The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday gave its blessing to a low-income apartment project despite reservations from staff and a nonprofit that advocates for fair housing. At question was the proposed Del Valle 969 Apartments, a development planned to be built at 14011 FM 969, in an unincorporated area known as Hornsby Bend. The […]
affordable housing
This general term refers to housing that is affordable to Austinites, with or without subsidy.
Posted inHousing
Is ‘missing middle’ housing still missing from CodeNEXT?
Jake Wegmann, an assistant professor of housing and real estate at the University of Texas, stood on the sidewalk in Mueller, a large mixed-use development on the site of Austin’s old airport. He pointed across the street to a string of attached, two-story homes. “These are town homes,” he said. “Here’s some missing middle housing.” […]
Posted inHousing
What is ‘missing middle’ housing?
Annette Naish used to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, traveling across the U.S. responding to natural disasters. “I found out that in this country there are some of the most wonderful people in the history of the Western world,” she said. Now that she’s retired, Naish tends to stay in North Austin, at […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Bills threaten Austin’s land use plans
Brie Franco, the city of Austin’s chief legislative strategist, gave City Council a brief update at Tuesday’s work session before rushing off to do some last minute lobbying. The city is facing a number of legislative attempts to curb its powers in the area of land use, Franco explained. That includes House Bill 2959 and […]
Posted inHousing
Council members consider ways to refine Strategic Housing Plan
In recent weeks, the release of Austin’s first-ever strategic housing plan has faced scrutiny as well as garnered support at public meetings. The plan aims to address the city’s growing affordability crisis by setting goals for new housing production. Tomorrow, City Council members are set to vote on whether or not to adopt the plan, […]
Posted inHousing
Austin plan sets goals for more affordable housing. But where should it go?
City Council is set to vote this week on whether to adopt the city’s first-ever housing plan. The plan aims to address Austin’s growing affordability crisis by setting goals for new housing production. But apart from encouraging more affordable housing, there’s also the question of where exactly it should go. The Strategic Housing Plan sets […]
Posted inHousing
Affordable units to rely on third party agreements
City Council on Thursday approved on second reading zoning changes allowing the owners of two South Congress properties to build vertical mixed-use projects with deep affordability for some residents, but the developers will be looking for a private partner to enforce the affordability covenants. Alice Glasco, representing the developer of South Congress Residences at 4714 […]
Posted inZoning
Council rejects dense project on narrow street
For developer Ross Wilson at PSW Real Estate and lobbyist Glen Coleman, downzoning the junkyard at 2413 Thornton Road from commercial services to Multifamily-4 seemed like a no-brainer. But because of the narrow neighborhood street and the increased traffic a 70-unit multifamily project would generate, staff recommended MF-2, with construction of fewer than 55 units, […]
Posted inHousing
Affordability plan before Council emphasizes housing needs
City Council members are hoping to make good on promises to create a more affordable Austin. Or, at the very least, ratify a plan to. Council members will vote on an “affordability action plan” at their regular meeting Thursday. The measure, spearheaded by Council Member Ellen Troxclair, proposes five areas in which the local government […]
Posted inHousing
When the loss of a historic home adds to much-needed housing stock
Reedy Spigner, 45, straddles a gray carpet strewn with empty glass bottles and pieces of tape – just some of the things left behind in a move. In front of him is an entire wall of windows. From there, he looks out onto E. 22nd Street and is transported some 35 years into the past. […]
Posted inCity Council
Plaza Saltillo advances amid accusations of broken promises
After years in the making, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Plaza Saltillo is only one vote away from its ultimate fate. City Council on Thursday night gave second-reading approval to the zoning change that will clear the way for the project, albeit slightly shorter than the developer, Endeavor Real Estate Group, originally proposed. The vote […]
Posted inHousing
Tax credits could provide big increase in affordable housing units on Goodrich Ave.
With the assistance of the state and federal government, Pathways at Goodrich Place, a public housing complex at 2126 Goodrich Ave., may soon have more than three times as many apartment units serving residents who otherwise couldn’t afford to live in the surrounding Zilker neighborhood. City Council voted Thursday to endorse an application by Pathways […]