Density Discussion
Austin lots may be split for 6 houses, but affordability is not guaranteed
Critics are not convinced the new smaller lots would actually be used for people to be able to build affordable properties.
Austin's city leaders are getting ready to approve more rule changes to address housing density and affordability.
On Thursday, they'll vote on Phase 2 of the HOME Initiative to reduce minimum lot sizes for homes. But some opponents worry about what it could mean for long-time Austinites.
"For a city that has doubled in size since then, it's important that we update our land development code to reflect the growing city that we are today," Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes said.
Currently in Austin, lots and the builds on them fit a home and detached garage on average. But through the city's HOME Phase 2 Initiative, they would soon be able to fit around six smaller homes.
“We really want to encourage more pathways into homeownership. And so, council is going to be considering reducing the minimum lot size requirements. We have some of the largest lot size requirements in the country," Fuentes said.
Fuentes said with smaller lot sizes and room for more homes, this is an opportunity for Austinites.
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But some Austinites – like Carmen Llanes Pulido, the executive director for Go Austin/Vamos Austin — said there are affordable options now that would have to make way for these newer, larger developments.
"Then we hear a different argument about, 'Well, we still need housing because we need transit.' But if we displace our transit users, then it's not helping us," Llanes Pulido said.
She’s also not convinced these new smaller lots would actually be used for people to be able to build affordable properties.
"Somebody took a single-family lot, probably worth about $500,000, subdivided it, built two units on each, so four homes, right? Sold the property for $4 million. So, you do the math. Every single home was twice as expensive as the one that was there on a fourth of the land," Llanes Pulido said.
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