[ Austin Housing Supply and Affordability News Conference ]
[00:00:05]
I THINK THAT, UH, WE SHOULD ALL BE, UH, UH, WE'RE PROUD OF THE $250 BILLION AFFORDABILITY FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND THAT WAS PASSED BY THE COMMUNITY WAS A HUGE STEP FORWARD.
THE TRANSFORMATIONAL MOBILITY PACKAGE, THE $300 MILLION, ANY DISPLACEMENT EFFORT, UH, PUT INTO PROJECT CONNECT THAT WAS PAST THE 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THE ADOPTED REGIONAL, UH, UH, UH, WORKFORCE MASTER PLAN.
BUT AS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE NUMBERS TODAY, THIS INCREASE IN HOUSING PRICE AND, AND RENT, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS TAKEN A PRETTY DRAMATIC TURN OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
UH, AND, AND THE, UH, NEED FOR US TO DEAL WITH HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING, UH, SUPPLY, UH, IS NOW JUST A RELIEF.
UH, AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING, BUT THE TODAY'S NEEDS TO REALLY, TO, TO, TO PUT A POINT ON IT.
WE, UH, GOT HANDLED UP, UH, EVERYBODY'S WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COURT ACTION AND THAT WILL EVENTUALLY ROUND ITS DUE COURSE.
BUT WHAT WE DO THOUGH, IS THAT WE, WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.
UH, AND WE HAVE TO DO THE THINGS WE CAN DO NOW.
AND WE KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF HOW THAT LAWSUITS TURNED OUT, WE CAN ACT AS A COUNCIL ON A LOT OF THINGS JUST BY REACHING CONSENSUS BY, BY ADOPTING THOSE THINGS WE CAN ADOPT WITH A VOTE OF NINE OR MORE, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, AND WE'RE IN SEARCH RIGHT NOW OF WHAT, WHERE THOSE CONSENSUS POINTS MIGHT BE.
UH, WE SAW RHONDA, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO WITH, UH, THE RESOLUTION FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UH, WE'VE SEEN THAT, UH, ON SOME POST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALTER, UH, AND, UH, AND, AND MYSELF WITH OTHER CO-SPONSORS.
I THINK THERE ARE MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT.
UH, AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO, TO, TO BE MOVING FORWARD TO, TO FIND THOSE, THOSE POINTS WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, UH, FOR ABOUT, UH, AND, UH, YOU'RE ALREADY HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WERE, WERE, WERE, WERE CHAMBERS.
THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT, UH, AS OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF BDS.
UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO, TO READ A PROCLAMATION, UH WHEREAS AUSTIN IS FACING AN ACUTE AND GROWING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING SUPPLY CRISIS AT A TIME WHEN CITIES ACROSS OUR REGION OF COUNTRY ARE STRUGGLING WITH RAISED PRICES FOR REAL ESTATE ASSETS, AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS COMPOUNDED BY SUPPLY CHAIN AND LABOR SHORTAGES.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S QUALITY OF LIFE HAS ATTRACTED SOME OF THE LARGEST EAD MIGRATION OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL OR COMMUNITY HAVE TAKEN MANY STEPS TO COMBAT THIS, THIS CHALLENGE PASS THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, A HISTORIC $250 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND OVER $8 BILLION AND TRANSPORT TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, MOBILITY MEASURES $300 MILLION ANTI-DISPLACEMENT LOVING 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION CREATED THE ORIGINAL WORKFORCE MASTER PLAN AND GIVEN MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN, UH, $40 BILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO TENANTS AND LANDLORDS DURING THE PANDEMIC PASSES EVICTION MORATORIUM, KEEPING 34,000 AUSTINITES DEVICE SAFELY HOUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND MUCH MORE, BUT YET THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY IS GREATER THAN EVER.
AS WE HAVE SEEN IN A SPIKE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
AND WHERE IS OUR COMMUNITY HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT AND RENEWED SENSE OF URGENCY TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING SUPPLY AS ONE OF THEIR GREATEST CHALLENGES.
