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Affordable Housing Committee Report by Sabino Pio Renteria, chair, 478-6770 or pio@grandecom.net
A public hearing with the Austin City Council that will change our land uses and zoning criteria will be held on Thursday, April 10th around 4 pm. We are not optimistic that our requests that each new project in the Saltillo TOD MUST REQUIRE at least 25% affordable housing to those earning 60% MFI or less. The staff-driven proposal includes a waiver of compatibility standards that will allow 60 ft buildings along E. 5th and E. 6th regardless of their proximity to existing single family uses on those blocks. Your Planning Team has worked with Capital Metro and the City for almost 6 years to require developers of every new building in the Saltillo Rail District to provide affordable units serving low-income families and seniors and to provide assistance to prevent displacement of residents and small businesses due to the redevelopment of this area. If we are not successful with this City Council vote, the possibility of getting any changes made by future City Councils are slim to none. We do want to thank the members of Housing Works! Steering Committee for all their support and technical assistance over the years to help us save our neighborhood from the negative impacts of the commuter rail but so it goes, we do the best we can as a bunch of volunteers and it's really all we can do. If more people would get involved, we might be able to get more support for policies that help our needy neighbors.
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