SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is expected to lay out his vision for San Antonio during an address Friday to the business community and other local leaders.
Nirenberg will deliver the keynote address at the Hyatt Regency to representatives from the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
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Nirenberg will publicly announce the formation of a new task force to develop a comprehensive housing policy for the city of San Antonio.
“We can no longer ignore the challenges facing this community and its citizens,” Nirenberg said in a statement in advance of the announcement.
The policy will include a provision for housing that is affordable for working families.
Nirenberg cited the 2010 census, which determined that "over 19 percent of San Antonio residents were living in poverty, with most renters unable to afford average apartment rents."
The task force will focus on:
- Strategies to protect neighborhood stability and assist owners to address short-term hardships in high-demand areas.
- Incentives for private and public development of affordable housing in high-growth areas.
- Revamping policies and regulations to ensure housing is constructed with long-term quality and maintenance in mind.
- Changes to parts of the City’s Unified Development Code that now hinder affordable housing development.
- Changes to City policies related to State tax-credit supported affordable housing to ensure alignment with areas targeted for future development.
- Alignment or reorganization of agencies to support City housing and development strategies.
- Strategies to preserve and rehabilitate existing apartment complexes that provide quality affordable housing.
- Use of federal programs to support City strategies.
- Ensuring future master plans incorporate affordable housing strategies.
- Future governance and oversight of housing policies.
KSAT.com will livestream Mayor Nirenberg’s speech Friday at noon.
KSAT’s Garrett Brnger will also have live updates throughout the day.
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