Free Republic

COMMENTARY: JOHN KELSO No sour grapes over Las Manitas It's just the city bureaucracy that leaves a bad taste. Tuesday, June 19, 2007 Jeff Courington, who has opened a new wine bar called Vino Vino at 4119 Guadalupe St., says his feelings about the Las Manitas deal are not sour grapes. "I like the girls at Las Manitas," he said, referring to the Perez sisters, who own the Mexican food restaurant on Congress Avenue that he thinks got special treatment from the city. "But I mean, come on, they're just a business like anyone else. It's not like it's some...

Council approves, tweaks restaurant loan Provisions added to Las Manitas loan. By Sarah Coppola AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, June 07, 2007 The Austin City Council approved a proposed $750,000 forgivable loan for Las Manitas restaurant, but tweaked the loan to respond to citizen complaints. City officials proposed the loan to help Las Manitas owners Lidia and Cynthia Perez relocate to and renovate 227 Congress Ave., a historic building the sisters own nearby. The home of Las Manitas and other businesses, 221 Congress Ave., will be redeveloped into a $185 million Marriott hotel complex. The issue drew only a handful of residents...

Republican lawmaker's bill could gut Austin's home-size ordinance Seguin representative wants to limit cities' zoning restrictions By Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, February 28, 2007 A state lawmaker wants to rehab Austin's so-called 'McMansion' ordinance outlawing larger homes in central neighborhoods. Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin, said he filed the legislation at the behest of builders to get city officials negotiating on how the ordinance might be changed to better protect homeowners and landowners. "It's certainly not Austin-bashing in any way, shape or form," Kuempel said. "We just wanted to let everyone know we're still interested in private property rights." It's...