Naked City

Last week City Council approved 5-0-2 on first reading an eight-acre affordable housing development at far Northeast Austin's Dessau Road, with Danny Thomas and Beverly Griffith abstaining. Community Partnership for the Homeless requested a rezoning for the development, which would include 30 housing units and a daycare facility, for single parents earning 50% or less than the area's median income. Partnership representatives stressed the city's growing need for affordable housing, but prospective neighbors presented a sizable petition against rezoning due to traffic, safety, and Smart Housing concerns.

Thomas called the central issue transportation. "The 'T' is still not clear with me," he said, explaining that no bus routes service the site. "You cannot have productive affordable housing if you don't have the whole package. Not everybody's going to have a vehicle." A convenient bus route existed, Thomas noted, when the project was formulated, "but ridership was real low, and for Cap Metro to put the route back out there would take maybe three years, if zoning is passed."

The project is scheduled for discussion and second reading Thursday, Nov. 8, although it may be delayed by other matters and post-election mayoral ceremonial foofaraw.