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[HOME Phase 1 Press Conference ]
EVERYONE.IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I JUST WANNA DO A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING ON THE RUN OF SHOW.
AFTER THE FORMAL REMARKS TODAY, WE WILL ALL MOVE OUT INTO THE ATRIUM FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS, TO OUR GOOD PARTNERS WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY, I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE FULL LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSING THE HOME INITIATIVE IS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND MY STAFF WILL DISTRIBUTE THOSE.
Y'ALL READY? I'M LESLIE POOLE, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M JOINED TODAY BY SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSING THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORT THAT HOME HAS RECEIVED.
IT REALLY INDICATES HOW MUCH THESE OPTIONS ARE NEEDED IN AUSTIN.
HOME STANDS FOR HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME EMPOWERMENT, AND IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE INCOME HOME BUYERS IN AUSTIN.
WHEN I STARTED ON COUNCIL IN JANUARY OF 2015, ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO, AUSTIN WAS STILL A PLACE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
AFTER ALL THE MEDIAN HOME INCOME PRICE, THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE WAS $238,000, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF OPTIONS IN ALMOST EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS YEAR, THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN AUSTIN IS $540,000.
WELL BEYOND THE REACH OF A MIDDLE INCOME EARNER WHOSE PRICE POINT IS LIMITED TO $350,000.
AUSTIN USED TO BE A PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME FOR COLLEGE OR FOR WORK AND WANTED TO STAY.
THEY COULD FIND A STARTER HOME AND MAKE THEIR WAY IN AUSTIN.
THAT SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE ANYMORE, AND I THINK WE'D ALL LIKE TO CHANGE THAT.
HOME BUILDS ON THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK OF IMAGINE AUSTIN, THE UPROOTED REPORT AND THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT.
EACH CALLING FOR MORE DIVERSE HOUSING CHOICES ACROSS THE CITY HOME IMPLEMENTS KEY STRATEGIES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED AND IS A MEASURED, SEQUENCED, UH, APPROACH.
PHASE ONE WILL BE CONSIDERED ON THURSDAY AND ALLOWS UP TO THREE HOMES ON A PROPERTY, INCLUDING TINY HOMES, WHICH ARE THE MOST AFFORDABLE WAY TO ADD A HOME TO YOUR LOT.
PHASE TWO IS COMING INTO THE SPRING OF 2024 AND PROPOSES SMALLER HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS THAT WOULD THEREFORE BE MORE ATTAINABLE FOR MIDDLE INCOME HOME BUYERS.
I'M EXCITED FOR THE VOTE ON THURSDAY AND I WANNA NOTE THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR DOUBTS ABOUT HOME, AND I CAN TELL YOU I'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION AND HAVE BEEN SKEPTICAL ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD DENSITY.
WELL, THE WORLD IN AUSTIN HAS CHANGED AND NOW THE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T ACCESSIBLE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS ANYMORE.
WE CAN'T DENY THIS FACT, AND I WON'T LOOK AWAY FROM IT.
WE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE HERE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE ROOM IN OUR CITY FOR ALL WHO ARE COMING HERE WANTING TO MAKE THIS THEIR HOME TOO.
JUST LIKE ROOM WAS MADE FOR US WHEN WE WERE IN THE SAME PLACE IN OUR LIVES AND CAREERS, I WANT US AS A CITY TO PULL TOGETHER AND FIND WAYS TO MAKE HOUSING ATTAINABLE AND AVAILABLE FOR UPCOMING GENERATIONS.
IF WE DO THIS, IF WE PULL TOGETHER, IF WE CREATE OPTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO NEED THEM, THEN TOGETHER WE CAN WELCOME MORE FAMILIES INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AUSTIN CAN TRULY FEEL LIKE A HOME FOR EVERYONE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED, MY TEAM AND I CRAFTED A WEBSITE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT HOME.
