Tag Archives: Austin Homebuilders Association

Labor shortages, construction costs make it tough to build affordable homes in Austin

The rising cost of construction has made it harder to build affordable homes in Central Austin, housing analysts said after the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin released its midyear housing forecast Thursday. Researchers expressed general optimism about the growth…

Housing • By Syeda Hasan • Jul 21, 2017

Council approves solar-ready resolution

In spite of objections from the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, City Council approved a resolution Thursday aimed at making all future buildings in the city “solar-ready.” The resolution, which passed 10-1, with only Council Member Ellen Troxclair in…

Development • By Jack Craver • Feb 3, 2017

Austin’s solar-ready woes

Imagine a house. Now imagine the roof. What do you see? Some shingles. Maybe a chimney? But really there’s so much more. District 7 City Council Member Leslie Pool has sponsored a resolution to make more Austin homes solar-ready. Part…

Development • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Feb 2, 2017

Biz groups oppose more rules for permitting

Four Austin business groups are opposing a plan to require extra steps in the city’s permit review process. The steps would lead to more protection for construction workers, but they would also involve extra time and paperwork as well as…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Sep 1, 2016

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Citizens plead for affordability from CodeNEXT

About 30 members of the public took the opportunity Tuesday night to address CodeNEXT, the citizens advisory group for rewriting Austin’s land development code. The majority of those speaking asked the panel to do something about Austin’s affordability problems. “We…

Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Jan 14, 2016

Ethics Commission begins to examine proposed lobbying changes

The Ethics Review Commission is under pressure to deal quickly with proposed changes to city lobbying rules. On Monday, City Council Member Leslie Pool, the chief backer of a resolution directing the city manager to draft a substantial revision to…

The Code • By Jack Craver • Sep 2, 2015

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When is a carport a garage? Ask the BOA

At its last meeting, the Board of Adjustment considered whether staff had made an error by issuing a building permit at 904 Jessie St. David King, on behalf of the Zilker Neighborhood Association, made the appeal. In the end it…

Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 26, 2015

Council votes to raise water impact fees to near maximum rate

Austin City Council members Thursday approved an immediate increase of impact fees for public infrastructure to just below the maximum allowable rate. Those are the fees that the Austin Water Utility assesses to help offset the cost of extending water and…