BG Reads | News You Need to Know (December 12, 2022)
[AUSTIN METRO]
Council to establish consistent practices for redeveloping city-owned land (Austin Monitor)
City Council passed multiple resolutions this month aimed at guiding how the city manages the land it owns, particularly with an eye toward creating more affordable housing and other community benefits.
On Dec. 1, Council passed four resolutions, all sponsored by Council Member Kathie Tovo, to establish consistent and transparent practices for the use of city-owned land. Each tackled a different piece of the city’s land management strategy, including:
Establishing goals for redevelopment and public-private partnerships on city-owned land, and when and how Council and community members should be involved
Designating the Austin Economic Development Corporation as a partner organization on redevelopment projects on city-owned land
Putting in place a consistent strategy for leasing city-owned facilities
Creating a parking management plan for city garages that increases revenue for the city and aligns with climate and mobility goals
Council also considered a fifth resolution on Dec. 8 aiming to solidify other city land management practices, but it failed to pass… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
As U.S. recession fears loom, what does that mean for Austin's job market? (Austin American-Statesman)
As concerns about a 2023 recession loom, Austin's job market still appears to be robust. At least for now.
The region's unemployment rate stood at 2.8% in October, the most recent figure available and a level that economists generally consider so low that it means most people who want a job have one.
But the unemployment rate is a lagging indicator, making current trends more murky. With the broad national economy seemingly at an inflection point, the upshot is substantial uncertainty for Austin and Texas heading into the new year.
"We’re seeing growing concern about potential layoffs from enterprise-sized businesses, particularly in the technology sector," said Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which provides job training and assistance in the region… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Samsung, Linde Ch. 313 applications approved ahead of potential suburban projects (Austin business journal)
Just weeks before the state's controversial Chapter 313 incentives program comes to an end, one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers and one of its largest industrial gas suppliers have been approved for millions in tax breaks for their proposed projects northeast of Austin.
During a Dec. 5 special meeting of the Taylor Independent School District board, trustees approved nine new applications for South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s potential $167.6 billion expansion and a single application for a $271 million project from Linde Inc., a subsidiary of United Kingdom-based industrial gas company Linde PLC (Nasdaq: LIN)… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Zilker Park plan brings worries over parking, ecology, athletic fields (Austin Monitor)
Concerns about athletic fields, ecological impacts, and plans for major accessibility and transportation infrastructure were among the issues discussed during a recent feedback session with planners working on the future of Zilker Park.
Last month the city unveiled its draft vision plan for the 351-acre park, with stated goals including improving and rehabilitating areas of environmental distress as well as making the city’s major metropolitan park more welcoming and open to visitors from throughout the area.
Last week there were two input sessions on the plan, with an online virtual forum followed by an in-person information and roundtable event.
After the draft plan was revealed there was substantial discussion and criticism on social media sites about aspects of the plan, which is still in the early conceptual phase and will be revised based on community discussion. Some of the most pointed concerns focused on three proposed parking decks that would be located on the perimeter of the park, with substantial underground parking included… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin pedestrians at highest risk as traffic deaths hit near-record levels this year (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin enters this holiday season with a gloomy outlook on city traffic: Pedestrian deaths are higher than fatalities in any other type of crash this year, and we're close to matching last year's record number of traffic deaths.
December brings its own set of traffic challenges, including drunken drivers leaving seasonal parties and cold weather dangers, such as icy roads. As Austin residents prepare to hit the highways for the holidays, Lt. William White, head of the Austin Police Department's vehicular homicide unit, said now isn't the time to relax behind the wheel.
"December is notoriously a month with a lot of alcohol usage, holiday celebrations, combined with increased travel and bad weather," White said. "Avoid unnecessary travel, especially during late hours and bad weather. And, if you do go out, don't drink and drive."… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Delayed Texas maternal mortality report to be released next week, state says (TExas Tribune)
A long-delayed maternal mortality report will be released to legislators and the public as early as next week, Dr. Jennifer Shuford, interim commissioner for the Department of State Health Services, said on Friday.
The report was due Sept. 1, but at the last meeting of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee meeting, the state said it would be delayed to allow a full review of cases from 2019.
The committee has now reviewed 140 of the 147 pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths from 2019. At the meeting Friday, committee members said that additional review did not change the findings or recommendations they planned to put forward… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Blockchain group urges Texas to become hub for cryptocurrency, other emerging tech (Austin American-statesman)
The group — called the Texas Workgroup on Blockchain Matters and comprised of about a dozen members from state agencies, Texas universities and the blockchain industry — outlined more than 20 measures aimed at strengthening the growing blockchain industry here.
Christopher Calicott, managing director of Trammell Venture Partners, an Austin-based early-stage venture capital firm, is part of the group, which was established during the 2021 session of the state Legislature to help Texas take a strategic approach to the industry… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Dallas-Fort Worth sees its largest decline in home sales in more than a decade (Dallas Morning News)
Dallas-Fort Worth single-family home sales fell 30% from November 2021 to 2022, the sharpest decline since immediately after the Great Recession. The metro area saw 5,791 single-family home sales in November, according to the latest housing market report from Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University and North Texas Real Estate Information Systems. The last home sales decline of more than 30% was in July 2010, Texas A&M records show. The median sale price of a single-family home dropped almost 9% from a record $435,000 in May and June to $396,500 in November. That’s still way higher than home costs were three years ago, when the median price was about $280,000. Over the course of this year, North Texas home prices have been appreciating at a slower pace but still increasing by the double digits. The median sale price in November was 10% higher than it was a year before… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
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Bingham Group Week in Review (12.9.2022)
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