BY BEN THOMPSON
New housing types Both phases of the HOME initiative will bring di erent housing types and sizes to single-family neighborhoods.
Put in perspective
What else?
HOME’s impacts are likely to vary in di erent parts of town. For example, core neighborhoods and places near major roads or bus routes could see more of the new additions that will take advantage of new housing caps. “I think you’ll primarily see HOME [Phase] 1 three-unit projects in more walkable urban settings where it naturally is calling for density because you have transit nearby, stores nearby, people want to live there, live near the parks and near the water,” Carr said. “[New housing will] look very similar; just in instances where there are larger lots, you might have an additional unit where you otherwise wouldn’t. But I don’t think it’s as dramatic of a change as maybe people had originally believed.” DSD sta say HOME hasn’t altered their oversight work so far with permit turnaround times still last- ing about two weeks. They also advised residents or homebuilders to schedule meetings with the city before moving a HOME project forward.
Both HOME phases passed with close community attention, and with some key edits from city o cials. One item of interest for many residents was whether new HOME projects would ood the market with even more unregulated short- term rentals, or STRs. For new two-unit homes created with Phase 1 allowances, one of the units can serve as an STR for 30 days a year. STRs are banned on lots created through Phase 2. Another HOME-related concern was its impact in relation to homeowners asso- ciations. Such private legal agreements would trump city development policies like HOME—although Austin has no responsibility to enforce any violations. By the fall, new city support options like down payment assistance, lower building fees and low-interest loans will be considered to make HOME more feasible.
New lots 2,165 sq. ft.
Existing Lot 6,500 sq. ft.
Permitted HOME 1 Units: 1,450 sq. ft.
Permitted HOME 2 Units: 1,450 sq. ft.
Existing home 1,000 sq. ft.
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next
will have their intended e ect of curbing home prices and inaccessibility for rst-time low- and middle-income buyers. City Council also requires regular reporting on HOME to publicly track the locations and features of all new projects, and their impact on Austin communities. Those in-depth reviews of HOME’s e ects will begin in August, according to the city.
Sanchez said. City o cials also mandated the study of an “equity overlay” to limit HOME regulations in places found to be hit hardest by gentri cation and una ordability. It remains to be seen how widespread the adoption of the new development rules will be in Austin’s neighborhoods—and whether the policies
With HOME’s rst phase well underway, the city is preparing for additional interest in the second phase’s lot size reform. DSD will begin reviewing Phase 2 projects mid-August. “[DSD] is currently training sta , revising application forms, and updating our internal and external processes to ensure a smooth implementation,” DSD spokesperson Stephanie
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CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION
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