Do you agree that increasing housing supply is only one side of the supply-demand equation for beating back Austin’s affordability crisis, and that Austin should refrain from subsidizing growth during times of rapid growth so as to reduce demand growth to levels that can be met with new supply? If so, in the Candidate Response section below, please tell us your ideas for ways to make Austin’s growth pay for itself. (Hint: You can refer to any of the materials parked on this page from the years of work conducted by local developers, Brian Rodgers and Ed Wendler, Jr., especially the power point at the bottom of the page Total Accounting and Impact Fees.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

James Valadez

City Council, District 3

Yes, I do. As a real estate broker, I can tell you first hand that if you increase the amount of homes allowed on a lot, you will increase the value of land. Therefore, negating affordability. You can’t mess with market forces, market will always dictate pricing. However, we can implement new creative ways to help with affordability and our current fee in lieu & density bonus programs are pitiful, this needs to be addressed so that we can fund affordable housing.

Everyone points to Mueller has an example, but there are substantial problems with the affordable housing program. There needs to be checks and balances to ensure that we maintain existing affordable housing stock and that stock isn’t able to be sold off at market prices. Additionally, we need to be purchasing more land right now to ensure that we plan for long- term affordability.