Hotel Project Sparks Downtown Skirmish

A proposed hotel complex at Eighth and Congress has had a particularly dramatic saga en route to Council

"...battle over a proposed hotel complex at Eighth and Congress is finally making its way to City Council today..."

Jan. 18, 2013 News Feature by Elizabeth Pagano

Follow That Bus: More Changes at Cap Met

An additional MetroRapid route and an end to buses on Congress planned

"...more major service changes: the end of buses on Congress Avenue, and its second MetroRapid route, linking the high-growth..."

March 28, 2014 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Council Watch

Council divided on Gotham condo project; Jesus Garza gets a big raise; East Austin residents voice concerns about the future of the brown building and flood control.

"...project to lay stakes at Town Lake and the Congress Avenue bridge arose at last week's council meeting, Council..."

Dec. 17, 1999 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

Condo Clash

The Gotham Has Neighbors Up in Arms

"...condominium developer Randall Davis has proposed for 200 South Congress, brings to mind Austin's rodent mascots. Quite the contrary...."

Oct. 1, 1999 News Feature by Jenny Staff Johnson

Naked City

City Council Members continue to debate the fate of the proposed Congress Ave. Gotham condominiums, with debate now centering on height restrictions and the city's Waterfront Overlay ordinance.

"...of the Second Amendment. Counting some of the Waterfront Overlay's framers (and a passel of agitated South Austinites, who..."

Dec. 10, 1999 News Feature by Jenny Staff Johnson

Developing Stories: 'L' Is for 'Lake' – and Legal and Ludicrous

The Waterfront Overlay has an intricate history

"...or City Council: On this tract, the city's Waterfront Overlay Ordinance requires a 200-foot building setback. But just as..."

Sept. 14, 2007 News Column by Katherine Gregor

On the Waterfront

As development accelerates along Town Lake, Austin faces urgent choices

"...the hike-and-bike trail between the Hyatt Regency and the Congress Avenue Bridge. (With the 44-story 360 Condominiums now rising..."

Jan. 19, 2007 News Feature by Katherine Gregor

Naked City

Council approves the to-be-redesigned Gotham on second reading; the Chestnut neighborhood plan becomes the first to win zoning changes from the council.

"...building, to be located at the southwest corner of Congress Avenue, has been released, but designers are hoping the..."

Sept. 1, 2000 News Feature by Emily Pyle

Council Watch

East Austin residents have a say in neighborhood planning; local advocates ask for more money in city budget to fund their special interest; Bill Spelman issues some strong words against the Statesman's criticism of council on the LCRA water deal.

"...the initiation of possible amendments to the East Austin Overlay -- were dispatched with relative ease. First among discussion..."

Sept. 10, 1999 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

Council Watch

The Gotham Cometh: Town Lake Condo Clears First Hurdle; Council Moves On to Water

"...planned Gotham condominiums on the south end of the Congress Avenue bridge, Spelman cited the nearby South Congress offices..."

Oct. 8, 1999 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

Top 10 Developing Stories

"...Or will it be the near-empty block directly across Congress Avenue that lost Las Manitas and now the Marriott?..."

Jan. 2, 2009 News Column by Katherine Gregor

Land Rush

The Early Days

"...Center, an enormous shopping/hotel complex at the foot of Congress Avenue and overlapping the Annex site. That plan went..."

Dec. 11, 1998 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...In the article entitled "Which Austin Congressman?" [News, April 16] Mr. Mike Clark-Madison states that incumbent..."

April 23, 2004 Column

Former City Historic Preservation Officer Comments

"...original ordinance did not readily accommodate local historic district overlay zoning, instead relying heavily on a "courtesy" but unbinding..."

April 19, 2004 Postmarks

City in Court Against SoCo Cafe

City files charges against South Congress Cafe owners for unpermitted construction of fence, deck, and outdoor bar

"...C misdemeanor charges for unpermitted construction on the South Congress Cafe, owned by the Truesdell family of the local..."

June 24, 2005 News Feature by Daniel Mottola

Council Watch

City plots downtown's retail future

"...the Green Treatment Plant on the west end to Congress Avenue on the east end. The vote would facilitate..."

Feb. 4, 2000 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

Rockin' Solutions: A Four-Piece Combo

Highlights of solutions emerging from the four Live Music Task Force subcommittees

"...to one big Downtown district, possibly as a zoning overlay. (Boundaries would be Lady Bird Lake, Lamar, I-35, and..."

July 18, 2008 News Feature by Katherine Gregor

Developing Stories

Big Box, Back Off!; Las Manitas Swirls On; and Bucking the City

"...the proposed Marriott project in the 200 block of Congress Avenue (see "Mas Noticias Las Manitas: Council Members Take..."

Oct. 27, 2006 News Feature by Katherine Gregor

Road Show

watson goes to washington to talk transportation; city backs off of terrace pud money, no settlement yet with gary bradley, city may step in to stop expansion of hyde park baptist church, council to consider retail space at csc.

"...new retail corridor on Second from City Hall to Congress Avenue? The city's CSC project manager, Nathan Schneider, says..."

Jan. 28, 2000 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

Council Watch

City and developer Gary Bradley reach agreeement on development

"...to comment on the study's (and therefore the Waterfront Overlay's) "intent."..."

Nov. 26, 1999 News Column by Jenny Staff Johnson

Dreaming Big With Lady Bird

Design team makes preliminary recommendations for lakeside redevelopment

"...a line on the PowerPoint slide featuring the Waterfront Overlay District section of the Austin City Code...."

June 15, 2012 News Feature by Monica Riese

Council To Imagine Imagine Austin

Plus SH 45, White Lodging, frat houses, and more

"...code amendment creating a Central Austin Univer­si­ty Area Zoning Overlay District in response to university area residents' concerns about..."

June 15, 2012 News Feature by Amy Smith

Dreaming Big With Lady Bird

Team's preliminary recommendations for Lady Bird Lake's south shore

"...reads line under the PowerPoint slide featuring the Waterfront Overlay District section of the Austin City Code...."

June 7, 2012 News Post by Monica Riese

Council's Got ... Talent?

At intermission, we talk to the headliners

"...of the business retention program and follow-up on the Congress Avenue retention program [i.e., the Las Manitas loan program]..."

July 13, 2007 News Feature by Wells Dunbar

Variances From Recommendations Aren't in Anyone's Best Interest

"...Dear Editor, The Austin Town Lake Waterfront Overlay Advisory Board, on which we served, studied dozens of..."

Nov. 9, 2006 Postmarks

Naked City

"...has called for the reconstitution of the city's Waterfront Overlay task force. At a work session this week, the..."

Nov. 2, 2007 News Feature

The Towers of Power

Are high-rises the key to a middle-class Downtown?

"...the 14-story residential tower at Fifth Street and West Avenue. They have recently had a blessed event in the..."

Nov. 11, 2005 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Sidewalk Fail!

"...corner at Newton and Elizabeth, just West of South Congress. "Any time we wanted to walk next door, we..."

Aug. 28, 2014 Photo Gallery

Diamond in the Rough

Dawson's Can-Do Spirit Emerges in Pilot Project

"...among the leaders of the Dawson neighborhood, between South Congress and South First, and Oltorf and Ben White. "This..."

June 5, 1998 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison