Austin | 305 S. Congress | 6 Towers - 215'/295'/365'/375'/445'/525' | Proposed

[KevinFromTexas]

Kind of a failure since it won't have affordable housing, and they're opting to push it to the boonies instead. Boo. Basically what we're getting is cheap poorly built homes on the outskirts of Austin, not something that is truly affordable since those people will have to commute long distances.

[jake.robs]

Excited to see more concrete renders of what this is gonna look like. Hopefully its not too bland.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Kind of a failure since it won't have affordable housing, and they're opting to push it to the boonies instead. Boo. Basically what we're getting is cheap poorly built homes on the outskirts of Austin, not something that is truly affordable since those people will have to commute long distances.

South Lamar is “the boonies”?

The location is being reported as “within a few miles”, while Adler had an amendment that was more specific


“The fee-in-lieu may be utilized within a one and a half mile distance of the project boundaries on a major transit corridor with MetroRapid transit infrastructure in partnership with a an organization that has a track record of providing deeply affordable housing.”

https://services.austintexas.gov/edi....cfm?id=398366

Is that what ended up passing?

[dilliam]

Waaaayyyy more affordable housing will be able to be built on South Lamar vs at this location. This was actually a great compromise and will yield more housing.

South Lamar is a desirable of a location. It's not like they're shoving these out to some I35 access road or something.

[austlar1]

Where exactly on South Lamar will the "affordable" housing be built. What kind of housing?

[the Genral]

My question is what would have been an affordable price tag for a residence vs an unaffordable asking price on this prime location. Does this mean the affordable housing would be made with shitty materials and be much smaller or would identical units go for vastly different prices? I would not be happy if my neighbor was paying half of what I was paying for the exact same unit.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

That’s on you, and your belief system, not on anybody else. Examine your preconceptions and let go.

I re examined my preconception and it's confirmed. I would not be happy paying more for the same unit. It btw has nothing to do with my belief system. Why would you bother to make this personal?

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I re examined my preconception and it's confirmed. I would not be happy paying more for the same unit. It btw has nothing to do with my belief system. Why would you bother to make this personal?

So affordable housing should be subpar housing? I don't get this.

The idea behind affordable housing is to help people that need help. I don't understand why people get pissed off by such things.

[dilliam]

"I would not be happy if my neighbor was paying half of what I was paying for the exact same unit."

I understand the sentiment, but this is in fact how it typically works. I think a good way to think of it is in the framing of a teacher who teaches at Zilker Elementary. They clearly cannot afford to live in central Austin, but they provide enormous value to their community and it would be very beneficial for them to be able to actually live in the community that they teach in. Providing them subsidized housing would benefit all parties even if they are technically paying less than their neighbor for the same apartment.

There are obviously examples that are less ideal, but overall I think its important for people to be able to live in the places they work and it creates a dynamic city. But also as a baseline, we need to build so much more housing to actually solve our systematic affordability issue. Supply >> Demand

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by paul78701

So affordable housing should be subpar housing? I don't get this.

The idea behind affordable housing is to help people that need help. I don't understand why people get pissed off by such things.

Doesn't anyone read the posts before commenting on them? I was asking comparative questions to understand the cost of affordable housing. What takes the hit, quality or budget. No where in my post was I suggesting sub par should be the norm. No where in my post did I say I was pissed off with providing affordable housing to those in need. What I admit to saying is I wouldn't be happy paying more for the same product. That goes for anything. That doesn't make me anti affordable housing. And I still don't understand how they incorporate affordable housing into the build. Are there designated basic units without upgrades or do they simply charge less for a certain amount of similar units? What is the qualifier?

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by the Genral

Doesn't anyone read the posts before commenting on them? I was asking comparative questions to understand the cost of affordable housing. What takes the hit, quality or budget. No where in my post was I suggesting sub par should be the norm. No where in my post did I say I was pissed off with providing affordable housing to those in need. What I admit to saying is I wouldn't be happy paying more for the same product. That goes for anything. That doesn't make me anti affordable housing. And I still don't understand how they incorporate affordable housing into the build. Are there designated basic units without upgrades or do they simply charge less for a certain amount of similar units? What is the qualifier?

Dude. Take your own damn advice.

You admit that you wouldn't be happy about a neighbor paying less than you. Sounds like you'd be pissed off in that case. How else would one interpret it?

I read your post. I didn't quite understand what you were really suggesting that. Thus the clear question about subpar housing and comment.

My statement about people getting pissed off about helping others was not directly about you. It was a general statement. I don't understand why some people have such an issue with others getting affordable housing, student loan forgiveness, etc.

To answer your question. The build out of the affordable units is likely no different than "regular" units in the same building.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by paul78701

Dude. Take your own damn advice.

You admit that you wouldn't be happy about a neighbor paying less than you. Sounds like you'd be pissed off in that case. How else would one interpret it?

I read your post. I didn't quite understand what you were really suggesting that. Thus the clear question about subpar housing and comment.

My statement about people getting pissed off about helping others was not directly about you. It was a general statement. I don't understand why some people have such an issue with others getting affordable housing, student loan forgiveness, etc.

To answer your question. The build out of the affordable units is likely no different than "regular" units in the same building.

Thank you and Peace .

[wwmiv]

Why did my post get deleted?

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Why did my post get deleted?

One of the mods in here is pretty active about "political" posts but they tend to cut pretty heavily one-way. Ive seen entire pages of discussion nuked from orbit before.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by austlar1

Where exactly on South Lamar will the "affordable" housing be built. What kind of housing?

They still haven't posted the fully amended council ordinance. However, the transcript is posted and it sounds like the location off Lamar is actually a redevelopment/densification of the existing Mary Lee Foundation at Lamar Square (just south of Lamar Union/Alamo Drafthouse). So yeah, not at all in the "boonies" or "outskirts"

https://services.austintexas.gov/edi....cfm?id=398745

[StoOgE]

The affordable housing on Lamar Square really could be *significantly* denser than it is now. Of course, you would need a place for folks who are being dispalced to be but they are very 1980s quadplex apartments and I think it could be turned into a really nice VMU space with ground floor retail - especially if it got paired with the Tatsuya/furniture store/saxon pub space

[austlar1]

This is where many people park who are going to Ramen Tatsu-Ya. The existing buildings look to be some of the last "affordable" housing left in that part town. Will they really permit significant densification (ie. height) at this location? How many affordable units are being considered?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ma...!4d-97.7638962

[lzppjb]

edit: nevermind

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by austlar1

This is where many people park who are going to Ramen Tatsu-Ya. The existing buildings look to be some of the last "affordable" housing left in that part town. Will they really permit significant densification (ie. height) at this location? How many affordable units are being considered?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ma...!4d-97.7638962

Much of the housing in the area is section 8. Adding denser section 8 housing or integrating it into denser developments should be a goal.

This recently happened further down Lamar off Bluebonnet just west of Lamar.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by austlar1

This is where many people park who are going to Ramen Tatsu-Ya. The existing buildings look to be some of the last "affordable" housing left in that part town. Will they really permit significant densification (ie. height) at this location? How many affordable units are being considered?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ma...!4d-97.7638962

Again, it’s like right next to Lamar Union which is way bigger, denser and taller than what’s currently there. And LU predates affordability unlocked and the compatibility reforms they just passed (imperfect as they might be).

Zoning most likely isn’t the limiting factor, it’s funding. Which is why it works so well with funding from the statesman project.