As robust and active as the Austin building and development world appears to be, professionals in the construction industry say an ongoing labor shortage is stifling building activity and could present problems for the city’s push to add affordable housing in the coming years. The city’s affordability issues were among the discussion points Wednesday at […]
Urban Land Institute
Posted inPlanning
Waterfront planners push real estate leaders on district’s potential, future
For roughly half a decade, whenever Alan Holt has talked with community members about the scope of the planned South Central Waterfront District – a 118-acre span that could fit 33 city blocks – his shorthand was that it included “everything from Hooters to Joe’s Crab Shack.” On Wednesday morning, Holt, a planner with the […]
Posted inAustin
Real estate leaders look for support for airport’s $4.5 billion expansion
By mid-2020, city officials are likely to begin seeing options for how to fund the $4.5 billion expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport that stakeholders say is needed to keep up with demand for the growing Central Texas market. There are no funding proposals on the table yet, but the Austin business community is already being […]
Posted inAustin
Real estate group hears tough talk from homeless advocates
As one of the city’s leading advocates for the homeless, Ann Howard knows not to waste an opportunity when she gets in front of a room full of people who can help her cause. So she didn’t mince words last week when she had the attention of hundreds of real estate professionals at the monthly […]
Posted inHousing
Real estate group backs land trusts to preserve affordable housing
With Austin voters about to decide whether the city commits $250 million to increase the local supply of affordable housing, a real estate research group has come out in strong support of cultural land trusts as a tool to prevent rapid escalation of land prices. The Urban Land Institute Austin recently released an extensive white […]
Posted inHousing
HealthSouth site gets top spot in ULI affordable housing study
An analysis of some of the city’s most-prized parcels of land has found that the former HealthSouth property downtown would have the biggest impact on the local housing shortage if the property were converted to affordable housing. The new white paper from the Urban Land Institute of Austin looked at five parcels located throughout Austin […]
Posted inAustin
Talking talent, and why Austin companies can’t find enough workers
On top of complimentary food, coffee and other treats, music rooms for relaxing, and other perks typical of the Silicon Valley digital life, Austin-based job search firm Indeed has had to become something of a transit provider while trying to remain attractive for potential employees. With complimentary rides on the Chariot ride-share service, a company […]
Posted inHousing
Real estate leaders tackle equity, housing affordability at ULI breakfast
Austin’s ability to continue its rapid economic and population growth while trying to keep longtime residents from being forced out due to affordability issues was the topic of the day at Wednesday’s breakfast meeting for the Urban Land Institute. The professional trade group focused around property developers, brokers and other professionals in the real estate […]
Posted inHousing
Rents rise despite new housing keeping pace with growth, study finds
Developers that want to build low-income housing in wealthier neighborhoods should engage more with neighborhood groups to convince them of the merits of affordable housing. That’s one recommendation in a study published today by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. The study assessed the state of low- and middle-income housing in Austin with input […]