April 19, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

🏡 Bring it HOME

An overhead view of dozens of Manor homes and driveways.

Phase II of the HOME Initiative builds upon the first phase by changing zoning practices to allow smaller lots. | Photo courtesy of Whisper Valley

Austin City Council will vote on Phase II of the HOME Initiative — a move that would reduce the minimum size of a single-family lot — as early as May.

The council passed the first phase of the HOME Initiative, which stands for Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment, in December 2023. In part, the decision increased the maximum number of units from one to three on certain single-family lots.

This new phase would change single-family lot minimums from 5,750 sqft to 2,000 sqft, something the Austin Board of Realtors said could improve home affordability moving forward.

Why is this under consideration?

Proponents say passage of the new phase could alleviate the housing shortage by allowing construction of 87 to 871 new homes annually, and promoting housing accessibility.

A graphic showing the price decline of a new home depending on decrease in lot size and decrease in square footage. — On its own, a 50% lot size decrease is expected to decrease new home prices by 8.9%.
|
Graphic courtesy Austin Board of Realtors

According to a report from ABoR, reducing lot minimums could slash new home prices, since land makes up an average of 17.8% of new home prices.

Analysis found that building a $540,000 home on a 2,000-sqft lot could reduce the price to $477,313 — a $62,687 difference. Cutting down on square footage in conjunction with smaller lots could shrink prices even further: a 50% lot size decrease plus a 25% home size decrease could bring the price of a new home down by 24.1%.

It’s important to note that approval of HOME Phase II would not require any changes from current homeowners. Learn more about what neighborhoods could look like under the passage of Phase II.

How can I get involved?

Austin City Council is looking for community feedback on the proposal. The next Planning Commission meeting will take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23 at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St.

Events

Friday, April 19

Beach Weather | Friday, April 19 | 6-9 p.m. | Domain NORTHSIDE, 11821 Rock Rose Ave., Austin | Free | This pop band is the latest edition to the shopping center’s free concert series.

Saturday, April 20

East Austin History Walking Tour | Saturday, April 20 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Austin African American Cultural & Heritage Facility, 912 E. 11th St., Austin | $45 | Learn the history of Austin’s Black district and community during this one-mile walking tour.
Field Guide Festival | Saturday, April 20 | 1-5 p.m. | Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., Austin | $120 | Celebrate local farmers and the food they make at this event featuring live talks, kid-friendly programming, artisan vendors, and, of course, lots of food.
Pioneer Ghost Tour | Saturday, April 20 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr., Austin | $45 | Get to know the stories — and spirits — that haunt the historic buildings of this farm.

Sunday, April 21

Earth Month: Forest Bathing & Sound Healing Rituals | Sunday, April 21 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | $30 | This experience includes guided sound healing, tree meditation, and rootwork medicine.
John Fremgen Trio | Sunday, April 21 | 9 p.m. | Elephant Room Swift Building, 315 Congress Ave., Austin | Free | The UT professor of jazz performs with elite musicians — this time, Andy Langham + Gerry Gibbs take the stage.

Plan Ahead

Hot Luck Festival | Thursday, May 23-Sunday, May 26 | Times vary | Multiple locations, Austin | $595 | Dig into bites from some of the best chefs in the country at this fest led by Aaron Franklin, James Moody, and Mike Thelin.

Events calendar here

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Wellness

Fact or Fiction: Debunking 3 common medical marijuana myths

a man sits in a chair smiling with his legs crossed

Dr. Brimberry and his team expertly navigate the path from certifying patients based on their qualifying diagnosis to the formation of a personalized medical marijuana treatment plan and then connecting them with a state-licensed Texas dispensary. | Photo provided by Texas Cannabis Clinic

With the expansion of Texas’ Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), Texans have more access than ever to treat different conditions with medical marijuana. We’re tapping into the experts at Texas Cannabis Clinic (TCC) to help weed through common myths about medical marijuana.

