Archive for the ‘In The News’ Category
Most Congested Roadways In Austin
Friday, February 5th, 2010
The Texas Department of Transportation recently published a list of Texas’ 100 most congested roadways. While Austinites may already complain about traffic congestion, now they can see how their commute measures up to friends’ and neighbors’. Fourteen of the roadway segments are in Central Texas. Find out the ranking of roadways along with what, if anything, is planned to improve the roadways and the cost of improvements versus not taking action.
Ranking: 26
This segment has more than 1.36 million annual hours of delay* with an annual congestion cost of delay* of $28.32 million. A trip that takes 20 minutes in free-flow conditions will take approximately 28 minutes during rush hour. If no changes are made to the current transportation system, TxDOT projects that a trip during rush hour would take 45 minutes in 20 years. TxDOT has no plans to update this roadway.
Ranking: 44
This segment has more than 1.08 million annual hours of delay with an annual congestion cost of delay of $22.56 million. A trip that takes 20 minutes in free-flow conditions will take approximately 26 minutes during rush hour. If no changes are made to the current transportation system, TxDOT projects that a trip during rush hour would take 40 minutes in 20 years. TxDOT has plans to add managed lanes to help with congestion.
Ranking: 45
This segment has more than 570,000 annual hours of delay with an annual congestion cost of delay of $11.89 million. A trip that takes 20 minutes in free-flow conditions will take approximately 26 minutes during rush hour.
Tags: Capital of Texas Hwy, commute, Hwy 290, Hwy 71, Loop 1, Mopac, RM 2222, RM 2244, US 183
Posted in In The News, Transit | No Comments »
Condos, Brackenridge Tract, Air Quality
Friday, February 5th, 2010
By Mary Tuma Wednesday, 02 December 2009
AUSTIN — Despite the recession’s effect on the housing market, individuals are still finding the means to move into luxury condos downtown. Many formerly reluctant buyers took advantage of discounts on new units, while others remain cautious about committing to contracts that often favor the sellers.
As downtown continues to grow, developers eye another valuable area nearby, the 350-acre Brackenridge Tract, owned by the University of Texas. Its fate lies in three proposals awaiting a decision from UT regents.
Meanwhile, another issue affecting the city’s future will be determined before the end of the year. Barely passing a federal air quality test this summer, Austin could face stricter ozone standards in the coming years.
Tags: air quality, brackenridge, Development, downtown condos, lions
Posted in Development, In The News, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Senate Approves Extension Of Homebuyer Credit . . . Through April
Friday, November 6th, 2009
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a $45 billion plan Wednesday to expand a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, extend jobless benefits and provide tax refunds to money-losing companies.
Under the bill, the $8,000 homebuyers’ tax credit, slated to expire this month, would continue until April 30 and be expanded to include people with higher incomes and some who already own homes. The measure also includes $2.4 billion to extend unemployment benefits for as many as 20 weeks, enough to aid the jobless through the holiday season, and would loosen tax rules for businesses, allowing them to claim refunds by deducting losses sustained in the past two years from the past five years’ worth of profits.
Tags: Buyer, Home, tax credit
Posted in Buyer & Seller Tips, In The News, Uncategorized | No Comments »
New Solar Program Could Front Costs For Homeowners
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
The City of Austin is working on a new plan to make going green much easier on your wallet.
Solar power is a hot item in Central Texas.
This is a 4 kilowatt system. . . . .The total cost to the homeowner to install this system is right around $20,000. With all the rebates that are in place, the price tag works out to be less than half. Still, city leaders say that’s too much for many people. So Tuesday, they announced a new program where the homeowner wouldn’t have any upfront costs.
Tags: Green Home, solar, subsidization
Posted in Buyer & Seller Tips, In The News, Sustainable Living, Uncategorized | No Comments »
New Projects Promise To Change W. Sixth St.
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Sit at Opal Divine’s patio on a Saturday night on West Sixth Street, and it won’t take long to realize that the people watching is almost as tempting as the brews.
