News from the City of Austin, Texas

Roy Kizer Golf Course Grand Reopening

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department's Golf Division, Golf ATX, will host a grand re-opening of the Roy Kizer Golf Course (5400 Jimmy Clay Dr, Austin, TX 78744) on Thursday, September 29 from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The course, which has been closed since early March 2022, underwent a putting greens resurfacing project and reopened under modified operations on September 8, 2022. The Grand Re-Opening will feature a live onsite radio broadcast, golf, music, giveaways and breakfast for all attendees.

The Roy Kizer Golf Course is a links-style layout spread over 200 acres located in southeast Austin. The course was named for Roy Kizer, a long-time golf course superintendent at Lions Municipal Golf Course from 1937 until his retirement in 1973. Mr. Roy Kizer earned the respect of the Austin golf community through his dedication to the course and his support of junior golf in the City of Austin. With 35 acres of lakes and 22 acres of wetlands, the golf course offers residency to migratory waterfowl in the area and is a beautiful experience for players of all skill levels.

About Golf ATX:
The City of Austin owns six golf courses and one short practice course all focused on a great golf experience at an affordable price. The Golf ATX courses serve a large and diverse golf public with more than 300,000 rounds played annually and over 300 tournaments and events hosted on its golf courses annually. Golf ATX offers golf programs for adults, juniors and players of all skill levels. For more information, visit www.GOLFATX.org.

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Austin Residents Can Help Determine the Future of City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Routes
Using community input gathered over the past year, Austin Public Works and Austin Transportation are presenting three scenarios for the future of urban trails, bikeways, and sidewalks. Residents can give feedback on these scenarios and additional transportation policy questions online through October 23. Public feedback will inform Austin’s updated Sidewalks, Urban Trails, and Bikeway plans. 

The ATX Walk Bike Roll: Choosing Our Path virtual open house asks residents to give input on a variety of transportation topics. 

Options for bikeways and urban trails: The public is presented with three ways urban trails and bikeways could be built in the future. One scenario would focus on making it easier to get across the city, another option would create better access to local neighborhood destinations, and the third prioritizes access to nature. All three scenarios aim to improve access for People of Color and people with low incomes. Residents can help decide what types of connections should be prioritized. 

Shared Streets: Residents are also asked to give input on a new concept called Shared Streets. Shared Streets will use traffic calming devices, such as bollards,?paint, or planters, to make some residential streets more comfortable for?people walking, biking, or rolling.?The goal is to build safer places to walk in less time and at a lower cost than it takes to build sidewalks. Residents are asked if they would like to see more shared streets in Austin.

Prioritizing pedestrian crossings: Additionally, the City of Austin is determining how to prioritize pedestrian street crossing projects. Residents are asked how important they think pedestrian crossings are at select locations to determine where to build first.  

Transportation policy concepts: Finally, residents are asked to give feedback on policy questions, which focus on ideas that could lower the cost of getting around in an equitable way and address the hidden subsidies that currently favor automobiles above other transportation options.

ATX Walk Bike Roll is at a key moment and making major decisions about how the City should move forward in planning for the future of Austin’s mobility and needs residents to help decide on this future! Residents can take the ATX Walk Bike Roll survey now through October 23.

Anyone who is unable to take the online survey can request that a survey be mailed to them by calling (512) 974-7182 or emailing [email protected] 

Los habitantes de Austin pueden ayudar a determinar el futuro de las rutas peatonales y las ciclovías de la ciudad

Usando las opiniones de la comunidad recolectadas durante el año pasado, el Departamento de Obras Públicas de Austin y el Departamento de Transporte de Austin están presentando tres escenarios para el futuro de los senderos urbanos, las ciclovías y las aceras. Los habitantes pueden compartir en línea sus comentarios acerca de estos escenarios y preguntas adicionales sobre políticas de transporte hasta el 23 de octubre. Los opiniones del público informarán los planes actualizados de las aceras, los senderos urbanos y las ciclovías de Austin.

La Reunión Pública Virtual de ATX Walk Bike Roll: Escogiendo Nuestro Camino pide a los residentes que compartan su opinión sobre una variedad de temas acerca del transporte.

Opciones para ciclovías y senderos urbanos: Al público se le presentan tres formas en que los senderos urbanos y las ciclovías podrían construirse en el futuro. Un escenario se enfocaría en facilitar el movilizarse alreadedor de la ciudad, otra opción crearía un mejor acceso a los destinos locales dentro de los vencindarios y el tercero le daría prioridad al acceso a la naturaleza. Los tres escenarios tienen como objetivo mejorar el acceso para las personas de color y las personas de bajos recursos económicos. Los habitantes pueden ayudar a decidir qué tipos de conexiones deberán priorizarse para tener el mayor impacto positivo para las personas que caminan, andan en bicicleta o se movilizan en transporte público.