AND WHEREAS AUSTINITES INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PRESENT HERE TODAY, POSSESS THE CREATIVITY, PROGRESSIVE VALUES, INNOVATIVE MINDSET, AND THE COMMUNITY WORLD TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE THAT PRESERVES WHO WE ARE BY PRESERVING THOSE WHO LIVE HERE AND REALIZE IT.
AUSTIN HAS ADVANCED A LEADER ON SO MANY PROGRESSIVE ISSUES BECAUSE WE RISE TO BEAT OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES.
NOW, THEREFORE I, STEVE ADLER BEAR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS ON BEHALF OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY CLAIM THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 29TH AS AUSTIN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING SUPPLY WEEK.
IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S ONGOING NEEDS TO CONTINUE.
UH, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS THAT GOTTA BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WASTE BIZARRE.
UH, IT WAS WITH HOUSING WORKS, LOUIS METZKER WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, TEXAS KENDRICK YARD PLOTTING OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, AND, UH, WE'LL START WITH, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AND I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HOUSING WORKS, AUSTIN, AND AS IT'S ADVOCACY ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
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CHAIR HOUSING WORKS HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR ALL KINDS OF HOMES IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN, FOR ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.WE WANT TO TAG NEAR ADLER FOR HIS BACH DONATION AND FOR DESIGNATING THIS WEEK AS A TIME TO FOCUS ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY, AND FOR CALLING TODAY'S SPECIAL SESSION TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IT IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY, TO ENSURE THAT ALL AUSTINITES HAVE ADEQUATE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN EVERY PART OF OUR CITY.
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, OUR CITY HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
IN 2018 AUSTIN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF A $250 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND IN 2019 COUNCIL GROUP, THE AFFORDABILITY UNLOCK RESOLUTION TO LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS AND EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND JUST THIS YEAR AT COUNCIL DEDICATED OVER 106 MILLION TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS HOUSING WORKS.
THANKS MAYOR ADLER, ALL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR CITY STAFF FOR ALL OF THESE EFFORTS, THESE INITIATIVES WILL MAKE A GREAT IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF AUSTINITES WHO HAVE STRUGGLED TO HAVE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOWEVER, AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO DO MORE AND WE HAVE TO DO A QUICK DURING THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE COST OF BUYING A HOME HAS SKYROCKETED WITH THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE FOR A HOUSE NOW APPROACHING $455,000 AS A FUCKED OVER THIS YEAR IN THE SAME MONTH AS THE FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDED, RENTS HAVE RISEN BY NEARLY 20% PAST WHAT THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WHETHER YOU'RE A LOW-INCOME RENTER, WHETHER YOU'RE A SENIOR ON A FIXED INCOME, OR WHETHER YOU'RE A FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU ARE STRUGGLING HERE IN AUSTIN IN 2017, AS A PART OF THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, OUR COMMUNITY ADOPTED A GOAL OF CREATING 135,000 NEW UNITS IN 10 YEARS, INCLUDING A GOAL OF 60,000 UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 80% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND BELOW DATA COLLECTED BY HOUSING WORKS.
AUSTIN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY HAS SHOWN THAT WE'RE ONLY ADD 19% OF THIS OVERALL GOAL, AND ONLY UP TO A LITTLE PAST 12% FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOAL, UNLESS WE TAKE MEANINGFUL AND ROBUST STEPS TO DATE, DO DRESS THIS ISSUE AS A COMMUNITY, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET OUR TEN-YEAR COMMUNITY GOALS AROUND EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MARKET RATE HOUSING IN OUR CITY, INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE DISPLACEMENT OF OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN ORDER TO MEET THESE GOALS.
IT IS INTEGRAL FOR OUR CITY AS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING AND FIND OTHER INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS EQUALLY BURDENED TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY, INCLUDING NEW DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. AS OUR COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED, STUDIED ENSURING HOUSING DISPERSION AND THE CREATION OF HOUSING IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS, PROVIDING GREATER OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATING FLEXIBILITIES FOR PROVIDING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, EXPANDING HOUSING CHOICE AND STREAMLINING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT HOUSING PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE HOUSING CAN BE BUILT QUICKER AND AT A LOWER COST.
