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Studies
Harris County RDA & TIRZ 24
Infrastructure & Investment Study
HCRDA and TIRZ 24 commissioned a study to identify opportunities for infrastructure improvements projects to spur development and future investment in the District. Two of the three separate areas that make up TIRZ 24 are part of this study.
The largest study area, known as the Southern Sector, is located within Harris County Precinct 1 and includes NRG Park. Adjacent to the Texas Medical Center, it is generally bounded by Old Spanish Trail, Almeda Genoa Road, SH 288 and South Main Street. Of the Southern Sector’s total 7,145 acres, 1,873 acres are vacant and 1,872 are underdeveloped.
52% of the TIRZ 24’s Southern Sector acreage is primed for new development
Within the 7,145-acre southern sector boundary, 1,873-acres are vacant and considered undeveloped. Such areas are shown in red on the adjacent map. While many of those tracts are accessible by existing streets, new streets will be needed to fully access larger vacant tracts. Utilities located within new rights-of-way will provide the needed storm sewer, water and wastewater service to fully develop the vacant properties.
Another 1,872-acres, nearly the same acreage as undeveloped, are deemed underdeveloped. This term means that the tract is currently underutilized. These tracts are shown in green on the map. Underdeveloped tracts in the District may contain older or unused warehouse structures and associated parking that can be easily demolished and redeveloped.
My Home is Here
Harris County’s Housing Needs Assessment and
10-Year Strategy
Harris County commissioned the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University to conduct the Harris County Needs Assessment and 10-Year Strategy Study. The study, known as My Home is Here, provides a picture of housing needs over the next decade in Harris County.
There is an affordability crisis in Harris County. Almost 500,000 families are paying more than they can afford for their homes today. We know that children’s growth and success in life is in part determined by where they grow up and whether they have a stable, high-quality home that meets their family’s needs. People experience better health when they have a home located in an area where they can walk, go to parks and enjoy the outdoors safely. Workers in Harris County businesses need to live in areas where they can reliably commute to work. Ultimately, homes people can afford are essential infrastructure for life. Our communities and families thrive when every person and family have a great place to call home.
Everyone needs a home that is affordable to them. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines “affordable” as housing costs that total less than 30% of a household’s income. In Harris County, almost 500,000 households with incomes below $75,000 are paying over 30% of their total income for their homes today. In housing policy terms, these families are “cost-burdened” or, financially burdened by the cost of their homes. High home costs mean they cannot spend enough on other essentials like food, transportation, health care or childcare.
A primary reason people are cost-burdened is the lack of homes that serve households earning less than $20,000 per year, or 30% MHI. As a result, 95% of this population ends up renting homes that would otherwise be affordable to renters with higher incomes. This, in turn, reduces the available housing supply and causes housing shortages at the 30%-60% MHI level.
Over the next 10 years, more than 200,000 homes are needed for households in Harris County earning under $75,000 per year. Meeting this need will require a major investment from all parties in the County and new resources (beyond the funds available today).
To support these affordable housing goals, HCRDA and TIRZ 24 is setting aside 25% from annual tax increments for a Permanent Affordable Housing Fund. This new fund will track affordable housing projects and finance County-wide affordable housing investments and programs.
Whether inside or outside the boundaries of the zone, the affordable housing program will be administered by Harris County Housing and Community Develoipnent Department and leverage housing funding from TIRZ 24 and HCRDA.
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