Missed the Mark

Dear Editor,
    I write in response to your article commenting on my remarks to the Liberal Austin Democrats regarding the related issues of CodeNEXT, affordability, and density [“Greg Anderson on Affordability,” News, July 14]. I believe that your article missed the mark in reporting my position on those three critical issues facing the city of Austin. We have seen where the current city code and a reluctance to allow density in the urban core of our city have brought us. We find ourselves with an extraordinary lack of affordable housing that pushes people of modest means completely out of our city. I stand for using the opportunity that CodeNEXT presents to increase density in our urban core, and, most importantly, to use all available tools to effect dramatic increases in the affordable housing stock. Mine is not simply a “pro-developer perspective,” as your article incorrectly stated, but it is definitely a “pro-development of income-restricted homes perspective” through the use of density bonus programs and other tools.
    Your article further suggested that I pointed to San Francisco as a “great example” in discussing affordability. No one familiar with the national housing landscape would ever suggest that San Francisco has solved their affordability problems. However, after my presentation, in Q&A, I did cite an example of an affordable program in that area, and I stand by that statement. The best example being the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation and a recent policy study the city did [www.bayareaeconomy.org/files/pdf/BACEI_Housing_10_2016.pdf], both of which recently came my way from HousingWorks, which is why they were on my mind.
    One of the primary items that I discussed with the Liberal Austin Democrats was the White House Housing Development Toolkit. I was surprised that there was no mention of that worthy document in your story. It can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/images/Housing_Development_Toolkit%20f.2.pdf and I recommend it to you and your readers.
    I strongly believe we will not solve our current affordable housing crisis by using yesterday’s strategies and tools, and I believe that CodeNEXT affords all of us an opportunity to bring new ideas, new energy, and new tools to bear on our community problem. Your article failed to focus on that opportunity, instead choosing to brand the messenger as “pro-developer.” I hope that future articles will more deeply address the fundamental housing issue and the strategies to be used to address that issue.