BG Reads | News You Need to Know (January 31, 2022)
Downtown Austin
[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]
Opera house redevelopment project gets first OK (Austin Monitor)
City Council unanimously approved the first reading of the proposed zoning change to three tracts just east of South Congress Avenue while signaling that there is much negotiating and bargaining awaiting the project, which aims to revive part of the Austin Opera House property as a music venue.
The owners of the three tracts, known as the 200 Academy Drive project, want to remove those properties from the Neighborhood Conservation Combining District to create a mixed-use development at affordable or reduced rates and the music venue.
The size of the music venue is the biggest sticking point between developer Chris Wallin and neighbors who argue the area will suffer from the traffic attracted to what has long been a neighborhood street. The project calls for using 17,500 square feet for music venue space, while neighbors have agreed to a much smaller 3,000 square feet, roughly the size of the nearby Continental Club.
Architect and project partner Richard Weiss said amending the NCCD instead of removing the tracts from it altogether would create future requirements and problems for the project that is largely supported by Council because of the housing it would provide as well as the project’s proximity to future mass transit lines.
Council Member Kathie Tovo, whose district includes the area in question, drafted a motion sheet that would amend parts of the NCCD affecting the project parcels to accomplish much of what is planned. The sheet included the smaller venue size as a placeholder, which she acknowledged could change in the coming weeks as staffers, the developer and neighbors continue to work toward an agreement.
Tovo also suggested the city could push for a density bonus consideration to include specific requirements around the amount of affordable housing included in the project, including the income levels targeted for those units, with up to 20 percent of the units priced for availability to those making up to 60 percent of the area’s median family income… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Samsung factory leaked thousands of gallons of acidic waste into Austin stream (Austin American-Statesman)
Sulfuric acid waste from Samsung’s semiconductor factory in Northeast Austin leaked into a stormwater pond and then into a tributary of Harris Branch Creek, a discharge that might have gone on for more than 100 days and totaled up to 763,000 gallons, according to city documents.
The area along the tributary where the leak occurred has limited public access and no nearby parks, according to a memo dated Thursday from the city's Watershed Protection Department to the City Council.
Gary Rasp, a spokesman for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which is investigating the incident, told the American-Statesman on Friday that the agency has "not documented any impact on human life" as a result of the spill.
But, temporarily at least, the leak was fatal to aquatic life in the tributary, according to the city memo.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality notified the city's Watershed Protection Department about the leak on Jan. 18, according to the memo.
Samsung’s Austin facility — which is near Parmer Lane — makes computer chips. Samsung has 10,000 workers at the facility, including 3,000 direct Samsung employees and 7,000 contractors… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Nearly 2,000 multifamily housing units slated for construction in North Austin from 2022-25 (Community Impact)
With commercial and business growth continuing close to The Domain, Domain Northside and the Q2 Stadium, several developers are bringing high-density multifamily housing units to the area.
There are at least six multifamily or mixed-use projects with residential components underway in North Austin. Together, these new developments are slated to bring 1,923 housing units to the area by 2025.
Construction on these complexes will continue throughout 2022, and some units may open for residents toward the end of the year.
In announcing their projects, several developers called the area Austin’s second downtown and cited the presence of popular retail destinations nearby as well as major employers, including Apple, Amazon, Facebook, General Motors, 3M, National Instruments, Visa, Cisco and Samsung Semiconductor.
OHT Partners is developing one project called the Lenox Grand near MoPac.“The number of high-paying jobs in this area has increased dramatically in the last few years and will continue to do so as The Domain grows, Apple opens its new campus and Uptown ATX attracts more major employers to this area,” said Ben Browder, OHT Partners vice president of development, in a Jan. 6 release. “North Austin needs more housing opportunities for people who want to live near their jobs and the growing number of popular retail and restaurant amenities nearby.”
… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin FC returns to Q2 Stadium for second season in the Capitol City (FOX 7)
Austin FC's regular season begins with two home games at Q2 Stadium. The Club will host FC Cincinnati on Feb. 26, followed by Inter Miami FC on March 6. Tickets are now on sale for all MLS regular season games.
In Austin FC's first season in the MLS, the Verde & Black finished second to last, No. 12, in the Western Conference with a 9-21-4 overall record. Looking to finish better this season, the Club has made some notable roster additions.
Midfielder Jared Stroud re-signed to a one-year guaranteed deal with two option years, according to Austin FC Communications.
The New Jersey native started in 13 of 22 appearances for Austin last season. Stroud scored one goal and recorded four assists. The midfielder also showed substantial improvement in 2021, increasing his pass percentage from 68.5 when he was with the New York Red Bulls, to 76.2 with Austin.
Austin also gained an MLS All-Star and veteran, Ethan Finlay. The midfielder agreed to a two-year deal with the Verde & Black. Finlay has appeared in 245 MLS matches and brings a decade of experience with him to Austin… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS NEWS]
Texas now has more jobs than it did before the pandemic hit (Texas Tribune)
The Texas labor market appears to have rebounded from the pandemic, with rapid population growth driving a demand for jobs.
