The precisely-monikered AustinContrarian raises an interesting point today regarding Prop 5, the affordable housing bond. Our author thinks they will do some good for the city’s oft-overlooked (umm, more like invisible) renters, but additionally, “will give the City Council the cover it needs to do the right thing on housing… Proposition 5 will allow Council members to say they support both dense redevelopment and affordable housing. It will be easier for them to approve infill projects without being accused of hurting the low-income.”
I’m not sold on the Contrarian’s insistence that the only way to keep prices affordable is by tearing down admittedly “cheap housing” to make room for bigger infill projects that will supposedly drive prices down by keeping up with demand (demand I just don’t see– I’d like to see condo occupancy rates downtown in a few years, once everything is built). However, this nugget about the Austin Neighborhoods Council bears repeating:
You can count on the neighborhood groups, who hijack the affordability cause whenever it suits their purpose, to keep affordability front and center. (To my knowledge, ANC has not endorsed Proposition 5, which is significant considering its public handwringing over affordable housing.)
Good question. Any answers, ANC?
This article appears in Chris Bell.