HOUSING WORKS AS POSITIVE THAT WITH THE DISCUSSIONS TODAY, WE WILL MOVE CLOSER TO ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN.
WE TAG NEAR ADLER AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND ENSURING THAT THIS ISSUE STAYS ON THE FRONT AND ALWAYS IS IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT ALL AUSTINITES HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND ADEQUATE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
I WILL PASS IT ONTO KENDRICK GARRETT FROM PLANNING OR COMMUNITIES.
HI, MY NAME IS KENDRA GARRETT, AND I'M A SERVE AS A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR PLANNING OUR COMMUNITIES.
OUR COMMUNITIES IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND TRANSIT ADVOCATES CAN BE ORGANIZERS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS IN AUSTIN.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
I LIKE TO KIND OF SECOND, UM, AT BEST IS, UM, NOTES AROUND OUR CUSTOMERS.
PREVIOUSLY STATED WE AS A CITY HAVE MADE GREAT EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY THROUGH THE 2018 BOND, THE 2019 AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROGRAM AND TO 2020, UM, DOING THE MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE PLACEMENT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUNDING, AS PART AS PROJECT CONNECT.
ADDITIONALLY, DEDICATING FEDERAL FUNDS TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS IS UNPRECEDENTED.
I EQUALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, AND AUSTIN VOTERS FOR THESE SUCCESSES.
HOWEVER, WITH AUSTIN BEING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN AMERICA, WE CAN NOT LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL.
[00:10:01]
ARE IN AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS MEETING OR BETTER YET EXCEEDING OUR AFFORDABILITY GOALS.IT IS IMPERATIVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CONTINUED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND REDUCE BARRIERS FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS THESE UNITS THROUGH ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND POLICY CHANGES.
THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WEEK CAN AND SHOULD EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT TO ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABLY CRISIS.
UM, AND SOME, SOME SUCH AS ONE INCREASING UNITS FOR RESIDENTS AT THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SCALE, WE DESPERATELY NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS.
SO THAT WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES HAVE GOOD QUALITY, DECENT AND SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME REFORMING OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT MAXIMIZES THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHO BERRIES HOUSING TYPES.
AND THAT ALSO OPENS UP PARTS OF AUSTIN SO THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE.
THAT BEST SUITS, SURFING, LEAD NEEDS, CREATING ROBUST ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROGRAMS, THAT TARGET OUTREACH, THAT THE TARGETING OUTREACH AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY RESIDENTS OF COLOR CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES, ENSURING THAT THERE ARE STRONG PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS AND THEY ARE SUPPORTED IN ACCESSING IN ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND GOOD QUALITY HOUSING.
AND FINALLY STREAMLINING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO REDUCE TIME AND COSTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
WE CAN GET THEM ON THE GROUND FASTER AND ALLOW FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY.
WE WANT AN INVITING AND INCLUSIVE CITY THAT VIBES FROM A VARIOUS CULTURES, PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS FOR RESIDENTS TO FEEL TRAPPED IN PLACE OR EXCLUDED FROM LIVING IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD OR KICKED OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT OR PAYMENTS FORWARD TO LIVE NEAR THEIR CHURCH, THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT OR GREEN SPACES.
SO WE ARE EXCITED FOR THIS SPECIAL TODAY, AND WE HOPE IDEAS BROUGHT FORTH, CREATE REAL MOVEMENT TOWARDS AN EQUITABLE, DIVERSE, UM, AND AFFORDABLE AUSTIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS.
WE'RE A NON-PROFIT ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER PARKS, AND WILDLIFE, AND A LIVABLE CLIMATE.
UH, THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS DIRECTLY FUELING ANOTHER CRISIS.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS, UH, EVERY TIME AN AUSTIN IS PRICED OUT OF LIVING IN THE CITY, THEY'RE FORCED TO GO FARTHER AND FARTHER OUTSIDE THE CITY TO FIND HOUSING.
THAT MEANS THEY'RE FACING MUCH LONGER COMMUTE TIMES STUCK IN TRAFFIC, PUMPING OUT CARBON AND SMOG POLLUTION INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE.
