Planning for Displacement and Affordability in Austin, TX in the Face of Climate Change

Download or read book Planning for Displacement and Affordability in Austin, TX in the Face of Climate Change written by Maria Fernanda Berrios and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lower income communities that have been historically disinvested in real estate are experiencing more displacement and lack of affordability than ever before. Climate change brings recurring flooding, heating, and other extreme weather events for which community resilience is needed to sustain the viability and livability of the neighborhood for residents. On the other hand, gentrification- related increases in housing costs force residents out of their communities. This thesis studies a community in Austin, Texas where environmental justice and racial equity issues converge. The community of Dove Springs, a predominantly Latino/a neighborhood, is and will be affected by climate change and gentrification in upcoming years. Planning will be essential to the success and sustainability of the neighborhood. For the residents of this neighborhood to benefit from any development, the planning strategy has to be bottom up and prioritize community involvement in the decision making process. This thesis explores the questions: 1) What are the main causes for displacement locally and how do they pertain to environmental justice? and 2) How can displacement due to climate change and gentrification be mitigated for an Austin neighborhood while maintaining affordability and density? I will explore these questions through the lens of Environmental Justice, how a case study of how a Community Land Trust model for Dove Springs, combined with local policy could help its residents provide more affordable housing developed sustainably. Although the focus is on housing, a comprehensive planning approach is suggested and will take into consideration other aspects such as transit, availability of green spaces, food access, etc. Through insight from Dove Springs Community leaders and experts around these topics, the thesis proposes a pairing of a CLT model and a local development bonus program (Affordability Unlocked). The implementation of this strategy is showcased through a series of maps and massing models where density and comprehensive planning are proposed. Through integrated design strategies proposed, the community can use this research as a tool to plan sustainably for years to come