The Community Development Commission stopped short of endorsing the city’s annual federal housing funding plan at its meeting last week and instead used the opportunity to raise alarms about how looming federal budget cuts could worsen the city’s homelessness crisis. The FY25/26 Action Plan, which outlines the use of roughly $14 million in federal housing […]
Community Development Commission
A nonprofit community-based entity founded with aims to revitalize the neighborhood or area that it serves.
Posted inAustin
City opens $5 million grant round for anti-displacement work
At its meeting last week, the Community Development Commission learned about a newly-launched $5 million grant opportunity aimed at combating displacement and promoting economic mobility near Austin’s Project Connect transit corridors. Housing Department staff explained that the current $5 million solicitation is the final portion of a $15.9 million allocation for fiscal years three through […]
Posted inPlanning
Equity overlay study draws criticism from Community Development Commission
The ongoing study of a potential equity overlay in East Austin is drawing concerns from residents and commissioners over its slow pace and lack of direct community engagement. At a recent meeting of the Community Development Commission, representatives from Atlanta-based APD Urban Planning and Management outlined their progress on the study but faced pointed questions […]
Posted inDevelopment
Federal report shows city’s progress, shortfalls in addressing housing needs
A report recently submitted to the federal government offered a picture into how the city has progressed in achieving its housing goals using federal dollars, while also highlighting areas where improvement is needed to make sufficient progress on its most recent five-year housing plan. At its most recent meeting, the Community Development Commission (CDC) reviewed […]
Posted inPlanning
Equity overlay study prompts request for Council to further delay HOME2 implementation
The Community Development Commission wants City Council to further delay implementation of the second round of HOME initiative changes to the land use code, out of concern that more time is needed to properly design an equity overlay to address displacement concerns. At last week’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved a recommendation to delay HOME […]
Posted inHousing
Project Connect anti-displacement funding gets close look from Community Development Commission
Members of the Community Development Commission have requested more information from city staff about the decision-making process for spending Project Connect funds intended to preserve or create affordable housing near the mass transit system. Last week, the commission received a presentation that detailed how the city has so far spent approximately $120 million of the […]
Posted inPlanning
City seeking developers interested in East 11th Street revitalization
The city is looking for developers interested in remaking two of the most high-profile blocks downtown, which could shape the future of the Black community in East Austin. Last month the Austin Economic Development Corporation (EDC) opened a request for qualified developers who could take on one or both of the blocks along East 11th […]
Posted inCity Hall
Commission chair accuses member of ‘pattern of bullying’
The chair of the Community Development Commission is pushing the city to conduct an investigation into the behavior of another commission member that led a presenter at a December meeting to say she felt threatened and intimidated and request a city security escort as she left city property. The dispute, principally between Chair Amit Motwani […]
Posted inPlanning
Commission delays vote on support for senior services facility
The Community Development Commission will take another month before deciding to support a proposal to convert the long-vacant Nash Hernandez Building into an intergenerational facility providing care and services to seniors living in East Austin. The commission voted unanimously to revisit the agenda item next month, following occasionally intense debate among commission members about the […]
Posted inAustin
City seeks applicants to help craft five-year food system plan
The city has opened its application process for members of the advisory committee that will help the Office of Sustainability draft a comprehensive food plan for the city, with the goal of addressing food insecurity for vulnerable Austin residents. The Community Development Commission, which focuses on issues related to marginalized communities, received an update on progress […]
Posted inDevelopment
City seeks developer to partner on transformation of two historic blocks
Over the next three months, the city’s quasi-governmental development entity will perform the early work that will result in a development plan next year for two long-discussed blocks in East Austin. This week’s Community Development Commission meeting featured a presentation from the Austin Economic Development Corporation on its plan to create a request for proposals […]
Posted inPlanning
Community Development Commission pushes for affordability at Statesman project site
The Community Development Commission has asked City Council to require significant affordable housing be located on-site for the planned unit development for the former Austin American-Statesman property that is being led by Endeavor Real Estate Group. The commission voted unanimously last week to resend its December 2021 resolution to Council, which called for 20 percent […]