Demolitions in residential neighborhoods have increased quickly in Austin, as property owners upgrade their homes to contemporary layouts. Community Impact newspaper investigates the trend.
"Under the economic pressure of Austin’s rapid growth, the traditional housing stock in the city’s central neighborhoods is crumbling to bulldozers and wrecking balls at an accelerated rate," according to an article by Christopher Neely.
Neely is reporting an analysis by the Community Impact Newspaper, which found that 1,773 demolitions of residential properties occurred between 2010 and 2017. "By comparison, 1,900 similar demolitions occurred between 1980 and 2009," according to Neely. Demolitions tend to replace smaller homes with larger ones. Included in the article are quotes attributed to Austin Councilmember Kathie Tovo, who describes the demolitions as a "terrible trend." The policy and political landscape of the city, however, makes slowing the pace of demolitions very difficult, according to the article.
Supplementing Neely's explanation of the study is an interactive map illustrating the demolition data.
FULL STORY: 7 years’ worth of Central Austin home demolitions on track to exceed numbers for the previous 30
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.