What we reported Last year’s election saw the passage of all seven propositions included in the $925 million bond referendum, highlighted by a record $250 million public investment in affordable housing programs. The bond was among the largest ever presented to Austin voters, and each proposition passed with at least 70 percent of voter approval.

The latest As the first step following passage, city staff will present a spending plan for the $925 million loan by the spring, according to city leaders. If approved by City Council, the plan will lay out a high-level schedule for when and how to spend the money. District 9 Council Member Kathie Tovo and District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria said they want to leverage some of the $250 million to put affordable housing on two inactive, city-owned properties: the Health South campus on Red River Street and the former Home Depot lot on St. Johns Avenue.

This post is part of Community Impact Newspaper’s Annual Community Guide, which appears in the January 2019 Central Austin print edition. In addition to ten stories to follow for the upcoming year, the Annual Community Guide provides readers with local information on the area’s demographics as well as the latest news in transportation, health care, education and development.