The Center City Development and Operations Department recently made recommendations to amend the Center City Housing Incentive Policy (CCHIP) and the Inner City Reinvestment/Infill Policy (ICRIP).
ICRIP was created to encourage infill activity and create sustainable neighborhoods that are safe, walkable, mixed-use, compact and well-designed. Eligible projects include housing, commercial and mixed-use development, and major economic development projects. Since 2010, the City has issued over 11,000 City fee waiver and/or SAWS fee waiver applications that represent a total investment of $4.4 billion.
Proposed changes to the ICRIP are removing boundaries and changing to City of San Antonio Fee Waiver Program, which will include: 1) affordable housing; 2) owner occupied rehabilitation; 3) historic rehabilitation; and 4) business development.
The CCHIP was created in 2012 to establish a predictable incentive system to encourage new housing in the center city. CCHIP provides financial incentives for multi-family housing projects in the downtown area. This as-of-right incentive program offers eligible projects City and San Antonio Water System (SAWS) Impact Fee Waivers, up to a 15-year Real Property Tax Rebate (City ad valorem taxes only), up to $7,500 per housing unit in a Low-Interest Loan, and a Mixed-Use Forgivable Loan. Given that there are a significant number of changes offered to this program, we have attached the presentation given to the City Council’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee (EWDC) on August 7 for reference.
Of note, recommendations made by the Mayor’s Housing Task Force were included in this presentation. Your Chamber was a proud participant in the working group focused on housing supply.
The EWDC Committee agreed to move the recommendations forward to the full City Council for their consideration and approval on September 20, 2018.
For more information on the City Center Development and Operations Department, visit the City of San Antonio’s website here.
