AUSTIN, Texas — The Dove Springs neighborhood in southeast Austin is one step closer to getting affordable housing.
Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes (District 2) said the City of Austin is asking community members for their input before the project gets the official greenlight to break ground.
"What's unique about this process is the community gets to shape and weigh in on how these projects develop," Fuentes said.
Currently, there are two developers in the running, and community members can weigh in through an online survey.
The proposed project is for two developments across the street from Mendez Middle School. Ninty-six apartments and 46 homes are part of the proposal – but that could change, according to Fuentes.
The land for the developments was acquired in 2021, but Fuentes said doors for these new homes won't open until 2025.
"This is a working-class community, Austin immigrant community as well. So to have affordable homes available to our community, with generational ties to the area, is an exciting time for us," Fuentes said.
The project will be funded through the City's Housing Finance Corporation.
After the City gets community feedback, the project will move forward as a recommendation to council members where they will then vote on which developer gets the contract.
"We are hoping to include a provision that encourages a preference policy for folks who have generational ties to the area," Fuentes said.
Fuentes said Dove Springs is a neighborhood where long-time residents are likely to be priced out due to new developments and rising prices. She said she has been working on other efforts to ensure people can stay in their community.
In March, she launched the the "Displacement Prevention Navigator Pilot Program," which will bring in volunteers who will go door-to-door and offer advice and resources to residents. Applications were opened after the announcement, and on Friday, Fuentes said they had received more than 200 applications but could only select 12.
"What we know is that at least six of the navigators are from Dove Springs or have ties to Dove Springs, so it's really great that we're going to have our own community members as part of it," Fuentes said.
Training for the program is set to start at the end of the month, with it officially kickstarting in September.
On top of that, Fuentes said Capital Metro is introducing a local rideshare initiative called "Pickup," which will let residents get around anywhere within the Dove Springs zone. It's expected to launch in 2024.
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