David Chincanchan says the city’s current zoning code is “rooted in a segregationist, racist plan from 1928.” | File photo
David Chincanchan says the city’s current zoning code is “rooted in a segregationist, racist plan from 1928.” | File photo
District 2 Austin City Council candidate David Chincanchan supports a controversial revamp of the city's zoning code that critics say would increase gentrification, dramatically raise property taxes and eliminate single-family homes.
The current code is “rooted in a segregationist, racist plan from 1928,” Chincanchan told the Austin Monitor. “Over the last several years, including in East Austin and including in Rainey Street, we have seen the effects of gentrification, we have seen displacement, we have seen real suffering, and in our community, we have seen flooding as well. All of those things that we want to address are happening under the current Land Development Code and so we should be clamoring for change.”
Under the proposed plan, called CodeNext, a minimum of three homes would be allowed on residential lots. That would cause land values - and taxes to soar - says the group Community Not Commodity.
Renters would also be hurt, the group says.
"More than 20% of single-unit structures in Austin are occupied by renters, and in some neighborhoods renters account for more than half of residents," the group said. "When the rezoning inflates their landlords’ tax bills, those increases will be passed on in the form of higher rents, exacerbating Austin’s already-epic displacement crisis."
If the rezoning plan is approved, Austin will be "flooded" by developers outbidding each other for existing single-family homes, the group said.
Policies that increase density and allow commercial activities in existing neighborhoods “exacerbate displacement and gentrification,” according to 2017 report by Community Not Commodity.
“Advocates supporting CodeNEXT argue that increasing density and commercial uses in existing neighborhoods increases our supply of affordable housing,” the report said. “They call it ‘missing middle housing.’ One only needs to tour the areas of Austin currently being redeveloped to disprove their assertions. CodeNEXT will further exacerbate Austin’s growing economic justice problem.”
So far, Austin has spent eight years and $10 million on reworking the land development code, radio station KUT reported.
Chincanchan has received campaign money from real estate lobbyists and developers, the Austin Bulldog reports.
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