In its first official meeting since the election, City Council unanimously approved several measures aimed at Austin’s growing affordability crisis. In an attempt to increase funding for affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying part of East Austin, Council approved a change to the existing homestead preservation district, whose boundaries extend roughly between Interstate 35 to […]
Homestead Preservation District
Legislation passed in 2005 created Homestead Preservation Districts. In order to qualify to become an HPD, the poverty rate for the area must be twice the city’s poverty rate.
Posted inHousing
After being stymied by Abbott, Council moves ahead on east side housing initiative
Hobbled by Gov. Greg Abbott in their attempts to create more homestead preservation districts that would set aside tax revenue for affordable housing in gentrifying areas, a number of City Council members are trying to maximize the impact of the city’s existing district. Council voted in 2007 to create the city’s existing homestead preservation district, […]
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 inCity Council
City discovers problem with homestead districts
Since 2007, Austin has attempted to create several homestead preservation districts in low-income areas in order to fund more affordable housing and help people living below the poverty line stay in their homes. However, only one – District A – has been completed and funded. District A, which includes parts of Council districts 1, 3 […]
Posted inDevelopment
Affordable housing manuever loses at City Hall
Though it earned the respect of some Planning commissioners, an attempt to leverage a site plan extension for more affordable housing on the near-east side didn’t pay off last week. At last week’s Planning Commission meeting, Nikki Hoelter, who works in the city’s Development Services Department, detailed the appeal of an administrative extension at 2015 […]
Posted inAustin
City inches Homestead Preservation Districts forward
Technically, Austin has had a Homestead Preservation District for years. Last week, City Council decided to do something about it. Council members voted 9-0-1 to move forward with actually using homestead preservation districts as yet another way of addressing Austin’s affordability crisis. Council Member Don Zimmerman abstained from the vote and Council Member Delia Garza […]
Posted inCity Council, Housing
Committee seeks data on homestead district
The City Council Housing and Community Development Committee took a small step forward Wednesday toward funding affordable housing within the Homestead Preservation District in Central East Austin and possibly elsewhere. However, committee members did not pick a financing mechanism and still have questions about how much such a district would cost. The initial Homestead Preservation District […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council members ponder high cost of Highland area renovations
There was widespread support at Tuesday’s work session for the renovations already underway at Highland Mall. But the hefty price tag that will most likely accompany that redevelopment had some City Council members concerned that the city could be overextending itself in the face of so many opportunities. The first phase of the project […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council to study homestead preservation districts to boost affordability
Austin City Council members are set to consider a measure today instructing city staff to begin evaluating whether the city could use homestead preservation districts as a tool to promote affordability. Council Member Mike Martinez is the sponsor of the resolution. Council has been down this road before. In 2008, Council members approved a […]
Posted inDevelopment
Complaint targets city’s role in promoting fair housing
A citizen’s complaint filed with the City Of Austin Thursday is demanding that officials take steps to reverse the city’s “patterns of housing segregation established during its origins as a racist, Southern city,” and take immediate action to end de facto housing segregation. Among other things, complainants argue that Austin should get rid of […]