen the highway come into unflattering focus. We’ve previously described the possibility of an expanded I-35 — with the obvious frustrations of its extended construction period, likely failure to solve traffic congestion, and the…
history
Four Historic Markers Approved for East Austin Mexican American Heritage Sites
Four East Austin landmarks significant to the Mexican American cultural history of the region have officially received approval for state historical markers, according to an announcement this week by local nonprofit Preservation Austin. The sites, submitted for consideration as part of the organization’s East Austin Barrio Landmarks Project, represent part of an ongoing effort by local historians to document and preserve the diverse…
Burnet Road Residential Tower Brings New Height Near the Domain
The cliché that the Domain represents Austin’s “second downtown” is a slight overstatement, but that doesn’t make its recent vertical growth any less impressive for a part of town that only a few years ago was indistinguishable from the car-dependent suburban sprawl of almost everything north of 183. The North Burnet Gateway Regulating Plan, which tweaked the region’s zoning restrictions to incentivize the development of…
Here’s Our First Look at the Apartment Tower Headed for Fifth and Red River
The 37-floor downtown Austin apartment tower planned for the corner of East Fifth and Red River Streets by local real estate developer Stonelake Capital Partners heads to the City of Austin’s Design Commission for a review of its density bonus application on Monday next week — but since we try our best to stay on the ball around here for the…
The 2022 AIA Austin Homes Tour Comes Back to Life for Its 36th Year
This October, the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects will host its 36th annual AIA Austin Homes Tour as a fully in-person event, following past virtual and hybrid versions of the tour staged in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic concerns. The event’s return to form as one of the nation’s longest-running celebrations of residential architecture features self-guided tours of new and renovated…
Brush Square’s Transformation Is Finally Under Construction in Downtown Austin
The plan by the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department to renovate downtown’s Brush Square into a more accessible public outdoor space has finally kicked off its first phase, with the site currently fenced off and visible construction underway since late last month. That’s a big ol’ sigh of relief you’re hearing from us — to…