Retailers, builders flock to Southeast Austin, one of city's last affordable enclaves "It took the richest man in the world coming to southeast Travis County to draw widespread attention to the lack of commercial development and infrastructure in the underserved area on the edge of urban Austin." (Sahar Chmais, Austin Business Journal)
City asks public to vote on options for East Austin affordable housing development "Members of the public may now give their input on proposals for an affordable housing development in East Austin. The 3-acre property, owned by the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and the city of Austin, is set to be transformed into a multifamily rental housing development for low-income families, with permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals. With three different proposals on the table, residents can vote or give comments until June 19." (Chloe Young, Community Impact)
Austin is challenging its 2020 census numbers, saying the count missed thousands of residents "Austin city officials have filed an appeal with the U.S. Census Bureau over 2020 census figures, saying the city has more than the 961,855 residents that were counted during the decennial process. In doing so, Austin became the largest U.S. city to challenge its census numbers, which have a direct impact on how much federal funding the city can receive." (Sarah Asch, Austin American-Statesman)
Council to consider new ADU policies, ditch preapproved blueprints "City Council shifted priorities this week on policies related to accessory dwelling units, with members showing little interest in creating preapproved ADU blueprints and instead considering a new measure aimed at making ADUs easier to build." (Jonathan Lee, Austin Monitor)
Austin Historic Landmark Commission reverses course, clears way for redevelopment of Fourth Street LGBTQ bars "Revised plans for the controversial redevelopment of a stretch of West Fourth Street are moving forward after the Austin Historic Landmark Commission declined to designate the buildings as historic—one month after a vote to initiate historic zoning on the properties. The turnaround came after developer Hanover Co.adjusted its project outline to retain more of the block’s buildings that were originally slated for demolition and reconstruction." (Ben Thompson, Community Impact)
Take a Fresh Look at Downtown Austin’s Stunning Block 16 Office Tower Plan "Earlier this year we caught a fresh look at the latest design of the Block 16 office tower by local developers Manifold Real Estate and national investors Carr Properties, set to rise atop the southern half of the block bound by San Jacinto Boulevard, Trinity, and Second Streets in downtown Austin. This strikingly curved and terraced 738,000-square-foot office building is the work of the perpetually-busy folks at Gensler Austin, and despite plenty of competition it’s set to become one of the more eye-catching towers on the skyline of the new downtown." (James Rambin, Towers)
Texas first-time buyers need $10,000 more to afford a home this year, report shows "The hurdles are raised for first-time homebuyers in Texas yet again, as rising interest rates demand an overall higher income for mortgage approval. The Texas Real Estate Research Center released findings in its new Texas Housing Affordability Outlook that Texans buying their first homes need $10,000 more in income than at the beginning of last year to be approved for a $229,000 house." (Brianna Caleri, CultureMap Austin)
