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Austin Housing briefs committee on Homestead Preservation Districts and HPRZ feasibility; $22M cited in prior revenue

City of Austin Housing and Planning Committee · April 14, 2026

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Summary

Austin Housing and consultant Hyatt Brown described the city's Homestead Preservation District tools, reported roughly $22 million collected to date under HPRZ #1, and outlined a feasibility and projection study for additional HPRZs (B, C, D) with a report expected this summer and fiscal considerations tied to Senate Bill 2 and charter limits.

Rachel Tepper, principal planner with Austin Housing, and Mark Gilbert of consultant firm Hyatt Brown briefed the committee on April 14 about Homestead Preservation Districts (HPDs) and Homestead Preservation Reinvestment Zones (HPRZs).

Tepper reviewed statutory background (HPDs created by the Texas Legislature in 2005) and described three tools (Homestead Land Trust, land banks and HPRZs). She said Austin's HPRZ #1 has collected roughly $22 million in increment revenue to date and cited previous investments in projects such as Rebecca Works III at Tillery and Santa Rita Courts. City council recently extended HPRZ #1 to 2035 and increased the increment share, she said.

Mark Gilbert described the projection and sensitivity analysis Hyatt Brown is performing to estimate future tax‑increment revenue for candidate zones B, C and D. He said the team is accounting for historic data from HPRZ #1, current development pipelines and the implications of Senate Bill 2 on captured growth. Gilbert warned that tax increment growth is expected to slow and emphasized balancing community impact with general‑fund tradeoffs.

Tepper and Gilbert said staff are working toward an amended project financing plan for HPRZ #1 and a feasibility report for the new zones, with a mid‑summer return to the committee and a final report before June. They also noted city charter constraints tied to the share of taxable value in special districts and the need for interdepartmental coordination with finance and law.

Committee members had no substantive questions at the close of the briefing. Staff said they will return with the consultant's projections and a recommended financing plan for council consideration.