Fort Worth City Council approves waiving fees for affordable housing development
The Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved waiving fees for an affordable housing development in South Fort Worth, even as residents spoke against it.
Trinity Habitat for Humanity, asked the city to waive development fees, including those for building permits , zoning applications, demolition, transportation impact and related municipal fees to develop affordable housing for low income households. The project, named Garden Springs., will be located in South Fort Worth off S.oHulen Street at the intersections of West Cleburne Road and Brookway Drive.
The amount of fees waived will be up to $12,491 per home, for a total amount not to exceed $1,099,132, according to the agenda item.
Councilmember Mia Hall, who represents the district the development will be in, said she voted for the waiver due to the shortages of affordable homes for purchase. Waiving the costs makes it more feasible to offer homes at a price that is accessible for families who need it most, Hall said. The homes are not Section 8 housing and homebuyers must meet the standard mortgage practices to become eligible, she said.
“This isn’t just about building homes, it’s about building stronger, more stable communities for our future,” Hall said.
Gage Yager, CEO of Trinity Habitat for Humanity, said these new homes will create homeownership opportunities that will have a far-reaching impact. This includes long-term stability, wealth building, strong neighborhoods and families. .
“This is a way that they can follow through and help lower our costs to keep it affordable, because they understand how expensive it is, both the real estate and the land development and everything you have to do,” Yager said.
There were three people who opposed the waiver.
Jasmin Trimble said he was for affordable homes, but suggested this proposal is not the right way to accomplish the goal. She said waiving the $1.1 million in fees doesn’t make the costs disappear but transfers them to existing taxpayers. Trimble was also concerned that introducing affordable or subsidized housing into established neighborhoods will decrease surrounding property values.
“Once the door is open, other developers will expect the same treatment, further eroding the revenue base that supports essential services and future infrastructure,” Trimble said to city council.
Plans call for the project toi include 88 traditional detached single family homes that are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The development will have 75% of the homes for people making 80% of area median income and 25% of the homes will be for people who make between 80 and 120% . The homes will range in price from $180,000 to $290,000.
Trinity’s waiver request comes two years after the city reviewed the Fort Worth Neighborhood Conservation Plan and Housing Affordability Strategy, serving as a roadmap to create and preserve affordable housing in Fort Worth.
The report said Fort Worth is adding jobs at a faster rate than it is adding housing, which is increasing home values and putting ownership out of reach for most residents. The income required to buy a home in Fort Worth has roughly doubled in the last 10 years.
The report also shows areas of the city where residents are already being pushed out due to increasing home values and rising rents. Most of the residents in these areas identify as Hispanic or Black, according to the report.
