An expansion of the city’s vertical mixed-use (VMU) affordable development program is the furthest along of a package of reforms intended to spur the construction of affordable housing.
The Austin City Council is in the process of drafting, amending, and weighing multiple changes to the city’s zoning code in the hopes of spurring new affordable housing developments without triggering too much political controversy along the way. The city is faced with an affordability crisis that rivals anything in California or New York.
According to an article by Ben Thompson for the Community Impact Newspaper, those measures include a height bonus for affordable housing developments, parking requirement reductions, ADU streamlining, and more.
Closest to the finish line, according to Thompson, is an expansion of the city’s vertical mixed-use (VMU) affordable development program. “The VMU change would create a new category within the program that offers development incentives such as increased height in exchange for affordable housing. Proposed by District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen late last year, an update called VMU2 would increase the allowed height for participating projects if more affordable units are offered.”
According to data from the city cited in the article, the VMU is the second-most effective development incentives, “second only to the University Neighborhood Overlay, which has spurred denser construction in the West Campus area.” According to the data, the VMU has created nearly 6,800 total housing units. Another 8,900 units are planned or under construction—of which 1,000 will be available at an affordable price.
More details on the other zoning changes under consideration as development incentives can be found in the source article, linked below.
FULL STORY: Council looks to 'push the envelope' on Austin affordable housing policies ahead of June votes
Austin’s ‘Affordability Unlocked’ Initiative Faces Lawsuit
A group of 18 plaintiffs is suing to overturn the city of Austin’s “Affordability Unlocked” planning initiative.
Early Returns on Austin's New Density Bonus Program: 2,337 Affordable Housing Units
Since late 2019, developers who deliver affordable housing units in Austin have received bonuses in height, density, parking, and other regulatory metrics, leading to a large number of new affordable housing units in the pipeline.
More States Consider Tax Breaks for Low-Income Housing Developers
Legislators in five U.S. states this year will consider laws that create a state tax incentive program for low-income housing developers.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research