YOU CAN FIND THAT@ATXHOMECOALITION.COM.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST SPEAKER, DOTTIE WATKINS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CAPITAL METRO, WHICH IS AUSTIN'S TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
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DOTTIE.I'M DOTTIE WATKINS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CAP METRO AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY, STANDING UNITED WITH A GREAT GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE HOME INITIATIVE.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE EFFORTS TO BRING FORWARD MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS AUSTIN'S HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES, CHALLENGES, LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION GO HAND IN HAND.
THEY ARE REALLY THIS OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SAME COIN, AND I'VE LONG SAID THAT GOOD LAND USE BENEFITS TRANSIT AND VICE VERSA.
THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY HUGELY IMPACTS HOW PEOPLE FORM COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO HOW THEY ACCESS OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THAT BE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND OTHERS.
CAP METRO IS IN THE BUSINESS OF MOVING PEOPLE AND AS AUSTIN CONTINUES GROWING, WE KNOW FROM A RECENT SURVEY THAT SURVEYED OVER 25,000 OF OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS, THAT RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER TO SUPPORT THAT GROWTH.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO GO FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS TO SCHOOL OR WORK, AND MORE AND MORE DENSITY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT TRANSIT TO MORE EFFECTIVELY SERVE THAT NEED.
WE MUST PLAN THOUGHTFULLY FOR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS TO DO THE MOST GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANKFULLY, OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AGREE AND ACTIVELY CONSIDER LAND USE WHEN REVIEWING TRANSIT PROJECTS FOR FUNDING.
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THESE AMENDMENTS EXCITES US FOR FUTURE FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE EVEN MORE PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECTS.
THE PROGRESS OF THE HOME INITIATIVE WOULD OPEN UP NEW TOOLS FOR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AROUND TRANSIT CORRIDORS TO SUPPORT OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO GIVE US, PUT US IN A GOOD POSITION TO GET MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS SO WE CAN DO EVEN MORE TRANSIT IN AUSTIN.
CAP METRO IS PROUD TO BE A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER, HELPING ADVANCE SOLUTIONS TOWARDS A MORE PROSPEROUS AUSTIN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HI, I'M MICHELLE ANDERSON, CEO OF AUSTIN, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, WE HAVE WORKED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP ACROSS AUSTIN AND GREATER AUSTIN.
TODAY THE HOUSING CRISIS IS REACHING CRITICAL LEVELS.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, 73% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN GREATER AUSTIN CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE A HOME.
THIS ISN'T JUST A STATISTIC, THIS IS FAMILIES BEING PRICED OUT OF THE DREAM OF OWNER OWNERSHIP THAT WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO RECEIVE.
FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS INCREASE IN HOME COST, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 11,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE PRICED OUT OF THE REALITY OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE FACE OF THIS CRISIS.
THE WORK OF AUSTIN HABITAT AND MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE IS THE, THE ANSWER TO THIS CRISIS WOULD BE THE WORK THAT HABITAT IS DOING AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHERE THE HOME INITIATIVE STEPS IN.
IT ALLOWS HOME OWNERS THE OPTION TO ADDING ADD TO ADDING HOUSING TO THEIR PROPERTY.
THEY CAN HAVE DIVERSE OPTIONS FOR HOUSING TYPES, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MORE AFFORDABILITY.
THEY CAN CREATE A PATHWAY FOR MORE HOMES.
IT OPENS POSSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOMEOWNERS.
IT ENABLES AGING IN PLACE, PROVIDE SPACE FOR CAREGIVERS AND SUPPORTS INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILIES.
MORE HOUSING IN AUSTIN RELATES TO BETTER TRANSIT, AS YOU'VE HEARD, AND JOBS FOR OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN POOL FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN STEADFAST SUPPORT ON THE HOME INITIATIVE.
TOGETHER, LET'S TURN THE KEY TO UNLOCK A BRIGHTER FUTURE, MORE AFFORDABLE AUSTIN FOR OUR COLLEAGUES.
HI, MY NAME IS NORA TIS MILLER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WORKS AUSTIN.
WE ARE A 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION THAT DOES THREE THINGS, PREDOMINANTLY RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AND ADVOCACY ALL AROUND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN OUR REGION.
WE ARE STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE HOME INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREATER DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS THAT CURRENT THAT THEN CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONE DISTRICTS IN AUSTIN.
