Representatives of the economic entity created by City Council to speed up development of city real estate assets in support of affordable housing said they’re being stymied by inaction that’s holding back work on at least four high-profile sites. In 2022, City Council approved four properties to consider for redevelopment in the near future, with […]
affordable housing
This general term refers to housing that is affordable to Austinites, with or without subsidy.
Posted inHousing
Project Connect anti-displacement funding gets close look from Community Development Commission
Members of the Community Development Commission have requested more information from city staff about the decision-making process for spending Project Connect funds intended to preserve or create affordable housing near the mass transit system. Last week, the commission received a presentation that detailed how the city has so far spent approximately $120 million of the […]
Posted inHousing
Builders can now construct homes on less land, as Austin’s new minimum lot size goes into effect
A controversial rule that lowers the amount of land needed to build one house in Austin goes into effect Friday. Landowners wanting to build a home in some city neighborhoods will now need 1,800 square feet of land, about two-thirds less than the old requirement. City Council members voted on this change, coined HOME Phase […]
Posted inPlanning
Planning Commission OKs affordable Sunset Ridge site plan in District 8
A plan to build affordable housing on Southwest Parkway continues to move forward, despite continued opposition from surrounding neighborhoods and the Save Our Springs Alliance. “There’s always a reason to stop housing. There’s always an excuse to sue to stop housing – especially housing that’s affordable to so many. I’m excited that we get to […]
Posted inHousing
Rents in Austin are down. But many renters still struggle to find housing they can afford.
When the rent payment on Leigh Vladyka’s Austin apartment comes out of his bank account, he tries to avoid looking. Each month, almost half of his take-home pay goes to rent. Nearly $1,600 gone from the $3,400 deposited. And there are still utility bills to pay, credit card debt to stress over, and food and […]
Posted inHousing
As construction slowdown continues, a new workforce housing project takes shape
While the pipeline for multifamily housing projects has slowed severely since the end of 2023 in Austin, a local developer has announced something of a rarity: a new 110-unit project aimed primarily at workforce and middle-income residents. Earlier this week, Notional Development Partners, which is based in Austin, announced the close of funding for its […]
Posted inHousing
Austin has a high rate of segregation between homeowners and renters, study finds
Renters and homeowners in the Austin metro live more sequestered from each other than in other U.S. cities, according to a study from Harvard University released last week. The Austin area has one of the highest levels of renter and homeowner segregation, researchers with Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found after analyzing U.S. Census Bureau […]
Posted inHousing
Planning Commission wants housing for older adults on city land near transit lines
The Planning Commission wants City Council to prioritize creating senior and disabled-accessible housing units on city-owned land located near transit corridors, with a priority given to equitable transit-oriented developments, or ETODs, throughout the area. At a meeting last week, the commission voted in favor of a resolution that is related to policy involving ETODs and […]
Posted inHousing
Audit finds office-to-residential conversions a bad fit for most local real estate
A recent audit by the Office of the City Auditor looking at the possibilities for converting vacant office spaces into housing stock has found the practice known as adaptive reuse is likely a poor fit for office buildings mostly constructed in the last 10 to 20 years. The audit, which was released in April, queried […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Following HOME approvals, Council calls for affordability programs to aid longtime residents
Lower- and middle-income homeowners are the target population for a resolution approved by City Council on Thursday intended to create the financing needed to build more homes on existing lots. The resolution, which was led by Council Member José Velásquez, was approved on the consent agenda with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly voting against. The item […]
Posted inHousing
Affordability panel looks to city, schools, churches to deliver needed housing
Austin-area housing advocates see major institutions such as the city, local schools and religious organizations as having the most potential for adding affordable housing units throughout the city in the coming years. During a recent panel discussion on the city’s affordability challenges, underutilized tax-free property holdings were seen as one solution to be explored in […]
Posted inHousing
East Austin organizers push for equity/anti-displacement overlay to address affordability
A coalition of community groups representing East Austin is pushing City Council to require new infill residences built on smaller lots in the Eastern Crescent be made affordable for longtime residents at risk of being displaced due to the rising cost of living. Prior to Council’s recent passage of the HOME 2 slate of land […]