"Two Ideological Factions" Model of the CodeNEXT Controversy
(Pritchard, "Why You Should Join the Fight")
Preservationists
Urbanists
Shared Investments, beliefs, values
Ed Wendler: Save Our City Austin (preservationist counterpoint to EVOLVE Austin); developer building high end and sustainable houses
Linda Curtis: political activist and Bastrop resident; collects signatures on petitions to send CodeNEXT to a general vote
Tend to skew younger, and advocate for density and inclusion over the status quo that contribute to urban sprawl.
Tend to support large developments, even when they will result in changed neighborhoods.
Believe that dense developments will alleviate housing crises, create affordable housing, and contribute to inclusiveness.
Greg Anderson: Former member of the Planning Commission (powerful body of appointees that will weigh in on the policies), Board Member at Austin Habitat for Humanity.
David Wentworth: Mom and Pop development shop; Buys properties and tries to develop multiple housing units to promote affordability;
Interests: The successful passage of a strong version of CodeNEXT that includes provisions for high density developments.
Values: Personal autonomy for property and landowners; Housing equality and inclusion.
Beliefs: Every Austinite has a right to affordable housing.
Housing should be affordable for normal families; Believes current housing is too expensive; Believes that Austin is under housing capacity; Interested in maximizing developed profits
Beliefs: Austin is affordable for a lot of people, despite rising costs
Interests: Maintain cost of housing at current levels, not have housing market overdetermined by CodeNEXT
Values: Reduced divisions in economic status, a more connected city
Belief: voters have a right to decide policies that impact their city
Value: the democratic referendum process
Interests: align with whiter, more affluent voters
Lewis: Save Our City Austin (livable city that addresses the needs of all its citizens, not only the privileged); Attorney who has worked on making City Council more representative
Values: citizens' best interests, especially affordability; make taxes affordable; protecting the environment
Mary Ingle: Former President of the Austin Neighborhood Council (against changes to neighborhood character); Board member of Save Our City
Values: aesthetics of old Austin neighborhood; predictability
Interests: Preventing undesirable businesses from moving into residential neighborhoods
Belief: That Austinites aren't getting their money's worth on the development of CodeNEXT
Natasha Madison: 40 year old mother; firefighter husband; head of E 12th St. Merchants' Association (a partner of EVOLVE Austin - promotes a compact and connected city); long-time East Austin resident.
Interests: Have her children in a well-supported and populated school system
Values: Values East Austin neighborhood, wants them to be safe and affordable places to live; Family model of living supported by denser developments
Beliefs: Sense of community in Austin neighborhoods; Awareness and participation will bring change
Bradford: real estate and land use attorney; urbanist blogger
Belief: zoning has major impacts on life and the character of the city
Values: people having an understanding of the impacts of zoning; compact and connected vision of the city
General stakes and shared goals
More units on less land. A version of CodeNEXT that addressed and increased the ceiling for property density.
Education about importance of zoning
Get more people in involved in decision-making, particularly those who might not normally vote, or attend meetings, or be involved
Simplify existing codes and rules; make codes that support denser populations.
Compromise: Higher density developments along high-traffic corridors, but the preservation of interior residential areas
Send CodeNEXT to a popular vote, with the likelihood that it will be voted down.
Preserve the character of residential areas while addressing housing affordability in high traffic areas.
Leave current code how it is.