Tag Archives: SMART housing
Council orders overhaul of SMART housing program
City Council voted this week to proceed with an overhaul of the SMART housing program. The SMART (Safe, Mixed-Income, Accessible, Reasonably Priced, Transit-Oriented) housing program grants certain fee waivers to housing developments that agree to include affordable housing. The list…
Housing • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 21, 2023
Want to know how the city enforces density bonus agreements? Read on.
This week, the Community Development Commission learned more about how the city ensures the reduced-rent housing units created through its density bonus programs go to people who meet the income eligibility requirements. At the commission’s Jan. 10 meeting, Commissioner Karen…
Housing • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 13, 2023
Planning Commission approves rezoning for MLK property despite concerns over process
The Planning Commission voted at its Tuesday meeting to recommend a zoning change for 5201 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from Family Residence (SF-3) to Multifamily Residence – Medium Density (MF-3). The applicant initially requested Multifamily Residence – Highest…
Zoning • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 17, 2020
Final fight over Austin Oaks this week?
After many months of arguments and thousands of hours of work by representatives of the city, neighborhoods and the developers, the third and final vote on the Austin Oaks planned unit development may finally happen on Thursday. But it may…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Apr 12, 2017
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Council OKs more funds for east side housing
Acting as the board of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, City Council on Thursday approved an additional $992,000 to a loan for the Chestnut Neighborhood Revitalization Corporation to help the company build affordable housing at 1212, 1301 and 1309 Chicon…
Housing • By Jo Clifton • Dec 16, 2016
Judge considers Rodgers' Pilot Knob claims
How much notice should the City Council agenda provide to citizens who want to know what Council is doing that may impact their taxes and water rates? That’s one of the questions Judge Stephen Yelenosky will have to answer when…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Oct 3, 2016
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Oak Creek affordable housing debate just starting
A developer seeking state tax credits to fund an affordable housing complex in North Austin got a boost from City Council on Thursday, despite loud objections from a large group of neighbors as well as familiar criticism of housing subsidies…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Feb 16, 2016
Pilot Knob fee waivers to cost city $50M - $80M
At their last meeting in December, when City Council members approved annexation for the Pilot Knob Planned Unit Development, they agreed to give up $50 million to $80 million in fee waivers for installation of water and wastewater lines over…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 27, 2016
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Zoning commission OKs northwest SMART homes
A speech by a neighbor denouncing a proposed SMART housing complex as dangerous and poorly planned didn’t stop the Zoning and Platting Commission from unanimously approving it at its meeting last Tuesday. The site plan for a 120-unit apartment complex…
Housing • By Jack Craver • Dec 22, 2015
ZAP backs Colony Park despite 'missing middle'
The Zoning and Platting Commission recommended a Planned Unit Development rezoning request for the Colony Park Sustainable Community Initiative last week, despite concerns about a potential “missing middle” effect on affordability. The community would comply with the city’s SMART Housing…
Development • By Tyler Whitson • Sep 24, 2014
Council ponders changes to SMART Housing beyond mass transit
Austin City Council members Thursday approved the initiation of a code amendment that could result in changes to the city’s SMART Housing regulations. Initially, the proposed change would have only addressed whether the city could support housing not located next…
Development • By Michael Kanin • Apr 11, 2014
Council continues debate on Riley’s SMART housing proposal
Austin City Council members continued to struggle Tuesday with a proposal from Council Member Chris Riley to update the transit portion of the city’s SMART housing ordinance. Though some of their discussion revisited issues raised at Council’s most recent Thursday…
