
The City of Austin is moving forward with affordable housing plans, as the city gears up to request the release of Project Based Vouchers (PBV) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds are part of a broader effort to construct the Bailey at Stassney development, an ambitious project touted to bring 104 housing units to Travis County. According to a notice published by the city on January 10th, the proposed development at 400 West Stassney Lane will emphasize affordability, with unit costs designed to be within reach for households earning between 30-60% of the Area Median Income.
Scheduled for a funding request submission on January 28, the project not only targets general affordability but is also setting aside 26 units for permanent supportive housing (PSH) to aid households at risk of homelessness. With a projected $29.2 million price tag, the endeavor hinges on a multi-pronged financing strategy, blending the aforementioned PBV funds - amounting to $9,840,480 spread over two decades - with tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Planned amenities include a clubhouse, workout facilities, and social services ranging from job training to financial counsel, all backed by the Hope through Housing Foundation.
Foreseeably impacting the local environment to a minimal extent, the city has dispensed with the need for an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Environmental Review Record (ERR), detailing the project's scant influence on its surroundings, is open to public scrutiny at the city's housing department offices and via electronic access. Citizens have until January 27, 2025, to deliver written feedback on the ERR, the City of Austin explained in a statement.
Contingent upon due process, Mandy DeMayo, the Interim Director of the Housing Department, has certified the city's compliance with all necessary regulations. This act clears the way for the federal funds to be channeled into Austin's housing project. Nevertheless, HUD will entertain objections to the fund allocation for fifteen days post-request submission, provided the grievances adhere to specific legal and procedural grounds stated in the regulations. Interested parties seeking to file such objections have been directed to use electronic communication, pinpointing the HUD San Antonio Field Office's email as the channel for such engagements.