Council appears to support single-stair development

A building code amendment that will allow single-stair development up to five stories will be at Council this week and, like the resolution that asked for it, appears to have strong City Council support. Council Member Chito Vela, who sponsored the original resolution, posted to the City Council Message Board about the upcoming vote and told his colleagues about his plan to offer an amendment that would allow building up to five stories. “Allowing single stair buildings could bring missing middle type housing back into central Austin, especially along our transit corridors and ETOD areas. Single stair residential buildings are one of the most common types of housing in the world. Seattle and New York City have allowed single stair buildings for decades. Recently, other jurisdictions have begun to allow them as we all grapple with housing affordability. With four units per floor, these are smaller buildings that allow more family sized units. Windows on both external sides of the apartments allow for better light and ventilation,” he wrote. “The amendment allows single stair buildings up to 5 stories tall. Limitations on building size – such as a 4 unit per floor maximum – will make these buildings much smaller than your typical apartment complex. The amendment also includes additional safety features designed to protect the staircase from fire, including additional sprinkler requirements and a separate enclosure between the apartment and the stairway.” The post received written, supportive replies from Council members Jose Velasquez, Ryan Alter, Zo Qadri and Krista Lane, who upped the ante by proposing a change that would allow up to six stories of development supported by a single staircase. That idea got a reply from Council Member Paige Ellis, who said she would like more information on “feasibility and safety considerations” before she would support it, and Alter, who clarified he was in support of the five-story amendment.