[SATURDAY 4/15] The Big Debate: Density, Displacement, and Affordability

Description from flyer:

What will be the impact of CodeNEXT on East Austin? Amidst the well known housing affordability crisis in East Austin, Austin’s revamped Land Development Code known as CodeNEXT portends dramatic changes for how land use is regulated. The housing committee of the mayor’s task force on institutional racism has concluded that CodeNEXT as currently envisioned will exacerbate, not ameliorate gentrification, whereas the authors of CodeNEXT and their supporters contend that increased zoning densities will produce housing that is affordable for East Austinites. Will giving developers even more free reign produce housing affordability in East Austin? Join the discussion as two experts interrogate and debate this question.

Dr. Fred L. McGhee is a current Community Development Commission member and was also a member of the City of Austin’s 2004 anti-gentrification task force. He is founder and director of Preserve Rosewood and is the author of Austin’s Montopolis Neighborhood, Two Texas Race Riots as well as other works.

Niran Babalola heads housing policy ofr the Austin Justice Coalition and is a founding member of AURA, formerly known as Austinites for Urban Rail Action. A computer programmer and an Austin resident since 2008, he supports increased density in East Austin.

Debate Sponsors: PODER (People Organized in Defense of the Earth and Her Resources) and the Raza Roundtable
April 15, 2017 at 12:00 noon
Location: PODER Offices, 4926 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
RSVP at poder.austin@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/pages/Poder-Office/770254626359909

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FAN captured the entire debate on video here.