Another telling East Austin displacement rezoning is coming before the city council for final reading this Thursday, October 15. 508 Kemp Street is currently zoned for single-family housing (SF-3), and land developers are seeking to rezone for condos (SF-6). In addition, the developers are seeking large bonus entitlements through the City of Austin’s “Affordability Unlocked” program to produce housing units for people earning over 250 percent of the Montopolis neighborhood’s median family income (MFI).

So who will actually be benefitting from this alleged “affordability”? As one Montopolis resident put it:

That means no one from Montopolis will be able to live there. This is not affordability unlocked, but unaffordability locked. Just another displacement scheme.

When our mayor and city council members make a final determination this Thursday, they need to keep the following questions in mind:

  • Do East Austin residents get to plan their futures, or do the city council and developers get to decide what they think is best for residents?
  • Is it fair to push “affordable” redevelopment on low-income neighborhoods that will be displaced by that redevelopment?

The community has already filed a valid protest-rights petition, but a supermajority of the city council approved the rezoning on first reading anyway. Council Members Alison Alter and Kathie Tovo voted against the upzoning, but Ann Kitchen and Leslie Pool abstained.

Click here to contact our mayor and council members. Tell them to honor the neighborhoods’ protest rights!

Here are the full details on this Thursday’s case:

Item 66
C14-2020-0038 – 508 Kemp Street – Conduct a public hearing and approve second and third readings of an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 508 Kemp Street (Country Club East Watershed). Applicant Request: To rezone from family residence – neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning. First Reading: Approved townhouse and condominium residence – neighborhood plan (SF-6-NP) combining district zoning on August 27, 2020. Vote: 7-2. Council Members Alter and Tovo voted nay. Council Members Pool and Kitchen abstained. Owner: Johnny A. Steen. Applicant: Drenner Group (Leah M. Bojo). City Staff: Kate Clark, 512-974-1237. A valid petition has been filed in opposition to this rezoning request.

Contact Mayor Steve Adler and your representative on the Austin City Council using the information below, and tell them to stop the East Austin gold rush! Check this map if you aren’t sure which council member represents you.

Together we can build an Austin for everyone!

Mayor Steve Adler:
steve.adler@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2100

Natasha Harper-Madison (District 1):
natasha.madison@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2101

Delia Garza (District 2):
delia.garza@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2102

Sabino Renteria (District 3):
sabino.renteria@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2103

Greg Casar (District 4):
gregorio.casar@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2104

Ann Kitchen (District 5):
ann.kitchen@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2105

Jimmy Flannigan (District 6):
jimmy.flannigan@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2106

Leslie Pool (District 7):
leslie.pool@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2107

Paige Ellis (District 8):
paige.ellis@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2108

Kathie Tovo (District 9):
kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2109

Alison Alter (District 10):
alison.alter@austintexas.gov | 512-978-2110

You may send a single email to the mayor and all council members using this form.