THIS IS CRITICAL FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO ATTAINABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSEHOLDS AT A RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AND SENIORS WISHING TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
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ENSURE THAT EQUITABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ARE ADDED IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS IN AUSTIN, ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO ACCESS BETTER HEALTH, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS.COMBINED WITH PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME, HOMEOWNERS ARE ABLE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE PROGRAM.
THE HOME INITIATIVE CAN HELP SENIORS AND OTHER V UH, VULNERABLE RESIDENTS REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPAND HOME, UH, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
AND THE HOME INITIATIVE, UH, MOVES US CLOSER TO THAT GOAL.
HOUSING WORKS TAGLINE IS ALL KINDS OF HOMES IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
THE HOME INITIATIVE SPEAKS CLEARLY TO THIS TAGLINE AND WE URGE PASSAGE, PASSAGE OF THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT AND WE THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE FOR THAT EFFORT.
I'M JESSICA LEMON WITH A A RP.
TEXAS A A RP SUPPORTS HOME BECAUSE IT WILL AUTHORIZE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY TO EASE THE CITY'S HOUSING CRISIS AND GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS SUPPORTING FAMILY CAREGIVERS.
THE AGE OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS POPULATION IS FAST RISING.
THE DEMAND IS GREAT FOR ACCESSIBLE HOUSING THAT ACCOMMODATES MULTI GENERA, MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING AND CAREGIVING, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, WHICH OFFERS DIVERSE AND FLEXIBLE DESIGNS, ALLOWS FAMILIES TO STAY INTACT.
YOUNGER FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO HELP CARE FOR THEIR OLDER LOVED ONES UNDER HOUSING DESIGNS OF THIS KIND.
SECONDLY, ESSENTIAL WORKERS SUCH AS HOME HEALTH ATTENDANTS, NURSES, EMS PROVIDERS, TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE VITAL TO SUPPORTING AN AGING POPULATION.
FURTHER BY OFFERING A RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS FROM DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, OR TOWN HOMES, AUSTIN CAN CREATE A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE HOUSING MARKET, GIVING HOMEOWNERS MORE OPTIONS TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S DOWNSIZING, MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING, MONETIZING THEIR PROPERTY, OR SIMPLY MAKING NO CHANGES WHATSOEVER.
WE TRUST THAT OUR CITY LEADERS ARE LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND TO THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND WE'LL DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT HOME'S VISION FOR A MORE AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE AUSTIN BECOMES A REALITY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SELENA AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN EMS ASSOCIATION.
AND THE REASON WHY WE SUPPORT HOME, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, WHEN WE DID A STUDY ABOUT HOW MANY FOLKS ACTUALLY LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WE FOUND THAT ONLY 20% OF OUR MEDICS LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, AND A LOT MORE WOULD LIKE TO LIVE THERE IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT.
UM, BECAUSE OF THIS, BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY, WE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD TO RAISE OUR SALARIES IN THE LAST CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE OUR SALARIES QUITE A BIT.
UM, AND EVEN AFTER THAT, IN OUR JANUARY CLASS, WE'RE ONLY ABLE TO GET 50%, UM, FULL.
SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S 17 PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA START IN JANUARY, AND IT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND OF A GROWING CITY.
UM, AND WHEN I TRY TO GO OUT AND RECRUIT FOLKS, THE NUMBER ONE THING I HEAR IS, YEAH, YOUR SALARIES ARE PRETTY HIGH, BUT THERE'S NO WAY I CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND WEEKLY, I THINK IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE RELIEF FUND HAS GIVEN OUT ALMOST $20,000 TO FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN AFFORD FIRST AND LAST MONTH'S RENT WHEN THEY MOVE HERE.
AND OUR CADETS WHO ARE REALLY SUFFERING, UM, WITH THE WAGES THEY GET AND SIMPLY UNABLE TO MAKE AND MEETS.
AND SOME OF THE STORIES THAT I HEAR ARE REALLY HEARTBREAKING.
UM, OUTSIDE OF OUR CADETS, YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT MEDICS THAT ARE JUST MOVING TO THE CITY.
