On the HOME Ordinance: A Message from Executive Director Lindsey Derrington
A MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY:
Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation. Our work wouldn’t be possible without thoughtful, and sometimes difficult, conversations with our community. We are listening to our neighbors’ concerns and are eager to work together to find a solution moving forward.
This week, Preservation Austin announced our support for the HOME ordinance with the inclusion of the Preservation Bonus and Sustainability Bonus. These new incentives support the preservation of older, smaller, more affordable homes within Austin’s land development code in unprecedented ways. Every year, our city loses over 500 of these homes to redevelopment for larger, more expensive homes because our current system favors demolition. Austin desperately needs new tools to support preservation, and last night’s City Council vote approving HOME Phase 1, with unanimous consent for these bonuses, represents a major step forward in this process.
To be clear, Preservation Austin supported HOME because of the Preservation Bonus and Sustainability Bonus. These incentives were a political nonstarter just six months ago, and their adoption represents four years of Preservation Austin’s advocacy. The bonuses enhance HOME’s potential for building a more sustainable, affordable, and culturally inclusive city. We are grateful to Council for supporting this vision, but we have more work to do.
For Phase 2 of HOME, which will be taken up by City Council this spring, Preservation Austin will advocate for new people-centered policies, especially for East Austin’s Black and Brown communities, to level the playing field between homeowners and developers and prevent further displacement. In 2023, Preservation Austin and the City of Austin’s Displacement Prevention Division released a report on how preserving historic-age housing can support affordability goals, prevent displacement, and preserve culture. Findings recommended that the city expand existing home repair and community land trust programs, and that it develop new tools like the Preservation Bonus to help homeowners monetize their property through the construction of ADUs.
On November 14th, the Planning Commission independently recommended initiatives aligned with our objectives, such as a low-interest lending program for multi-unit projects that include housing for families earning 60% to 80% of the Median Family Income (MFI); access to capital for current or first-time homeowners, particularly in East Austin, to help stabilize communities bearing the brunt of displacement; and that HOME be implemented in accordance with Austin’s Climate Equity Plan. We fully support the implementation of these amendments within HOME Phase 2.
We understand if you disagree with Preservation Austin’s stance on HOME. This issue is complicated, emotional, and incredibly complex, and our work to strengthen this ordinance through preservation does not address every concern about its impact.
While we understand you might have different views on this issue, we invite you to consider the numerous community-centered efforts Preservation Austin undertakes throughout the year: matching grants that have supported over 50 preservation projects citywide; programming like our Homes Tour and Legacy Business Month; and our work building a more inclusive preservation movement, from prioritizing underrepresented heritage to supporting greater racial and ethnic representation in preservation at all levels, from the Historic Landmark Commission to our own leadership. We hope that by recognizing these endeavors, we can unite in our shared commitment to enriching and preserving our shared history, fostering a spirit of collaboration.
Please contact me if you’d like to discuss further. I am here to talk through these issues and how they connect with our mission any time, and I truly welcome that opportunity to hear from you.
Sincerely,
LINDSEY DERRINGTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR