More proof that the solution to Austin's un-affordability is more supply (Howe: 2014, apartments)

[Komeht]

Better Institutions: Vindication! In Seattle, As New Apartments Go Up, Rents Go Down

This isn't rocket science folks - it's economics 101. The solution to a demand problem is supply.

We make it so damn hard to build anything, and have for 20-30 years. Our wounds are entirely of our own making. The housing market today is the easily and perfectly predictable result of bad land use policies. And it will continue to get worse until we step off this disastrously bad path.

[ImOnFiya]

Koment, I thank you for your principled stand on this issue.

In terms of Thursday's city council vote, I believe the council is probably at least 4 to 3 against. With Chris Riley and Kathie Tovo as swing votes, only because a couple of the central Austin neighborhood associations wanting the ordinance are in their home area and these council members will probably run against each other this November for the Place 9 (downtown) seat in the new 10 to 1 city council.

These is also a strong possibility that the issue will be delayed due to the city of Austin's code compliance not finished with its actual 'real world' stealth dorm number count.

The blowback against the ordinance featured in today's Statesman article has given many affordability activists hope!

[gpurcell]

If the Council was against it the Planning Commission wouldn't have reversed the staff recommendation. I think this "blowback" is entirely a figment of your imagination.

We'll see on Thursday, in any event.

[ImOnFiya]

Originally Posted by gpurcell

If the Council was against it the Planning Commission wouldn't have reversed the staff recommendation. I think this "blowback" is entirely a figment of your imagination.

We'll see on Thursday, in any event.

Just like some people who think neighborhood associations can use the stealth dorm ordinance to abuse code compliance with the task of literally harassing tenants and eventually convincing some landlords into selling their rental homes in their neighborhood's 'real' war against rental single family.

For the record, citizens serving on city of Austin's boards and commissions are not obligated to vote based what their council sponsors' positions are. Council members are forbidden to talk directly with commission members regarding how they should vote on issues. However, council can talk in the public realm about where they stand. Planning commission routinely takes up cases and votes against staff's recommendation, particularly when there are public speakers or when a neighborhood files a valid petition against a planned development.

[scm53]

The Affordable Housing that Bonds Give, Policy Takes Away

Like wiping your butt on a wagon wheel - to use one of my father's faves.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by Komeht

Better Institutions: Vindication! In Seattle, As New Apartments Go Up, Rents Go Down

This isn't rocket science folks - it's economics 101. The solution to a demand problem is supply.

We make it so damn hard to build anything, and have for 20-30 years. Our wounds are entirely of our own making. The housing market today is the easily and perfectly predictable result of bad land use policies. And it will continue to get worse until we step off this disastrously bad path.

I agree it isn't rocket science. But our city leaders seem to have the brain of middle school children. They are worrying about the 0.1% of the population that might use a wheelchair while visiting someone.

San Francisco has no supply. There are tons of people with lots of money - who work in Silicon Valley. And they want to live in SF, but work elsewhere. So they drive up rents and home prices to ridiculous levels. And citizen activists are complaining the city doesn't do anything for the people who aren't rich. Sounds very familiar.

[passionatearts]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I agree it isn't rocket science. But our city leaders seem to have the brain of middle school children. They are worrying about the 0.1% of the population that might use a wheelchair while visiting someone.

San Francisco has no supply. There are tons of people with lots of money - who work in Silicon Valley. And they want to live in SF, but work elsewhere. So they drive up rents and home prices to ridiculous levels. And citizen activists are complaining the city doesn't do anything for the people who aren't rich. Sounds very familiar.

Austin is starting to have some of the same problems as San Fransisco, albeit on a smaller scale: traffic nightmares, housing shortages and unaffordable prices in city core, rampant homelessness downtown, major problems with litter, etc. It seems like the only parts of the city that are getting a large influx in housing supply are in the far-flung suburbs. How does that solve our traffic and affordability problems?

[scm53]

Fantastic example of tasteful way to increase density in the urban core. We need about ten of these a year.

[balor123]

I just stumbled on that place today. Oh man that place looks awesome! My main complaint is that I live in North Austin and this is in South Austin. We have lots of high density stuff here but its all rental (The Triangle, AMLI, etc). Some day Crestview and surrounding areas are going to become the next hot area for stuff like this, being one of the last parts of the urban core virtually untouched.

The other thing I don't like about projects like this is they're not very kid friendly. The largest units are still under 2k sf and topping out at 3br. Why can't we have a similar place with mostly 4 and 4+ units ranging from 2300sf to 2600sf? We've already got buildings around that are 4-5 stories tall. Lots of interesting amenities which could be built in a place like that.

[scm53]

More thoughts on supply and affordability.