Affordable Housing Complex vies for space with a Church amidst Zoning Change in Payton Gin, Austin

Austin Planning Commission Embraces Proposed Affordable Housing Project

Despite concerns arising from the church it will replace, Planning Commission members have shown support towards an affordable housing project in the North Austin region. The proposed project on Payton Gin Road will feature a 100 percent affordable, six-story, 192-unit apartment complex.

This project, put forth by developers, will be facilitated using the city’s Affordability Unlocked program. Via this program, developers manage to gain development incentives, fulfilling their promise of providing 27 one-bedroom units, 88 two-bedroom units, and 77 three-bedroom units. Based on affordability clauses, at least 20 percent of these units will be rented to households earning 50 percent or less of the median family income (MFI), and half of them will be offered at or below 60 percent MFI for a minimum of 40 years.

Church Expresses Concerns Over Zoning Change

However, this desired development has necessitated a zoning change from Neighborhood Commercial (LR) to Community Commercial (GR). Despite gaining support from city staff and unanimous votes from planning commissioners for recommending the rezoning to the City Council, voices of dissent have been raised. The pastor of Austin Brethren Church, located on the proposed property for the construction, has requested that the board reject the zoning change, emphasizing the important role of churches in the neighborhood.

“While I understand that the need for housing is crucial, we must maintain a balance between material necessities and those of the spiritual kind. Profits made from dismantling a house of God may not be considered a divine blessing,” Pastor Felix Ramirez pointed out.

Appeals for Balance and Honoring Community Spirit

While the pastor has raised concerns about keeping a balance between housing and spiritual necessities, the developers have assured the board that options for relocating the church to a fitting location are being explored. They explained that Austin Brethren’s two-year lease is due to expire in April 2025, or potentially earlier if an early-termination agreement is reached. The owners are working with the church to present suitable locations for relocation. They stressed that the church has functioned on a lease at the site since 1970 and was not intended to be a permanent fixture.

The Planning Commission members have endorsed the idea of development while appreciating the importance of maintaining community spirit. One member stated, “We have an opportunity to create deeply affordable housing in a location near schools and transit corridors, and make use of property that in spite of being a church’s home, is under-utilized”. Another member recommended that developers maintain some community space for the entire neighborhood, not just the apartment complex residents.

As the city of Austin faces a challenge of balancing housing needs and maintaining its character, this case in Payton Gin is a reflection of the ongoing discussions around city development and the importance of affordable housing.