Every weekend, women in trendy dresses and men in button-down shirts descend on the area heading to the dozen or so bars, lounges and restaurants that are shoe-horned between Lavaca and West streets.
The area has evolved into an upscale entertainment district with a personality that attracts an upwardly mobile crowd in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
Now, hoping to further capitalize on the area’s white-hot popularity, some entrepreneurs are separately investing in a handful of new projects. . . Click Here For More
Austin Business Journal – by Sandra Zaragoza ABJ Staff
Tags: west 6th development, West Sixth St.
Posted in Development, In The News | No Comments »
25% Of New Homes In Austin Are “Green”
Friday, August 7th, 2009
Home building in Austin is greener than ever.
Long known for its save-the-planet ways, the city continues to be a national leader in producing eco-friendly homes, says Richard Morgan, Austin Energy’s green building manager.
More than 20 percent of homes built in the Austin Energy service area now are being rated green by the city program, Morgan says. The city always ranks among the top 10 in the country in green production – and by some reckonings, the city ranks No. 1, Morgan says.
“Over the last few years, we’ve been rating anywhere from 18 to 23 percent of homes ? more than 1,000 homes each year,” Morgan says. “It was probably about 24 percent last year.
“Even with the downturn, we’re still rating a lot of homes.”
Worth noting is the number of green-certified homes built in Austin by production builders, Morgan says.
“One of the interesting things that’s happening in Austin is, early on back in the 1990s, everybody assumed green building would be for high-end custom homes, but now probably about 90 percent of what we rate are built by production builders. In most places, it’s the custom builders doing green, but here, the production builders have really adopted green. And that is something that’s unique to Austin.” Click Here For More. . .
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tags: Green, New Homes
Posted in Development, In The News, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Home Energy Audits Now Mandatory
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Homeowners looking to sell their home now face an additional step and cost due to energy audits required by the City of Austin, but it could save homebuyers on utility costs in the long run.
The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance was approved by Austin City Council in November 2008 and was enacted June 1. Austin is the first city in the U.S. to require an energy audit during the selling process.
Of the first 400 audits performed, nearly 90 percent of homes needed both additional attic insulation and duct repair to be considered “acceptable” by the city’s standards.
Tags: audits, Energy, Mandatory
Posted in Buyer & Seller Tips, In The News | No Comments »
Central Texas Agencies Develop Long-Range Transporation Vision
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
Friday, 01 May 2009
New plans aim to create more transit options, reduce traffic congestion as region’s population continues to grow
Central Texas transportation agencies are adjusting their long-range planning strategies this year to reflect the needs of a region that has been reshaped by rapid growth and accelerated economic development. As Austin and its surrounding communities have become increasingly interconnected over the last decade, agency leaders are working to create systems that will enhance urban mobility and support an emergent commuter population. Click Here To Read More. . .
Tags: central texas, Growth, strategy, trasportation
Posted in Development, In The News, Transit | No Comments »
Austin Makes Another ‘Green Cities’ List
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Environmental news and information group The Mother Nature Network has named Austin as one of the nation’s 10 greenest cities.
The network praised the city of Austin’s Climate Protection Program, a plan to go carbon-neutral by 2020; and the city’s electric utility Austin Energy, the nation’s largest provider of renewable energy, among its reasons for naming Austin a leader in green. Click Here For More . . .
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Downtown Austin Leaders Plan For Massive Growth
Monday, July 13th, 2009
Austin city leaders are grappling with the future of downtown Austin. On Monday, the City of Austin will present revisions to the Downtown Austin Plan, which will include affordable housing and density bonus reports.
City leaders created the plan to deal with the growth in Austin, especially downtown. The population growth is more than three times the national average, construction cranes are now a part of the Austin skyline and and right now, more than 7 million square feet of development is under construction. The city projects the new development will draw in more than 8,000 new residents.
Tags: Austin, Downtown, Growth, Transit
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