On behalf of Council Member Qadri:
Colleagues,
Thank you for the discussion yesterday at Council Work Session. My staff has worked on a Version 2 to better detail options to consider for the city-owned properties at 1215 Red River & 606 East 12th Streets.
Version 2: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 112532.pdf
Best,
CM Qadri
Item 101 Version 2
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Natalie Deller
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2022 3:12 pm
Item 101 Version 2
Policy Advisor
Office of Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9
Office of Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9
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Ryan Alter
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2023 3:15 pm
Re: Item 101 Version 2
Colleagues,
In line with the discussion we had Tuesday about HealthSouth, I plan to offer the following amendment at tomorrow’s meeting. This amendment allows for us to make the most complete and informed decision about the future development of this site. It also accomplishes all the valuable goals CM Qadri put forward, while adding additional elements that empower us to know exactly what is and is not possible to be achieved in this development.
The amendment makes one key change to this item in that it initiates the RFP process. I am proposing this for two reasons. First, the best way to know what the market will support and what is achievable in any future development of this site is to ask the market participants who will ultimately be underwriting and developing this project. We can engage in a study, as was originally requested here, but that study will be based on a set of assumptions that may or may not hold true and as I expressed on Tuesday, in my opinion will not capture all the possibilities for affordable housing on- and off-site.
The second reason for moving to an RFP now is that such a process is where this is ultimately headed. Any study of what is possible on this site will only serve to narrow what we ask for in an RFP. We have the ability to combine the study and RFP process by asking the market what is possible under a comprehensive range of options. Utilizing this process allows us to have clarity on what is achievable and do so in the clearest most efficient manner.
Additionally, you will see in this amendment that the RFP asks for responses under a variety of scenarios:
1. Utilizing the entire site for on-site affordable housing (which is not contemplated in the current resolution)
2. Partitioning of the site whereby a portion is dedicated to on-site affordable housing and a separate portion is dedicated to mixed used project; (This is exactly what is being asked for in the current resolution.)
3. Maximizing the development of the site that includes a mix of on-site and off-site affordable housing. (This is not contemplated under the current resolution.)
I appreciate your consideration of this proposal and believe it puts us in the best position to make the most informed decision possible. Let’s have all the options on the table and then make a policy choice about what best serves our community.
Redline version: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 172912.pdf
Clean version: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 172857.pdf
Sincerely,
In line with the discussion we had Tuesday about HealthSouth, I plan to offer the following amendment at tomorrow’s meeting. This amendment allows for us to make the most complete and informed decision about the future development of this site. It also accomplishes all the valuable goals CM Qadri put forward, while adding additional elements that empower us to know exactly what is and is not possible to be achieved in this development.
The amendment makes one key change to this item in that it initiates the RFP process. I am proposing this for two reasons. First, the best way to know what the market will support and what is achievable in any future development of this site is to ask the market participants who will ultimately be underwriting and developing this project. We can engage in a study, as was originally requested here, but that study will be based on a set of assumptions that may or may not hold true and as I expressed on Tuesday, in my opinion will not capture all the possibilities for affordable housing on- and off-site.
The second reason for moving to an RFP now is that such a process is where this is ultimately headed. Any study of what is possible on this site will only serve to narrow what we ask for in an RFP. We have the ability to combine the study and RFP process by asking the market what is possible under a comprehensive range of options. Utilizing this process allows us to have clarity on what is achievable and do so in the clearest most efficient manner.
Additionally, you will see in this amendment that the RFP asks for responses under a variety of scenarios:
1. Utilizing the entire site for on-site affordable housing (which is not contemplated in the current resolution)
2. Partitioning of the site whereby a portion is dedicated to on-site affordable housing and a separate portion is dedicated to mixed used project; (This is exactly what is being asked for in the current resolution.)
3. Maximizing the development of the site that includes a mix of on-site and off-site affordable housing. (This is not contemplated under the current resolution.)
I appreciate your consideration of this proposal and believe it puts us in the best position to make the most informed decision possible. Let’s have all the options on the table and then make a policy choice about what best serves our community.
Redline version: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 172912.pdf
Clean version: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 172857.pdf
Sincerely,
Council Member, District 5
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Natalie Deller
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2022 3:12 pm
Re: Item 101 Version 2
On behalf of Council Member Qadri:
Council Member Ryan Alter,
While I appreciate that you share our collective goals for the HealthSouth property, I currently cannot support your amendment. The intent of my resolution–-developed with community stakeholders, staff, and cosponsors–-has been to take a brief quarter to further explore options on the site to achieve on-site affordable housing. Per Staff’s memo and third-party market analysis, it is recommended to wait until the third quarter of next year or later to be able to issue an RFP in better market conditions. Additionally, depending on Council’s preference when scenarios return, there may be phased RFPs. To direct an RFP at this time would close the door on other considerations that may maximize on-site affordable housing.
In Version 3 below, my staff has further clarified the scenarios we would like considered, which continue to include maximizing the development of the site with a mix of on-site and some off-site affordable housing, as we outlined in Version 2. Utilizing the entire site for on-site affordable housing was not something we considered, as we are trying to strike the balance of on-site affordable housing and market-rate housing available in this part of Downtown on the sites overall. We respect the elements you would like to see included in the analysis, so we have incorporated several of them into this version.
Redline: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 095014.pdf
Clean: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 095110.pdf
Best,
CM Qadri
Council Member Ryan Alter,
While I appreciate that you share our collective goals for the HealthSouth property, I currently cannot support your amendment. The intent of my resolution–-developed with community stakeholders, staff, and cosponsors–-has been to take a brief quarter to further explore options on the site to achieve on-site affordable housing. Per Staff’s memo and third-party market analysis, it is recommended to wait until the third quarter of next year or later to be able to issue an RFP in better market conditions. Additionally, depending on Council’s preference when scenarios return, there may be phased RFPs. To direct an RFP at this time would close the door on other considerations that may maximize on-site affordable housing.
In Version 3 below, my staff has further clarified the scenarios we would like considered, which continue to include maximizing the development of the site with a mix of on-site and some off-site affordable housing, as we outlined in Version 2. Utilizing the entire site for on-site affordable housing was not something we considered, as we are trying to strike the balance of on-site affordable housing and market-rate housing available in this part of Downtown on the sites overall. We respect the elements you would like to see included in the analysis, so we have incorporated several of them into this version.
Redline: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 095014.pdf
Clean: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 095110.pdf
Best,
CM Qadri
Policy Advisor
Office of Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9
Office of Council Member Zo Qadri, District 9