I REPRESENT FOLKS THAT ARE STARTING OUT IN THEIR CAREERS, UM, ALL THE WAY TO FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN AUSTIN FOR DECADES.
UM, AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIRST STEP OF HOME IN MY MIND HELP THEM ALONG THE WHOLE RANGE OF THE SPECTRUM.
UM, WHEN OUR CADETS FIRST MOVE HERE, A LOT OF 'EM DO LIVE IN MORE DORM STYLE HOUSING, UM, THAT IS CURRENTLY ACTUALLY ILLEGAL.
UM, AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING IT ILLEGALLY.
SO IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNRELATED FOLKS LIVING IN, IN, IN THEIR HOUSES.
UM, WE HAVE OTHER MEDICS THAT SIMPLY WANT TO LIVE CLOSER TO THEIR STATIONS, UM, TO WHERE THEY WORK, UM, AND ARE UNABLE TO BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO.
AND IT'D BE GREAT IF THERE WERE SOME SMALLER STARTER HOMES THAT THEY COULD MOVE INTO.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR AUSTIN FOR 20 YEARS AND THEY ALREADY OWN HOMES.
UM, AND THEY WANT TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL UNIT, UM, TO EITHER HOUSE ADULT CHILDREN, TO HOUSE THEIR PARENTS, UM, OR TO MAKE SOME PASSIVE INCOME THROUGH RENTING.
UM, SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, WE SUPPORT HOME.
UM, AND WE REALLY THINK THAT IT JUST PROVIDES MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FOLKS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO STAY WHERE THEY LIVE OR TO MOVE INTO AUSTIN TO BE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY WORK SO THAT, THAT THEY CAN SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
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POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL FIVE 20.OUR LOCAL'S BEEN BUILDING AUSTIN FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS, AND WE ALL USED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ON AN APPRENTICE WAGE AS WELL.
A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DID A SURVEY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP HERE IN AUSTIN AHEAD OF OUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ASKING, WHERE DO YOU LIVE? HOW MUCH IS YOUR RENT, YOUR MORTGAGE, ET CETERA.
WHEN YOU LAY THE RESULTS OUT OF WHERE THESE UNION ELECTRICIANS LIVE OVER A MAP, IT'S LIKE A DONUT AROUND TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE NOW HAVE MEMBERS COMMUTING ALL THE WAY FROM GERALD TO BUILD THIS CITY.
THIS IS A PATTERN THAT ISN'T SUSTAINABLE.
OUR SKILL SETS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY AND HIGH DEMAND, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STAND AROUND WASTING OUR LIVES AWAY ON TOLL ROADS, SITTING IN TRAFFIC.
THIS IS A SITUATION THAT THE STATUS QUO HAS US IN.
IF WORKING PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE A GOOD LIFE FOR THEMSELVES HERE, THEY WILL LEAVE.
THEY WON'T BUILD YOUR SKYSCRAPERS, THEY WON'T INSTALL YOUR CEILING FANS.
THEY WON'T COOK YOUR FOOD, AND THEY WON'T TAKE OUT YOUR GARBAGE WORKING.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE TOO, AND WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT KIND OF DENSITY THAT WILL SUPPORT MASS TRANSIT BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION TO OUR GROWING TRANSIT TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
THERE'S NO OTHER SOLUTION TO A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF OUR BELOVED AUSTIN.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT TEXAS.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR AND WATER PARKS AND WILDLIFE IN A LIVABLE CLIMATE.
UH, AUSTIN'S CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IS A DISASTER FOR OUR, OUR CLIMATE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT.
UH, WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE, UH, SPRAWLING OUT, UH, INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE AS WE ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, UH, FUELING PEOPLE TO HAVE TO DRIVE, YOU KNOW, LONG, LONG DISTANCES, BELTING OUT CARBON EMISSIONS TO GET TO WORK, UH, AND EXACERBATING AIR QUALITY CONCERNS, UH, WATER QUANTITY AND MANY OTHER ISSUES.
