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Category Archives: Development
The Problem with Austin NIMBYnomics
One of the more exasperating aspects of debating Austin’s housing supply is the confused economic assumptions of Austin NIMBYnomics. Specifically, there is a troubling blindspot about the economic reasoning that guides the humans that build and refurbish housing. Often, developers … Continue reading
Posted in Development, Housing
35 Comments
CATS & DOGS
The Austin City Council is poised to make a decision on urban rail’s route based on incomplete data. At the heart of this predicament is a 2010 document entitled the “Central Austin Transit Study” (CATS). This document makes a set … Continue reading
What Nobody Proved About Austin
This piece in the Texas Monthly has been making the social media circles. It argues that – surprise! – Austin might be the state’s most segregated city. It’s so Slate-y in its counter-intuitive hypothesis, that I could just not resist … Continue reading
Posted in Development, Economics, Housing
4 Comments
Austin Affordability: What Matters?
The discussion around Austin’s ‘affordability’ was perhaps the most interesting policy theme from the recent municipal election. Unfortunately, the discussion seemed to focus on economic development subsidies. These subsidies – while they might contribute to reducing Austin’s affordability in some … Continue reading
Posted in Development, Economics, Transportation
Tagged affordability, city council, elections
3 Comments
Apple seeds confusion around incentives
In this column, Wendler & Aleshire (W&A) throw several arguments at the Apple subsidy deal. Some are worthwhile but not all are crisp. In general, there seems to be a brewing community desire for a ‘better way’ on corporate subsidies, … Continue reading
Incentivizing Frustration
This Statesman piece on local candidates sparring over economic development incentives is quite frustrating. First, it leaves somewhat unclear what the candidates actually believe. Certainly we know that Mayor Leffingwell supports their use (downtown hotel, Apple, LegalZoom, etc.) but the … Continue reading
Some suggestions for the Statesman on their Austin Economy series
The Statesman’s review of the Austin economic climate is a much-needed profile and (to some extent) evaluation of the city’s economy. There are four areas where the Statesman’s coverage could improve. 1. Don’t forget about sub-group income levels. Not everybody … Continue reading
Posted in Development, Economics
Tagged austin, austin american statesman, economics, public policy, unemployment
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Austin’s democracy deficit hurts local median income
Wells Dunbar’s tumblr post of demographic data from the City’s African-American Quality of Life Initiative reminded me that there’s a local democracy deficit concerning municipal policies that might help boost median income. I visualize the family median income data below. … Continue reading
Posted in Development, Economics
Tagged african-americans, asians, austin, democracy deficit, hispanics, inequality, latinos, median income, public policy
4 Comments
LegalZoom or LegalDoom?
The City Council is trying to decide whether or not to provide relocation incentives to LegalZoom, an online legal form provider. Here are the deal details. The City pays out $20,000 for ten years for a nominal total of $200,000. … Continue reading
Really Need to Consider a Shift to Deliberative Polling and Citizen Juries
Katherine Gregor writes another excellent and detailed profile of Austin’s comprehensive planning process. This quote by one of the members of the plan’s citizen advisers stuck out: The risk now is that the task force – rich in community activists … Continue reading
Posted in Development
Tagged austin, citizen juries, comprehensive plan, deliberative polling, imagine austin
2 Comments
Keep Austin Wonky 