Tag Archives: Affordability
Monday, June 22, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
New working group eyes town centers to solve affordability pressures
A new working group from four of the city’s commissions hopes to identify ways that the town center planning concept spelled out in Imagine Austin could be used to combat affordability issues driving veterans, artists and other vulnerable populations out…
Friday, February 1, 2019 by Jack Craver
Austin
Council kicks off new year with measures aimed at affordability
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…
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Auditor’s report: Affordability data incomplete
According to a special report from the Office of the City Auditor, information about city programs and initiatives that affect affordability for Austinites is inconsistent, may be unreliable or incomplete and may not be readily accessible. In addition, auditors found…
Thursday, January 12, 2017 by Syeda Hasan
Austin
Has Austin’s booming population finally peaked?
For years, we’ve been hearing about how Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Thousands of people move here each year, but recent reports show that some of the factors that draw people to the city –…
Thursday, October 13, 2016 by Chad Swiatecki
Politics
With 100,000 potential voters, Austin tech groups flex political muscle
Imagine 100,000 dormant, unengaged voters just waiting to be drawn into the Austin political scene. That’s the potential that a pair of local technology groups see in the Austin tech community, which they hope to get involved in the local…
Thursday, June 30, 2016 by Audrey McGlinchy
Budget
By slim margin, Council approves an 8 percent homestead exemption
In a vote that pitted representatives of the city’s lowest-income districts against their colleagues, City Council members Wednesday narrowly approved an 8 percent homestead exemption — an increase of 2 percent over last year’s exemption. To a resident with a…
Thursday, March 17, 2016 by Caleb Pritchard
Development
SXSW panel spotlights urban housing
Austin is no snowflake when it comes to issues of housing, affordability and density. Cities across the United States grapple with similar challenges even if they don’t have the robust economy that is driving growth here in Central Texas. Last…
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 by Elizabeth Pagano
Land Development Code
Council moves toward closing small-lot loophole
When the small-lot amnesty tool was adopted by the city, no one envisioned that it would lead to houses that spanned two small lots being demolished in order to build more new homes. But that is what’s happening today. And,…
Tuesday, January 20, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Austin
RECA calls for more housing; Austin reacts
Last week, the Real Estate Council of Austin released a paper calling for a fix to Austin’s affordable housing problem. As a solution, the group called for 100,000 new housing units in the city by 2025. The paper, which is…
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 by Tyler Whitson
Austin
Consultant outlines affordable housing study data
Affordable housing advocates and residents gathered at City Hall on Monday to weigh in on the findings and recommendations of a July report that outlines Austin’s affordable housing needs and fair choice impediments. According to the 2014 Comprehensive Housing Market…
Wednesday, September 17, 2014 by Kara Nuzback
Elections
Austin Interfaith grills mayoral candidates on affordability
Only three of the eight candidates in the running for mayor participated in a question-and-answer session hosted by Austin Interfaith on Tuesday. And rather than give candidates a forum to lay out their individual platforms, Austin Interfaith directed four specific…
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 by Kara Nuzback
Development
East Austin candidates pack stage at North Door
Candidates went head-to-head in the race to represent East Austin voters in District 3 at the latest in a series of community forums hosted by the Austin Monitor and KUT News. All of the district’s 12 candidates attended Monday’s question…
Thursday, July 10, 2014 by Elizabeth Pagano
Development
Study shows Austin housing market still growing at record levels
A housing study that the City of Austin is required to perform every five years is providing City Council members more confirmation that the city’s housing market is continuing to change at a breakneck pace. The five-year planning mandate is…
Friday, June 6, 2014 by Elizabeth Pagano
Development
Demographer says city’s rapid growth a complex statistical issue
Austin’s growth has received a lot of attention over the past few years. The pace of that growth certainly warrants attention – but are we seeing it clearly? The Austin Monitor sat down with City Demographer Ryan Robinson to try…
Thursday, May 22, 2014 by Kara Nuzback
Development
Residents say population surge is pricing Austinites out of their homes
A number of Austin homeowners aired their frustrations with rising residential tax appraisals at a community forum Tuesday. The forum was hosted by the Brentwood Neighborhood Association, the First Universalist Social Action Committee and Brigid Shea, the Democratic nominee for…
Thursday, March 27, 2014 by Michael Kanin
Development
Morrison resolution seeks to preserve ability to get New Starts grant
Council Member Laura Morrison has crafted a resolution she hopes will help preserve affordability along a proposed new mass transit route and ensure that the city can secure federal money in the form of a Federal Transportation Agency New Starts…
Tuesday, January 7, 2014 by Jo Clifton
Politics
Tovo puts affordability issues at top of her 2013 list of successes
For Council Member Kathie Tovo, a lot of the successes in the past year have to do with affordability. “I think we are hearing from the community that they are very overwhelmed by taxes and by other increases, and…
Monday, January 6, 2014 by Michael Kanin
Development
Cole cites affordable housing bonds’ approval as major event of 2013
Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole lists a set of familiar responses as milestones for her 2013 Council year. And though she clearly sees the importance of such items as the start of the Land Development Code rewrite, wage floors, and…
Thursday, December 5, 2013 by Mark Richardson
Development
Apartment occupancy rates, rental costs at all-time high
As Austin’s population continues to increase, occupancy rates and rents for apartments and the construction of new multifamily properties are at all-time high levels. And while that may be a financial boost for owners and landlords, City of Austin housing…
