CITY McKinney City Council looking at strategies to help mitigate housing costs for east side
PRESERVING HISTORY McKinney’s Neighborhood Preservation Study addresses the impacts of new development on five east side neighborhoods, which are shown here.
Neighborhoods
Lewisville
Wilcox La Loma-Lively Hill
BY SHELBIE HAMILTON
Mouzon
Rockwall
assistance programs for things, such as home repairs, down payments, utility payments and more, accord- ing to the report. The presentation given to council at the meeting by representatives of Economic & Planning Systems outlined various strategies, policies and tools that could be implemented to help mitigate the impact of development on east side residents. Proposed solutions include implementing a community land trust, creating or expanding an existing tax incre- ment reinvestment zone, and bolstering the city’s housing rehabilitation program. These tools target
McKinney City Council is considering solutions to protect east side residents from rising housing costs. Council received a report on the Neighborhood Preservation Study initiative during a winter work session. The initiative began in early 2021 to address concerns of rising housing costs due to surrounding development projects in the city’s five historic east side neighborhoods: La Loma-Lively Hill, Lewisville, Mouzon-Central, Rockwall and Wilcox. The study, conducted by independent consultants Economic & Planning Systems, evaluated relevant
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information, such as owner- ship data, the condition of residential and commercial properties in the area, average home sale price, and more. The study concluded the roughly 3,500 residents of the affected neighbor- hoods are particularly vulnerable to displacement when compared to the rest
costs incurred by property taxes, house repairs and more, and are intended to provide financial relief. Council members expressed concerns regard- ing the use of a community land trust, citing potential issues in implementing the tool for homes being rented out or being passed through
“THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION STUDY CAME ABOUT IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT WANTED TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES WERE ABLE TO DO SO.” JANAY TIEKEN, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
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of McKinney. About 56% of surveyed residents also indicated they intend to remain in their home for 10 or more years, according to the report. “The Neighborhood Preservation Study came about in an effort to make sure that the residents that wanted to remain in their homes were able to do so,” said Janay Tieken, director of the housing and community development department. The report also noted east side residents are more diverse, have significantly lower median household incomes and are growing as a population at a slower rate than the rest of the city. The affected neighborhoods have also seen a significant increase in the median home sale price since 2010, according to the report. The report included feedback collected from 173 east side residents who indicated they are facing financial challenges and are interested in financial
generations of family members. Council Member Geré Feltus noted her desire for this strategy to retain home ownership for residents passing their property to the next generation. “One of the best ways to increase generational wealth is to pass on home ownership, so I would like to see us really reach for that better as we’re creating these policies,” Feltus said. Council also noted concern about how to protect residents who are renting their east side homes. About 60% of residents in the affected neighbor- hoods rent their homes, according to the report. Var- ious council members expressed interest in learning more about how the tools would protect renters and home occupants, as opposed to the landlord. “My advocation has always been for protecting residents that live there now and allowing them to be able to remain there without the cost of rising values
SOURCE: CITY OF MCKINNEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT N
to push them out,” Mayor George Fuller said. The City Council gave direction at a January work session indicating their support for expanding the existing tax increment reinvestment zone, pursing a clear title program and creating an accessory dwelling unit loan program, according to city docu- ments. A finalized neighborhood preservation plan is expected to be presented to the council. For more information, visit www.mckinneytexas. org/3340/Studies#NPS. To give additional feedback or ask questions about the study, contact Janay Tieken at 972-547-7578 or jtieken@mckinneytexas.org.
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