THEY ARE LIVING OFTEN IN HOMES THAT DON'T MEET THE SAME STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND TO FIGHT AGAINST WATER POLLUTION AND FLOODING.
UM, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS GOING INTO THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, MANY OF WHICH WE CAN'T CONTROL, BUT A LOT OF THEM, WE CAN, A LOT OF THEM ARE FLOWING DIRECTLY OUT OF LAND USE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE HERE AS A CITY, UH, INCLUDING FROM OUR OUTDATED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TOO OFTEN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BUILD HOUSING.
THAT'S BOTH SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE BECAUSE THE RULES AROUND THAT DON'T OFTEN MAKE SENSE WHETHER IT'S PARKING REQUIREMENTS OR, UH, ONEROUS OR EXPENSIVE, UH, PERMITTING PROCESSES FOR SMALLER HOUSING TYPES OR PROHIBITIONS ON BUILDING BACKYARD APARTMENTS OR A SEX ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
UH, SO WE NEED TO DIRECTLY CHALLENGE, UH, YOU KNOW, FIX A LOT OF THOSE CODES, IDEALLY IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER, BUT, UH, WE NEED TO NO, NO LONGER WAIT FOR ACTION.
YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, PARTICULARLY ON THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN HOUSING, THE AFFORDABILITY BONDS WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC.
UH, GREAT TO HEAR THE MAYOR TALKING ABOUT MAYBE DOING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE COMING UP SOON, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO SPUR INVESTMENT ON THE PRIVATE SIDE AND MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD AFFORDABLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLY IN THE CITY.
AND SO WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED THAT THE CITY COUNCILS WORKING TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF CONSENSUS TO FINALLY REALLY TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS AND WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, REDUCING PARKING REQUIREMENTS, UH, MAKING IT, UH, UH, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BUILD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, UH, STREAMLINING THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS.
THOSE ARE ALL GOOD, IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL MOVE THE BALL DOWN THE COURT SO THAT WE CAN ULTIMATELY BUILD A CITY THAT WHERE EVERYONE IN AUSTIN CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AND WE'RE MEETING OUR CLIMATE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UH, OR THE DIOCESE, UH, TO EVERYBODY'S WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, UH, TOWARD THAT CONSENSUS.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALICE AT COSAR KITCHEN RENT.
THE RAY WENT THIS FOR COMING HERE.
WANT TO GIVE YOU EACH A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING? IF YOU WANTED
[00:15:01]
TO SAY SOMETHING ON THIS TOPIC? UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY, UH, UH, QUESTIONS YOU OUGHT TO DIRECT TO ANYBODY UP HERE.CURRENTLY HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT SURROUND A LOT OF LOW INCOME HOMES HERE THAT ARE DEALING WITH MOLD A LOT.
THAT'S STILL HAVING RECOVERED FROM THE WINTER STORM.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT HOUSING AS LIKE, IS IN PLACE TO MAKE IT SAFER AND LIVABLE? THAT'S THE CODE ISSUE? CORRECT.
SO IN THIS LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL TOOK IMPORTANT STEPS ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ON HOUSING.
WE INVESTED IN UNPRECEDENTED WAYS IN HOMELESSNESS.
WE REDUCED THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR YOUR EVERYDAY HOMEOWNER.
WE PUT IN EVICTION PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS, BUT THAT CLEARLY HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS THAT WE HAVE.
YOU ASKED ABOUT LOW-INCOME FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING IN HOUSING, THAT'S FALLING APART AROUND THEM.
AND THERE'S TWO KEY THINGS WE NEED TO DO ABOUT THAT.
FIRST AS MAYOR ADLER MENTIONED, WE NEED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT INTO HOUSING FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
SO THAT WORKING CLASS FOLKS HAVE A BETTER OPTION THAN SOME OF THAT SLUMLORD HOUSING THAT EXISTS ACTUAL INVESTMENTS INTO EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO REMODEL IT, BRING IT UP TO CODE.
