New downtown strategic plan calls for more affordable housing subsidies [Video]

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – A draft of the city’s refreshed strategy for downtown came to light this week.

A group of downtown leaders presented a consulting firm’s draft of an updated downtown strategic framework plan to the San Antonio City Council’s Planning and Community Development committee this week, outlining recommendations for housing incentives, public space activation and retail development. The plan recommends incentives for projects that are in the deeply affordable and affordable categories that rent exclusively or in part below the area median income (AMI), respectively, leaving out market-rate and luxury.

The study was conducted by HR&A Advisors — who wrote the 2011 version — and led by Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, downtown steward Centro San Antonio and Visit San Antonio.

Thomas Simpson, a partner at HR&A Advisors, told the …