We strongly support CodeNEXT’s proposed elimination of “conditional overlays,” commonly called COs, as a tool for future rezones. As explained below, COs greatly complicate the City of Austin’s zoning process, significantly increase costs, and require extensive lot-by-lot rezonings that detract…
Yesterday, AURA member Kaz Wojtewicz testified before the Housing and Neighborhoods committee in favor of a $300 million bond for affordable housing with an emphasis on public housing. To address our housing crisis, we need CodeNEXT to deliver a housing market that…
Fifty years ago, Austinites against integrating neighborhoods worked to put up a petition on the ballot to fight housing integration. They called Austin’s Fair Housing Initiative “Forced Housing.” IndyAustin and its allies are fighting the same fight—they want to freeze Austin’s…
Capital Metro has bids out for 16 infill stations on the MetroRapid 801 and 803 lines. We’re excited! The stop spacing on the MetroRapid lines has been too far apart. In AURA’s Connections 2025 position statement we called for standard stop spacing…
2018 NEED: $300 MILLION IN NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND FUNDS AURA advocates for an Austin for Everyone. That means an Austin where everyone can afford housing that works for their families. While we believe that market rate construction is a…
Following a vote of its members last week, AURA has taken positions on each of the November 2017 Travis County bonds. AURA opposes Proposition A: Roadway, Draining, Bridge, Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects. AURA supports Proposition B: Parks and Conservation Easements. As seen in the…
Over the last two years, AURA members have advocated a bold, visionary overhaul of Austin’s land use rules that would create a more environmentally friendly, livable, and affordable city. The release of the CodeNEXT Draft 2 last weekend made clear that…
One year ago this week, AURA released its Transit Vision for the city of Austin. It recommended a set of small, incremental improvements that collectively would have a greater effect than a multibillion rail line or set of rail lines. For transit,…
For Immediate Release CodeNEXT Mapping Reveals Near-Fatal Flaws April 19, 2017 Austin, Texas Mayor Adler was right: the maps are wrong. “The CodeNEXT maps revealed yesterday are so deeply flawed that further tinkering block by block around the edges of…
In August 2016, AURA released its CodeNEXT Expectations. Although these expectations lay out broad policy priorities for CodeNEXT, a well-written code with a feeble on-the-ground implementation could still spell disaster. Austinites need a zoning map that’s designed to solve for Central…
