AUSTIN, Texas — A popular Luby's location in North Austin may become the site of affordable housing. If a zoning change is approved, the property housing the North Austin location would become a multi-family apartment complex.
The City of Austin's Zoning and Platting Commission discussed the rezoning effort at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 3. It would change the 2.38-acre property from an LR, Neighborhood Commercial District to an MF-6, Multifamily Residence-Highest Density District.
The proposed apartment complex would have 275 multifamily units. Twenty-eight, or 10%, would be affordable housing units, according to the corresponding Zoning Change Review Sheet.
Zoning and Platting Commission staff recommended the change but postponed the item for two weeks to consider an environmental report, according to a report from the Austin Business Journal.
“The proposed MF-6 zoning would be compatible and consistent with the surrounding uses because this property is adjacent to office and commercial zoning to the north and south and multifamily zoning to the west,” the review sheet said. “The surrounding zoning permits office and commercial services that can be utilized by the residents of this proposed residential development.”
The affordable housing units would be set at 80% of the median family income.
In a letter to the Housing and Planning Department, Michael J. Whellan of Armbrust & Brown, PLLC, Luby’s agent, said he believes the property is an “appropriate location” for the complex.
“It is a high-opportunity area with access to Hill Elementary School, Murchison Middle School and Anderson High School, and would meaningfully contribute to Affordable housing capacity within District 10,” Whellan wrote.
An entity of Luby’s Inc. is trying to sell the property to multifamily developer Ardent Residential LP, according to the ABJ.
Luby’s is located near the intersection of North Mopac Expressway and Steck Avenue in Austin. The restaurant chain is known for its LuAnn platters and Texas-style comfort food.
In 2020, Luby’s Inc. board members voted to liquidate and dissolve all business operations and real estate in an “orderly wind down of any remaining operations.”
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