Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | July 2024

Real estate

Austinites will soon begin to see more varied types of homes rising in their neighborhoods under the HOME, or Housing Options for Middle- Income Empowerment, regulations rolling out in two phases this year. HOME was proposed by local ocials in 2023 to bring more aordable and “missing middle” housing types to a city where larger, costlier single-family homes have long been the neighborhood norm. HOME’s rst stage opened the door for multiple housing units to be built on property zoned for single-family use. And, by late 2024, another change will allow individual homes to be built on much smaller footprints, some of which could be created by splitting up larger existing properties. “You might start to see some dierent creative styles, and you might see some dierent form types that bring lower prices and dierent living opportunities,” said homebuilder Cody Carr, whose development rm Carr Residential is working on multiple HOME projects. HOME’s allowances unlock new housing options in Austin’s single-family-zoned areas where less exible building rules used to apply. The plan is aimed at bringing more structures like ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, to more Austinites’ yards and generally increasing the density of housing on single-family plots. Austin’s Development Services Department, or DSD, began accepting HOME Phase 1 applications on Feb. 5 after City Council approved the policy late last year, and nearly 100 permit requests had been led as of late June. City policy adds housing options

620 Many new projects under HOME Phase 1 are moving forward. Once both phases of HOME are in place, the city estimates that 154,000 lots covering more than 70 square miles would be eligible. Issued Pending HOME Phase 1 projects*

183

*AS OF JUNE 27

The city is already tracking HOME's use around Austin, and more formal reporting on the impact of the new policies will start this year. 95 applications submitted 47 applications approved 175 new units

2222

360 TOLL

290

Austin

MOPAC

290

183

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM