Tell your representative
TEXAS LEGISLATIVE HOUSING PRIORITIES
Texas is experiencing a significant housing shortage, and addressing this issue requires removing barriers that prevent the development of new housing in high-demand areas.
1.
Office to Residential Conversion Bill: Many office buildings across Texas are sitting vacant due to changing work patterns. This bill would allow these unused office spaces to be converted into residential units, increasing the supply of housing. A similar law has been enacted in Dallas, which has successfully converted office spaces into apartment homes.
2.
Commercial to Residential Conversion Bill: This bill would authorize the development of housing units in areas currently zoned for commercial use. For example, it would allow the construction of apartments above existing commercial spaces such as stores and restaurants. This approach has been successfully implemented in Rhode Island, Florida, and Montana, providing much-needed housing options without requiring new land.
3.
Housing Development Protection Bill: Currently, only 20% of residents in a neighborhood can block new housing developments, which gives a small minority too much control over housing decisions. This bill would raise that threshold to prevent small groups from obstructing the development of critically needed homes. Similar laws have been passed in North Carolina and Arizona.
4.
Minimum Lot Size Reform Bill: In many Texas cities, there are laws that require large minimum lot sizes, which limits the number of homes that can be built and drives up housing costs. For instance, Dallas currently requires residential lots to be at least 5,000 square feet. This bill would allow neighborhoods to opt in to reduce the minimum lot sizes in their area, making it easier to build smaller, more affordable homes.
Do your part and contact your representative.
Email to State Representative
Subject: Support for Legislative Housing Priorities in Texas
Dear [Representative's Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [Your City/District]. I am reaching out to express my strong support for the Democratic Legislative Housing Priorities, which aim to address Texas’ growing housing shortage by making it easier to build more homes in high-demand areas.
The following bills are critical to ensuring that Texans have access to more affordable and diverse housing options:
Commercial to Residential Conversion Bill – Allows housing to be developed in areas currently zoned for commercial use, helping to create more mixed-use spaces.
Office to Residential Conversion Bill – Facilitates the transformation of vacant office buildings into much-needed housing units.
Housing Development Protection Bill – Adjusts neighborhood voting thresholds to prevent a small minority from blocking critical housing developments.
Minimum Lot Size Reform Bill – Provides cities with the flexibility to reduce minimum lot sizes, making homeownership more attainable for more Texans.
These measures have been successfully implemented in other states and cities, demonstrating their potential to alleviate our housing crisis. I urge you to support these bills to help create more affordable and accessible housing across Texas.
Please let me know where you stand on these issues, and I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss them further. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address] (if comfortable sharing)
[Your Email]
Conversation Script for Call
Resident: Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent from [Your City/District]. I’m reaching out to ask for your support on key housing legislation that would help address Texas’ housing shortage and make it easier to build more homes. Do you have a moment to discuss this?
Representative or Staffer: Sure, what specific bills are you referring to?
Resident: There are four bills that I strongly support:
Commercial to Residential Conversion Bill – This would allow apartments and housing units in areas currently zoned for commercial use, making better use of existing space.
Office to Residential Conversion Bill – With so many office spaces sitting vacant, this bill would enable their transformation into homes, increasing available housing.
Housing Development Protection Bill – It raises the threshold for blocking housing projects, ensuring a small minority can’t halt much-needed development.
Minimum Lot Size Reform Bill – It gives communities the option to reduce minimum lot sizes, making it easier to build affordable homes.
These measures have been successful in other states, and I believe they would help Texas address our housing crisis.
Would you be willing to support these bills, or can I count on you to advocate for more housing solutions?
Representative or Staffer: [Response]
Resident: Thank you for your time. I appreciate your consideration and hope you will support these efforts to make housing more accessible in our community. I’d love to stay updated on where you stand on these issues.