BUT IF THEIR CITY INVESTMENT ACTUALLY REQUIRE THAT THEIR RENT IS CONTROLLED SO THAT IT DOESN'T JUST RISE, AS SOON AS IT GETS REMODELED.
AND THEN THIRD PART WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS BRINGING MORE HOUSING SUPPLY TO THIS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A LANDLORD'S MARKET.
IF THERE IS ALMOST NOWHERE TO RET WHEN PEOPLE MAY NOT LEAVE THEIR APARTMENTS, IF IT'S IN BAD CONDITIONS, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN GET TO.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING STORIES FROM CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE MOVING FROM ONE PART OF TOWN TO ANOTHER, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY BIDDING UP THE RENT 15 OR 20 PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BID UP IN THE SAME APARTMENT.
YOU SEE THAT ON HOUSES, BUT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT NOW IT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN AROUND APARTMENTS.
AND SO WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED TO BUILD THE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN BRING MORE HOUSING TO THE MARKET.
AND PART OF HOW WE CAN DO THAT IS CHANGE OUR BROKEN RULES.
THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DRIVING A LITMUS IN THE FAMILY HOUSE TO GET SCRAPED AND JUST BE REPLACED BY A MCMANSION THAT DOESN'T ADD TO OUR HOUSING SUPPLY.
IT DOESN'T HELP WITH THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS COMPARED TO THE ALTERNATIVE OF SAYING, LET'S FIX UP THAT HOUSE AND THEN HAVE SMALLER HOUSING BE BUILT THAT ISN'T HAMPERED BY 70 FEES AND SUCH A, LIKE SUCH A DEEP PROCESS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR RULES ARE JUST LEADING US TO THE TEAR DOWN OF A LITTLE HOUSE AND THE, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MCMANSION AND THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS OUR ISSUES.
AND I THINK YOU SAW TODAY AS A CITY COUNCIL THAT IS COMING TOGETHER TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THEM IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES, ANY STOCKTON, SORRY, YOU SAID IMMEDIATE ACTION, BUT HOME PRICES HAVE BEEN RISING AT THE RATE.
TORNADOES SEEING SINCE SUMMER 20, 20 RENTS HAVE BEEN RISING AT HISTORIC RATES SINCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHY IS THE COUNCIL JUST HAVING THIS MEETING? NOW, THE COUNSELOR HAS BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND HE BROUGHT IT UP AND HOUSING COMMITTEE, RIGHT? AT THOSE TIMES WHERE WE WERE SEEING THOSE SPIKES, WE BROUGHT UP THE CONVERSATION AND WHAT IS REALLY CRITICAL IS FOR US TO TRY TO GET TO A NINE VOTE CONSENSUS.
IN THE PAST, WE WENT THROUGH SOMETIMES A MULTI-YEAR DEBATE WITHOUT ACTUALLY MAKING CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SO THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH WORK BEHIND THE SCENES YOU'VE SEEN AND HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT WE'VE BROUGHT UP.
UH, THE WHEELCHAIRS, WE BROUGHT UP THE DATA IT'S BEEN COVERED BY THE MEDIA, BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CONSISTENTLY THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF TEXAS LAW TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS CLEARLY 9, 10, 11 VOTES TO ADVANCE THE KIND OF CHANGE WE NEED ON HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPLY RIGHT HERE HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED AT THIS POINT.
AND OBVIOUSLY MORE HOUSING IS NEEDED.
THAT'S CLEAR, BUT WHAT IMMEDIATE ACTIONS IS COUNCIL TAKING TO NOT ONLY MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE RIGHT NOW, AND ALSO KEEP PEOPLE FROM LEAVING THIS AREA TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER EVERYTHING.
AND I INVITE THE MAYOR, MY COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK TO THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, IN THIS, THE RESPONSE HAS TO BE ONE ANSWER HAS TO BE A TOOLBOX FOR A RANGE OF TOOLS.
SO AT OUR LAST SESSION, WE PASSED THE PROCESS FOR CONSIDERING THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ALSO EXPEDITED TO CATCH UP WITH SOME CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW IN THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO, UM,
[00:20:01]
TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.UM, AND SO THAT'S JUST TAKEN, BUT DON'T MOVE EVERYBODY OFF.
WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.
IT JUST SAID, LIKE IN MY DISTRICT DISTRICT THREE , THOSE ARE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THAT'S UP TO YOU AND WORKED FOR A THOUSAND TRAUMAS IS GOING THROUGH A REDEVELOPMENT WHERE WHAT'S COMING TRIPLE IN SIZE FOR THE EXTREME, LOW INCOME THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING 30% AT NUMBER.
AND THEN THEY ALSO BUILD REBECCA BAY IS A 24 BUILDING THERE THAT WE ARE, WE'RE NOT RESIDENTS DEALING INTO ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX BEING BUILT RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
AND WE WERE GOING TO UPGRADE AND REMODEL THAT BUILDING THAT WERE BUILT IN THE 1960S.
SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT, BUT WE ALSO RATHER NOT ON RESOURCES AND FARMS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO HOPE YOU COME BACK NEXT YEAR FOR ANOTHER REQUEST FOR FUNDING, FOR HOUSING.
BUT WE ALSO NEED THE HELP FROM THE BUSINESS PEOPLE AND THE CORPORATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE JUST MOVING IN AND ASKING THEM WHY DON'T THEY BUY ENOUGH LAND SO THAT THEY COULD BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE EQUATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE, UH, WHETHER IT BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TAX CREDITS GOING OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BUILD ENOUGH OF THOSE THAT WE STABILIZE THE COST OF THE APARTMENTS AND MAYBE EVEN REDUCED THE COSTS SO THAT WE COULD GET MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR WORKFORCE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE, WE LOSE THEM AND THEY MOVED OUT TO AUSTIN.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WORK FOR US.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING $18 ROLLOVER AND SHUTTLES THEY'RE ON CONGRESS AVENUE OR A $25 HAMBURGER, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A LOT MORE TO GET THESE PEOPLE TO COME DOWN HERE AND WORK IN AUSTIN.
AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
AND IT'S REALLY AFFECTING ALL THE, UH, THE BUSINESSES.
ALSO, THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME TO, TO HIRE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T IN THE, IN THE PAST, DIDN'T PROVIDE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS NEEDED.
SO WHERE WE'RE AT TEN ONE, WE'RE REALLY FACING THIS ISSUE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TIME.
WE'LL BE WORKING REALLY HARD SINCE WE GOT HERE AND WE HAVE BEEN A LOT AND IT'S STILL A LOT MORE.
BUT WHEN YOU GET LABELED IN A MAGAZINE AS BEING THE MOST DESIRABLE CITY TO LIVE IN THE WHOLE WORLD, THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE COMING DOWN HERE.
AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE AS WELL, COMING HERE.
AND THEY GONNA OUTBID US ON OUR HOME.
I PAID 20 1042 YEARS AGO FOR MY HOUSE.
NOW IT'S A PLACE THAT IS APPRAISED AT ALMOST $700,000.
NOW THAT'S 40 YEARS OF APPRAISAL.
AND I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD THAT EVER.
I WOULD SEE THAT IN MY LIFETIME, BUT THAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP ON WORKING HARD, TO GET THIS DOWN SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ENOUGH HOUSING FOR OUR RESIDENTS HERE.
I WISH THERE WAS MORE IMMEDIATE THINGS WE COULD DO THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT OVERNIGHT.
THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO IMMEDIATELY, WE HAVE DIED IN TERMS OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR HOMES.
DID THEY STAY, WHICH IS WHY THE EVICTION RATE IN THIS CITY WAS LOWER THAN IT WAS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.
IT IS AMAZING THAT THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW ARE DELIVERING MORE HOUSING PRODUCTION PER CAPITA THAN ANY CITY OF THE COUNTRY.
YOU HEARD, THOSE NUMBERS MENTIONED TODAY, WAS IT THE KID, THEIR REPORT, AND YET EVEN STILL, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AUSTIN RIGHT NOW, THE ARTICLE THAT RAN FOR THE BRITISH COMPANY THAT WAS MENTIONED BY HOC IDO IS RATED OUR CITY INTERNATIONALLY AND FIND WE WERE THE MOST DESIRABLE CITY TO MOVE INTO.
NUMBER TWO WAS TOKYO, NEW YORK CITY WAS WHAT, FOUR OR FIVE DOWN ON THE LIST.
THIS IS, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
IT'S AN EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE.
I WISH THERE WERE MORE THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING OVERNIGHT, BUT EVEN THE THINGS THAT CAN'T BE DONE OVERNIGHT HAVE TO BE INITIATED THAT WE JUST CAN'T WAIT.
UH, AND, AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IT'S FINDING THE CONSENSUS POINTS THAT THE COUNCIL CAN MOVE FORWARD ON.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE ALL THOSE POINTS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND A LOT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL PROBABLY BE HARD, UH, HERE, UH, IN THE BD, WE HAVE LATER THIS WEEK AT THE MEETING WE HAVE NEXT WEEK, YOU GUYS WATCHED THE DEBATES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE CITY OVER, OVER, OVER LAND USAGE.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS SOMETHING THAT IS A DIFFERENT MISSION THAN THE ONE WE HAD BEFORE TRYING TO FIND CONSENSUS ON ITEMS
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WE COULD MOVE FORWARD ON.AND I DON'T THINK WE KNOW AS WE STAND HERE TODAY.
EXACTLY WHAT FORM THOSE THINGS ARE, BUT THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO FIGHT THEM.
I KNOW YOU SAY HE GOES NINE VOTES, HOPEFULLY MORE.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE TIME OR IS IT, AND I THINK IT'S EVIDENCED BY THE AUCTION.
THE COUNCIL TOOK LAST WEEK ON THE VMU TO DESIGNATION THE, THE POST AID THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, UH, UH, YOU'VE HEARD THE DISCUSSION HERE TODAY ABOUT PUTTING MORE RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE, UH, NINE VOTES, UH, FOR, FOR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UH, SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO FIND THEM, THERE WAS DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT ADU WHO'S.
I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSENSUS ON, ON, ON THAT.
THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED TOO.
WE'LL FIND OUT WHETHER THERE'S CONSENSUS ON THOSE.
UH, I'M NOT CLEAR YET THE PUZZLES THAT COUNCIL HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS FAR, THE PROPOSAL YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR BROUGHT FORWARD.
THE BMU TWO THAT COMES TO MEMBER KITCHEN MENTIONED, APPLY TO CORRIDORS.
THEY DON'T APPLY TO THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITY, WHICH IS ZONED SINGLE FAMILY, CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAS HAD A HELPING SUPPLY ISSUE FOR DECADES AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.
UM, YOU KNOW, MADE IT POSSIBLE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING IN, IN PLACES PREVIOUSLY ZONED SINGLE FAMILY.
WHY ARE WE NOT TACKLING HOUSING SUPPLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CONSTITUTES THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITIES? I THINK WE FILED THIS.
WE WORKED THROUGH THE OLD LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PROCESS THAT THERE WERE NOT NINE VOTES, NINE, 10 OR 11 VOTES TO, UH, MAKE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE IN CALIFORNIA.
UH, THAT SUPPORT WAS NOT HERE, UH, LEGISLATIVELY TO GET THAT WORK DONE.
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
AFFORDABILITY ON THE LOCK IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT TIED JUST TO CORRIDORS.
THAT'S A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT YOU HEARD SUPPORT FOR THE ADU WORK IS NOT TIED TO TWO CORRIDORS.
THERE WERE SEVERAL IDEAS THAT WERE SUGGESTED THIS MORNING THAT ARE NOT JUST TIED TO CORRIDORS.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO TRY TO FIND AS MANY AS THOSE AS WE CAN AND MOVE FORWARD ON THEM, NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE WORKER OR THE CORRIDORS, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE GREATEST CONSENSUS IS.
SO WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, A CONSENSUS THAT EXISTS THERE TOO.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
I LOVE THAT TO BE HERE WHEN HE WAS SHUT OFF TO BE HERE.
SO GET OUT OF YOUR, GET OUT OF YOUR, UH,