The state ended 2021 with about 13.06 million nonagricultural jobs — about 89,600 more jobs than in February 2020, before the onset of the pandemic, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
Unemployment levels have also been on a steady decline in the state and dropped to 5% in December. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas shows that the state’s unemployment rate was at 3.7% in February 2020 before it skyrocketed when pandemic restrictions began. The rate climbed to a record high of 12.9% when Gov. Greg Abbott ordered shutdowns in April 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Rising meat prices could close small Texas barbecue joints, shifting scene to high-end restaurants (San Antonio Express-News)
Rising meat prices are a challenge for every restaurant and home cook, but the consequences are particularly dire for Texas’ barbecue joints, as their menus are almost entirely driven by meat. While large, high-end barbecue restaurants able to justify premium prices with premium surroundings and offerings might be OK, more small-time joints are likely to close. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the cost of meat increased almost 13 percent between September 2020 and September 2021, with pork prices rising nearly 16 percent, poultry prices climbing 6 percent and beef roasts, which includes brisket, a staggering 20 percent. Part of that inflation is due to scarcity. Packing plants are producing 20 percent less beef and 9 percent less poultry than in 2019. Analysts predict that prices will come down, but it may take some time. “We think food inflation will peak somewhere in the spring or summer as you begin to see some of the issues food companies faced in the early part of 2021 lapse with a lower run rate in the back half of the year,” Peter Galbo, a food and beverage analyst with Bank of America told ABC News. But as any restaurateur will tell you, a year is a lifetime… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Donald Trump presides over partisan lovefest at Texas MAGA rally as Abbott faces hecklers (Houston Chronicle)
Former President Donald Trump reaffirmed his full-throated support for Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton during a raucous rally Saturday night in Conroe, boosting the two Republican leaders as they try to fend off high-profile opponents in the fast-approaching Texas primaries. Abbott, whose GOP primary foes have cast themselves in Trump’s image and accused the governor of being insufficiently conservative, is hoping to win the March 1 primary outright, avoiding a runoff that would raise questions about his leadership in the party. Speaking to a massive crowd at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Trump called Abbott “a great governor” who “has my complete and total endorsement.” The moment was followed by a noticeably louder cheer than the one Abbott had received when he took the stage earlier in the evening, when he was met with a scattered mix of boos and cheering.
Trump also voiced his support for Paxton, who faces Land Commissioner George P. Bush, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman in the primary. With early voting a little more than two weeks away, Trump called Paxton “an attorney general who has really led the way, somebody who has been brave and strong and popular,” alluding to Paxton’s lawsuit challenging the results of the 2020 election in states carried by President Joe Biden. Minutes later, though, Trump offered similar praise to Gohmert, whom he appeared to notice unexpectedly in the crowd. “Louie Gohmert, what a wonderful guy. … This is a man who’s been a friend of mine from Day One,” Trump said, gifting Gohmert a phrase that will likely find its way into the Tyler Republican’s campaign material. In their speeches at the rally, Abbott and other top Republican state officials declared unconditional support for the former president and his no-holds-barred brand of politics. Texas GOP party chair Matt Rinaldi trumpeted the party’s partisan victories on abortion, gun rights and election security measures last year, saying uncompromising conservatism will be the way of the party going forward… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATIONAL NEWS]
Joe Rogan apologizes, Spotify publishes content policy in response to Neil Young outcry (Wall Street Journal)
Joe Rogan, responding to Neil Young’s objections to his podcast and host Spotify, said his show has grown “out of control” and pledged to be more balanced and informed about controversial topics and guests.
In a late Sunday evening 10-minute Instagram video post, Mr. Rogan said, “If I pissed you off, I’m sorry,” referring to growing backlash against him and Spotify Technology SA stemming from the folk rocker’s accusations that they spread false information about Covid-19 vaccines through the popular podcast.
“It’s a strange responsibility to have this many viewers and listeners,” said Mr. Rogan. “It’s nothing that I’ve prepared for. I’m going to do my best to balance things out.”
Mr. Rogan said he will have more guests on the show that present different opinions from contrarian ones right after he hosts controversial guests. He thanked Spotify for their support and said he’s a huge Neil Young fan.
Spotify earlier Sunday made public its policies, which it didn’t alter, and created a Covid-19 information hub in response to folk-rocker Neil Young removing his music last week from the streaming service. Mr. Young said he objected to Mr. Rogan and particularly his podcasts about the pandemic and vaccines. His action sparked others, including folk singer Joni Mitchell, to do the same.
“We haven’t been transparent around the policies that guide our content more broadly,” said Chief Executive Daniel Ek in a blog post Sunday. “It’s become clear to me that we have an obligation to do more to provide balance and access to widely accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time.”… (LINK TO FULL STORY)