BEE CAVE, Texas — The city of Bee Cave is moving forward with a plan to create a workforce housing development to help create affordable housing for teachers, police officers, retail managers and other essential members of the local workforce.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Bee Cave City Council voted unanimously to move forward with a request for proposals on the development.
“We have been researching workforce housing and visiting different beautiful developments over the last couple of years,” said Bee Cave Mayor Kara King. “Our residents know how valuable the workforce is to this community and we are happy to take this next step in making sure the people who come to work in Bee Cave can also afford to live here.”
As of January 2024, the median sales price in the Bee Cave region is $965,000.
The move invites developers to submit proposals laying out their strategies for creating workforce housing within the city. The Bee Cave Economic Development Corporation and the city council will evaluate those proposals and how they match up with the city’s vision for growth.
Considerations include affordability, development concept, amenities plan and greenspace utilization, the city said in a release.
More information on how to submit a proposal can be found on the city’s website.
Policymakers around Central Texas have considered similar proposals in recent years as booming growth impacts affordability in the region.
Last year, Eanes ISD approved a contract to look for affordable housing options for staff, working with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation. Round Rock ISD also signed off on a partnership with the foundation.
Austin ISD approved a similar program and is in the process of constructing housing for teachers. In November 2023, district administrators said they were expecting developer NRP Group to begin construction of a 500-unit housing complex for local educators within two years, at the earliest.
RELATED: Round Rock ISD leaders looking to lift financial burden off staff with new affordable rent option
Meanwhile, the city of Austin has announced plans to redevelop the Hobby Building, a state office building in Downtown Austin, into workforce housing.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.