THERE'S A BETTER WAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LIVE ON A SMALLER FOOTPRINT ON THIS PLANET, AND THAT MEANS GIVING PEOPLE OPTIONS TO LIVE IN SMALLER HOMES, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO THEIR JOBS, CLOSER TO, UH, TO THE INNER CITY.
AND SO, UH, THE HOME INITIATIVE IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD ENVIRONMENT.
TEXAS, UH, STRONGLY SUPPORTS IT, UH, BY ALLOWING, UH, PEOPLE TO LIVE IN MORE COMPACT, CONNECTED, UH, COMMUNITIES, OR THEY CAN TAKE TRANSITS.
THEY MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL OR TO TO WORK.
UM, THAT IS, UH, FROM OUR RESEARCH, NO MATTER WHAT METRIC YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WHETHER IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE, AIR OR WATER QUALITY, WATER QUANTITY, UH, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN A MORE DENSE COMPACT WAY IS FAR BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN THE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS, UH, ENDLESS SPRAWL.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT FORWARD.
WE'RE IN AUSTIN, 5 0 1 C3 THAT HAS A MISSION TO DO EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT AROUND PROJECT CONNECT.
AS DOTTIE POINTED OUT, THE, THE AREAS OF HOUSING AND TRANSIT ARE INTERLINKED CLOSELY.
TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE, NEED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE NEAR THE STATIONS WHERE THEY CAN GET A BUS OR A TRAIN HOME WILL ALLOW FOR MORE FOLKS TO ACCESS MORE TRANSIT.
AND THAT HAS A WHOLE LIST OF POSITIVES FOR OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
SO WE SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES AS WELL AS RELAXATION OF COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS, GETTING RID OF PARKING MINIMUMS AS A WAY TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE NEAR TRANSIT AND GET A BETTER SITUATION FOR THEMSELVES OVERALL.
SECONDLY, AND A MORE DIRECT THING, AUSTIN WILL BE GOING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE NEXT YEAR AND ASKING FOR $2.5 BILLION TO HELP BUILD PROJECT CONNECT.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CARES ABOUT THIS AND THEY LOVE OUR FINANCING MODEL AND THEY LOVE OUR ROUTE, BUT OUR LAND USE ISN'T WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IN ORDER TO COMPETE AGAINST OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SO GETTING HOME AS WELL AS THESE OTHER INITIATIVES PUT IN PLACE WILL GIVE AUSTIN A MUCH, MUCH BETTER ARGUMENT AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THOSE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO BE HERE.
THIRDLY, TO ECHO LOOP TRANSIT FORWARD, DID A STUDY LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
UH, WE ACTUALLY DID A POLL IN APRIL AND SHOWED THAT FOLKS SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON, AFFORDABILITY, THE NUMBER TWO IS CLIMATE CHANGE.
AUSTIN WILL NOT HIT IT, ITS GOALS IN TERMS OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS UNLESS WE HAVE MORE TRANSIT AND MORE HOUSING NEAR THAT TRANSIT.
SO GIVING OUR WORKERS A PLACE TO LIVE, TO BUILD THESE THINGS, GIVING OUR CITIZENS A PLACE THAT THEY CAN LIVE TO BE NEAR TRANSIT IS GOOD OVERALL.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA CLOSE WITH THIS.
I WENT TO THE, UH, MEETING WE HAD HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THE JOINT PLANNING COMMISSIONING, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS AGAINST THIS THAT SAID, WORKERS CAN JUST LIVE IN, BUT WORKERS CAN JUST LIVE IN.
IT'S NOT WHEN WORKERS CAN LIVE CLOSE TO THE PLACES THAT THEY WORK.
IT IS BETTER FOR AFFORDABILITY, IT IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND IT IS BETTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEREFORE TRANSIT FORWARD SUPPORTS HOME.
AND WE THANK VERY MUCH THE CITY
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COUNCILORS THAT ARE PUTTING THIS MEASURE FORWARD.THANK YOU, UH, TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, CLOSE THIS OUT AND AFTERWARDS WE CAN TAKE, UH, QUESTIONS, BUT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE, UH, ATRIUM.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND ESPECIALLY THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE WHOSE VISION AND CREATIVITY HAS BROUGHT US TO, UH, THIS HISTORIC DAY.
