Articles in This Issue:
In a city as rapidly growing as Austin, you can sometimes feel like the cityscape changes in the blink of an eye. But that’s not the case in Hyde Park. You can walk along Duval Street or Speedway and almost forget the massive transformational shift happening in other parts of the city. And that is, of course, by design.
Earlier this summer, the Austin Independent School District and Austin Habitat for Humanity celebrated a partnership that will soon provide 30 affordable homes across two developments in East Austin. It’s part of a long-standing effort on the part of the district to find a way to leverage its plentiful supply of acreage into affordable housing that could in turn boost enrollment.
What should the city do with the Hancock Golf Course? Well, like anything in Austin, it depends on who you ask. About a decade ago, it became clear to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department that the 50 acres was in need of a serious course correction. Its nine holes were too few for the average golfer, the irrigation system was out of compliance with city code, and the number of rounds played had dropped each year since 2000.
Austin's real estate market is a nightmare whatever the position you find yourself in. The median price of a home surpassed $600,000 this year -- with no relief in sight. Average monthly rent hit $1,500 late last year. Evictions are up since the pandemic moratoriums stopping them expired. That’s as the rental relief programs helping many stay in their homes have dried up.