City details Chapter 380 pilot to fund deeper home upgrades in Freeman Heights study area

At the meeting staff updated the committee on a referral to consider a bounded Chapter 380 economic development agreement to support deeper residential upgrades. Becky said the committee had asked staff to evaluate an area bounded by Glenbrook, Garland Avenue, Walnut and Buckingham and that the team was pursuing a two‑pronged approach: a demonstration 'Growing Families' house funded with a set‑aside from the Garland Housing Finance Corporation and a consultant‑led comprehensive housing study by CZB Consulting that will create neighborhood typologies and recommend incentive structures.

Becky told the committee the demonstration project is intended to document the costs and scope needed to transform a typical home to better match market demand (additional bedrooms, updated systems, etc.). Staff said they are still seeking a suitable candidate property for the demonstration because many homes in the study area have already been recently remodeled and no longer qualify. The CZB consultant deliverable is expected in September and will include recommendations on program structure across different neighborhood typologies.

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tim Ott commented that the Freeman Heights timing (a new school and sidewalk work) makes the area a good pilot and that similar bounded approaches have been used successfully in neighboring cities. The committee complimented staff progress and asked for continued coordination with the Housing Finance Corporation and with the consultant deliverable.