Work begins on affordable housing complex in Northwest Austin

The median price for all townhomes citywide in May was $359,450, according to data from the Austin Board of Realtors.

Construction on the development is expected to complete by April 2021, according to developer Capital A Housing.

“As one of the many people ... who actively campaigned for the housing bond a couple of years ago, it’s really good to see them being put to such effective and constructive use to get more affordable housing to our neighbors,” said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, during the virtual groundbreaking.

According to materials from Capital A Housing, families making 80% or less of the area median family income, or MFI, will qualify for the affordable units in A at Lamppost. A four-person household that makes 80% of the Austin MFI earns $78,100 annually, according to city documents.

In a July 22 news release, developers also say the A at Lamppost complex is the first project to break ground that is part of the Affordability Unlocked program. That program, passed by Austin City Council in 2019, offers waivers and modifications to developers to encourage construction of affordable housing units citywide, according to the city’s website.

A at Lamppost is also partially funded by voter-approved 2018 Affordable Housing Bond, Capital A Housing said in its news release.

“I think it is a signal to the community that in these next couple of years we’re going to build more low-cost homes and low income homes than in the entire city’s history.” Casar said during the groundbreaking. “There are dozens of projects that have been approved for Affordability Unlocked ... totaling around 3,500 homes that will be low price and available to lower income Austinites.”