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...

Las Manitas restaurant will get the money needed to relocate, remodel and stay in downtown Austin. Austin City Council members voted Thursday to grant the owners, Cynthia and Lydia Perez, a $750,000 forgivable loan that does not have to be repaid if certain requirements are met for a set time period.Las Manitas has been at its current location on 211 Congress Avenue since 1981. Last September, Marriot announced a $185 million hotel complex will be built there. The project will add 1,000 hotel rooms, 600 jobs and is being called the largest hotel development in Austin history. The community rallied...

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...