The Austin Board of Realtors says Austin City Council made some progress when they banned camping along sidewalks and made limitations on when people can sit and lie on sidewalks.
ABOR CEO Emily Chenevert said, “its was not quite as comprehensive as we hoped, but we understand that they’re threading the needle on how to address the problem.” Chenevert said while it’s not the full reversal ABOR was hoping for, they are staying positive while keeping an eye out to see if what council approved will be enough.
However other businesses believes the council did not go far enough. In Downtown Austin, Co-founder and Co-owner of Royal Blue Grocery Craig Staley said he has some mixed feelings here, while he is somewhat satisfied with Council’s decision to ban camping along sidewalks and the clarification that people can sit and lie on sidewalks 15-feet away from a doorway. Its not exactly what he hoped for.
“We almost had it [Thursday] night, Councilmember [Alison] Alter proposed an amendment or made a motion for an amendment, that would have banned sit, lie, camps on all city sidewalks.” Staley believes that would have satisfied downtown.
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