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Housing

With Austin office buildings 20 percent vacant, conversion to housing remains out of reach

Two years ago, with the office real estate market in Austin stuck at a 20 percent vacancy rate, Brad Stein took the first of two trips to other markets to see if some of the hundreds of thousands of empty…

Community Foundation unveils $15M fund for affordable, permanent supportive housing

Developers of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing units for unhoused people could soon receive financial assistance from a new Austin Community Foundation fund intended to fill gaps in the financing for those subsidized projects. Last week, the foundation announced…

City could push 'agrihood' combos of farmland, housing developments in East Austin

The city may soon take steps to promote the creation of “agrihood” developments in Northeast Austin, which would combine small community farms with housing. Proponents of the movement see the still-rare projects as an answer to Austin’s housing needs and…

Austin outlaws the construction of windowless bedrooms

Developers in Austin will have to provide some form of natural light in bedrooms after City Council members voted Thursday to amend the city’s building code. For the most part, Austin will accomplish this change by simply replacing one word…

Photo courtesy of city of Austin.

Marshalling Yard shelter could get $1M extension and stay open through March 2025

The city’s Marshalling Yard congregate shelter, which currently serves up to 300 people at a time, could receive an extension from City Council to stay open until next March. An item on today’s agenda would provide an additional $1 million…

City eyes code amendments to increase affordable housing for UT students

City Council members hope that a series of amendments to a planning tool can increase housing affordability and the quality of life for University of Texas students, with the possibility of bringing a much-needed grocery store to the West Campus…

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Advocates for ending homelessness say rental assistance program doesn't go far enough

Tony Carter lives in a two-bedroom apartment in South Austin. He was placed there in February through a rapid rehousing program. Rapid rehousing programs in Austin provide up to 24 months of rental assistance and support services to people experiencing…

City looks to land banks as additional option to curb displacement

The city will explore using the takeover of tax-delinquent properties as one additional strategy for creating more affordable housing and remedying the displacement of longtime residents who are being priced out of Austin. As part of the consent agenda at…

County backs $7.2M SAFE Alliance housing in East Austin

On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court dedicated $7.2 million toward a supportive housing development called the Lancaster, a 60-unit complex that will provide respite for people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  The development is a…

Arguments to continue in lawsuit over deed restrictions

Although Travis County District Judge Madeleine Connor ruled in favor of homeowners fighting to keep a developer from building more than two houses per lot in their subdivision last week, that victory may be marred by further decisions in the…

Austin will spend $87 million on property in Southeast Austin for affordable housing

City Council voted Thursday to spend $87 million to buy 107 acres of land in Southeast Austin for affordable housing. Tokyo Electron, which makes semiconductors and display production equipment, announced in February that it was moving from the site. The city…

A push for more affordable housing falls flat at Planning Commission

A new tower planned for downtown sparked debate about Austin’s density bonus program at the most recent meeting of the city’s Planning Commission. The density bonus program essentially trades increased development entitlements for a number of community benefits, including things…

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