The city’s active efforts to keep housing costs down through housing reforms and coordinated efforts among city agencies and developers have kept it one of the most affordable in the nation despite its rapid population growth.
In spite of San Antonio’s rapid growth, the Texas city has managed to keep rent and housing costs more affordable than other U.S. cities, writes Christoper Swope in Governing. “A Redfin Analysis found that middle-income residents in San Antonio can afford 87 percent of the homes listed for sale. Compare that to 10 percent in Las Vegas, 3 percent in Boston, and 0 percent in most of California’s big cities.”
This affordability is due in part to a Housing Policy Task Force started by Mayor Ron Nirenberg in 2017. The task force created a 10-year housing plan that aligned city resources with private-sector actors to develop affordable housing strategies. The city made zoning reforms such as permitting ADUs and offering density bonuses for affordable housing, brought a bond measure to voters that approved $150 million for housing programs, and is experimenting with community land trusts to keep housing costs down. The city also hired a ‘chief housing officer’ focused on coordinating efforts between stakeholders. “That came into play in writing new zoning rules aimed at building affordable housing around bus rapid transit lines planned to open in a few years,” Swope adds.
FULL STORY: Despite Growth, San Antonio’s Holding the Line on Rents
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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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