Here’s what they had to say:

Fact or Fiction? PTSD, muscle spasms, and neuropathy are the only conditions that medical marijuana treats.
This is fiction. There are 150+ qualifying conditions that can be treated with the drug under the TCUP.

Fact or Fiction? You need an in-person appointment with TCC.
This is fiction. TCC is 100% telemedicine. Take the short appointment from the comfort of your own home.

Fact or Fiction? You won’t get a medical marijuana card.
This is fact. Texas doesn’t provide cards but if you qualify, you’ll receive a prescription and a certification letter.

Not sure if you qualify for treatment? Explore different qualifying conditions.

If you’re ready to work with TCC, make an appointment and use coupon code 6AM420 to get $40 off (must complete the appointment by Tuesday, April 30).^†

Schedule an appointment

†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. Texas Cannabis Clinic advises consumers to read the company’s terms and conditions, consult a physician before trying products, start only with small amounts, and to not consume products before driving or before a drug test. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ATXtoday.

News Notes

Civic

Starting Monday, April 22, first responder radio channels will transition to Advanced Encryption Standard, meaning they will no longer be accessible by most residents. City officials say the shift will make it easier to protect private information. (KVUE)

Edu

Austin Community College students could go from “Bats to Cats” with a new partnership starting this fall. The program would allow eligible ACC students to directly transfer to Texas State University with guaranteed admission — learn more.

Community

Austin leaders expect the city to have $3.8 million less than they budgeted for when the fiscal year ends on Monday, Sept. 30. The projected deficit is partially due to lower than expected sales tax revenue, and could contribute to higher property taxes in the future. (Community Impact Austin)

Development

Starting late next month, Austin’s building code will no longer allow the construction of bedrooms without windows. Austin City Council voted to make the change yesterday — Many of the windowless bedrooms in town are home to UT students in West Campus. (KUT)

Holiday

The annual Austin Symphony Orchestra July 4th Concert will get a little bigger this year. Star Spangled Fest, will feature two days of live music starting on July 3 in addition to the free fireworks.

Ranked

Austin is the No. 15 best city for book lovers, according to a study by Lawn Love. The Capital City ranked highly for access to books for sale and its number of book communities, falling between Boston and Raleigh.

Listen

The Dallas Stars are Western Conference champions — what’s next for the team? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Stars with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Wellness

Looking to eat plant-based? Purple Carrot delivers plant-based meals right to your door. This month’s chef-prepared meal kits are spring-themed, filled with seasonal ingredients, and 50% off.*

Sports

🏓 Dink to that

Two people playing doubles on one side of the indoor court, which is purple and green.

The new facility’s 16 indoor courts will make for perfect indoor play. | Photo courtesy Austin Pickle Ranch

Austin Pickle Ranch is celebrating National Pickleball Month with a big announcement: there’s a north Austin location in the works, set to debut next month.

The new Braker Lane facility, located inside the former Golfsmith shop at 11000 N. IH-35, spans 50,000-sqft, and features indoor + outdoor lounges.

Best of all, the Braker location contains 16 regulation-size indoor pickleball courts, perfect for those hot summer months. Once it opens, it will be one of the biggest indoor pickleball establishments in Texas.

Ready to hit the courts? Players can book a court for $20-$40 per hour, join open play for $5-$16, or become a member for $49-$149. Memberships come with free open play, discounted court bookings, and free clinics.

Austin Pickle Ranch has one other location Downtown — known for its rooftop courts — at 1717 W. 6th St.

The Buy

Biz that gives back. Check out these brands that are committed to sustainability and giving back to the environment to celebrate Earth Day.

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The Wrap

City Editor Figi poses with an adorable goat.

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

When I’m in the mood for a breakfast taco (which is almost always), my go-to spot is Tyson’s Tacos. Most tacos on the menu are $5 or less, they come out of the kitchen quickly, and you can get horchata for $3.

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