WE ARE SO CLOSE TO PUTTING AUSTIN ON THE PATH TOWARDS ORGANIC AFFORDABILITY, AND THAT'S DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE AND THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF AUSTIN WHO COLLABORATE AS A HOME INITIATIVE, UH, MANY OF WHOM ARE, ARE HERE, UH, TODAY.
RIGHT NOW, THE HOME INITIATIVE STANDS POISED TO TRANSFORM AUSTIN'S HOUSING MARKET OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES.
IN A BASIC AND SIMPLE WAY, GENTLE DENSITY DONE RIGHT MEANS GIVING HOMEOWNERS THE FREEDOM TO BUILD NEEDED HOUSING ON THEIR PROPERTY TO HELP THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
BEFORE THE 1950S, AUSTIN ALLOWED TRIPLEXES AND FOURPLEXES IN MORE AREAS AND ON SMALLER LOTS.
OUR LARGE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WAS ONLY IMPLEMENTED AFTER FEDERAL COURT STRUCK DOWN EXPLICIT RACE-BASED ZONING, LARGE, LOTS AND RESTRICTIVE ZONING WERE DESIGNED TO KEEP WORKING CLASS BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES OUT OF PREDOMINANTLY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN.
TODAY, THE WORST THING WE CAN DO FOR BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES IN AUSTIN IS NOTHING DISPLACEMENT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OUR EXISTING CODE BANS THE TYPE OF HOUSING THAT MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES CAN AFFORD.
WHEN THE PRICE OF LAND IS HIGH IN A GROWING CITY, WE HAVE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR HOMES ON LESS LAND.
THE HOME INITIATIVE PROVIDES A SIMPLE AND SENSIBLE RESPONSE TO THESE CHALLENGES WE CHOOSE.
WE CHOSE TO EMPOWER HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY THREATENED WITH DISPLACEMENT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY PROUD OF.
I WANTED TO AVOID THE PITFALLS OF PREVIOUS AFFORDABILITY MEASURES, WHICH CREATED A COMPLEX WEB OF OVERLAYS, EXCEPTIONS, INCENTIVES, AND CONTRADICTORY RULES THAT COULD ONLY BE NGA NAVIGATED BY THE WEALTHIEST DEVELOPERS AND THEIR TEAMS OF LAWYERS.
INSTEAD, HOME SIMPLIFIES THE RULES AND PLACES TRUST IN PEOPLE BY ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD TO THEIR NEEDS.
THIS WILL LEAD TO GRADUAL AFFORDABILITY, IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE TIED TO THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HOME INITIATIVE IS A STRATEGY WHICH WILL ACHIEVE THE HOUSING DENSITY WE NEED WILL WITHOUT DISPLACING CURRENT RESIDENTS, OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THIS APPROACH HAVE SEEN LOWER HOUSING COSTS WITHOUT WORSENING GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
WE ARE ADOPTING NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS TO AID IN OUR PURSUIT OF HOUSING EQUITY EQUITY.
WE'RE ALSO BRINGING FORWARD A RESOLUTION ON DECEMBER 14TH, WHICH WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL UNIT TO THEIR HOMES.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS ADDITIONAL STEP TO COUNTER DISPLACEMENT, AND I THANK COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ AND CO-SPONSORS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND VANESSA FUENTES FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE POOLE FOR HER BRAVERY AND INGENUITY IN DEVELOPING THE HOME INITIATIVE AND TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE, THE STAFF, THE MEDIA AND THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS INITIATIVE.
UM, AND THEN BRIEFLY, I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OF SPANISH LANGUAGE STATIONS HERE.
I'M GONNA DO A, A, A SHORTER VERSION OF THIS IN, UH, IN SPANISH AND MASS ARIA.
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UM, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.UH, I'LL CLOSE WITH THAT AND, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HEAD OUT TO THE ATRIUM, UH, TO TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT HERE IN THE, IN THE EXECUTIVE, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO GO OUT HERE AND OFF TO THE RIGHT.