AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin is rolling out new rules to allow taller mixed-use buildings along major transit corridors, after an ordinance was recently passed.
As Austin continues to grow and more people are moving to the city, councilmembers are working to provide more buildings to deal with that growth.
Vertical mixed-used buildings along major transit corridors can now be much taller – up to 90 feet, while before they were limited to 60 feet, according to Austin Councilmember Chito Vela.
Councilmember Vela said the mixed-use buildings will include businesses and housing.
"We want a pharmacy, a coffee shop, a little corner store, something there on the bottom so that folks living the buildings have somewhere they can easily walk to, to take care of their most basic needs," said Vela.
He said some of locations for taller buildings will include North Lamar Boulevard and U.S. 183, and South Congress Avenue near Highway 290 where there are plans for a light rail line.
"We are trying to encourage people to live along a light rail corridor because of the affordability. If you are able to go from a two-car household to a one-car household because of you live right next to a light rail line, that's good for the environment, that's good for the budget, and for that household – and that’s good for the city in general," he said.
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