Calles compartidas: También se les pide a los habitantes que compartan su opinión acerca de un nuevo concepto llamado Calles Compartidas. Calles Compartidas utilizará dispositivos para disminuir el tráfico, como bolardos, pintura o jardineras, para hacer que algunas calles residenciales sean más cómodas para las personas que caminan, andan en bicicleta o se movilizan en transporte público. El objetivo es construir lugares más seguros para caminar en menos tiempo y a un costo menor de lo que se necesita para construir aceras. Se pregunta a los habitantes si les gustaría ver un aumento en la construcción de calles compartidas.

Darle prioridad a los cruces peatonales: Además, la Ciudad de Austin está determinando cómo priorizar los proyectos de cruces peatonales. Se les pregunta a los habitantes qué tan importantes creen que son los cruces peatonales en lugares seleccionados para determinar dónde construirlos primero.

Conceptos de política de transporte: Por último, se les pide a los habitantes que compartan sus comentarios acerca de las preguntas de política, que se enfocan en ideas que podrían reducir el costo de movilizarse de una manera equitativa y abordar los subsidios ocultos que actualmente favorecen a los automóviles por encima de otras opciones de transporte.

ATX Walk Bike Roll se encuentra en un momento clave y está tomando decisiones importantes acerca de cómo la ciudad debe avanzar en la planificación para el futuro de la movilidad de Austin y necesita que los habitantes ayuden a decidir acerca de este futuro.

¡Por favor, comparta su opinión sobre estos modelos e ideas de políticas antes del 23 de octubre!

Los residentes que no puedan completar la encuesta en línea pueden recibir una encuesta por correo. Solicite este formulario llamando al (512) 974-7182 o enviando un correo electrónico a [email protected]

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New Scorecards Update Progress on Strategic Housing Blueprint Goals

Austin continues to make progress toward meeting the 10-year goals laid out in the Strategic Housing Blueprint, particularly by constructing income-restricted units in High Opportunity Areas and preserving existing subsidized units, while production of new affordable housing units lags slightly.

The data comes from the 2021 Blueprint Scorecard and a four-year Progress-to-Date Scorecard (2018-2021) released through a partnership between the City’s Housing and Planning Department and the nonprofit group HousingWorks Austin.  

The scorecards measure the progress made on the housing production goals and other metrics related to housing affordability set forth in the Strategic Housing Blueprint that was approved by Council in 2017. The Blueprint seeks to align resources and facilitate community partnerships around a single, strategic vision to create 60,000 affordable housing across the city, particularly for those making less than 80% of the median family income. 

According to the scorecards, in 2021, the city exceeded its goal of building new housing units within a half-mile of Imagine Austin Centers and Corridors for the fourth year in a row. Over the past four years, the city has been most successful in meeting this goal, with 91% of all new housing units from 2018 to 2021 located within these areas. 

Substantial progress was also achieved in preserving existing affordable housing, repairing and upgrading 1,550 units of housing units, ensuring that they remain affordable for low-income Austinites for years to come.  Additionally, construction of units for households earning 81% MFI or above continued to grow, with the construction of nearly 7,500 units in 2021.

Nora Linares-Moeller, the Executive Director of HousingWorks Austin said, "The increase in the number of affordable units preserved over the past year is especially encouraging. With the cost of living continuing to increase in Austin, it is important that we do not lose any of the existing affordable housing in the city while new units are built to address the current housing shortage."

While the scorecards also indicate a continued lag toward the goal of 60,000 new affordable housing units, officials say delays are expected due in large part to the time and resources necessary to launch extensive housing projects.

“Realistically, the slower pace of constructing new affordable units is understandable when you consider the time and resources required to build both rental and home ownership units,” said HPD Executive Director Rosie Truelove.  “We are currently looking at more than 2,000 rental and home ownership units in the construction pipeline within the next two years from funds made possible in large part by the voter-approved $250 million affordable housing bond in 2018.”

The annual scorecard (published 6-12 months after the close of the reporting period) can help Austin track its efforts to sustainably achieve affordability goals, expand housing opportunities, and ensure Austin remains a liveable city for all.
 
For access to the Blueprint Scorecards, more about the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, and links to all of the past versions of the Blueprint Scorecard visit:  AustinTexas.gov/blueprint  

About HousingWorks Austin
HousingWorks Austin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They advance their mission to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing through research, education, and advocacy in Austin, Texas and the surrounding region, with a commitment to ensuring those most in need have access to safe and affordable housing. Advocacy is guided by the maxim, ‘All Kinds of Homes, in All Parts of Town, for All Kinds of People’.
 
About Housing and Planning Department
The Housing and Planning Department provides resources related to planning, zoning, housing, and community development to enhance the quality of life of all Austinites. Equitable, efficient, and comprehensive planning with displacement prevention as a prioritized focus is the Department’s core charge in delivering housing services to the community.

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More to read:
Roadway Rehab Underway Along Springdale Rd.
Major roadway improvements underway along E. Stassney Ln.
City of Austin Completes Economic Development Department Leadership Team
Austin Mobility News: Transit survey underway, Holly Shores Trail complete and more
The City of Austin Department of Aviation joins forces with TSA, airline and concession partners to connect with Central Texas job-seekers

For more City of Austin news releases, visit AustinTexas.gov.