Aria Grand, a 70-unit apartment complex, was not included in TxDOT's initial count of households that would be forced out by plans to widen I-35
"What's interesting to me is the magnitude in this case," said Luke Ellis, a partner at Marrs Ellis & Hodge who also teaches eminent domain law at UT Austin."If they were at plus or minus 150 and they missed 70 units, that's a pretty big miss on a percentage basis. Have I seen them make these types of errors before? Yes, but not with that wide of a margin."
TxDOT refuses to say which of the two build options it prefers. Build Alternative 1 — a plan to tunnel the interstate through downtown — was already ruled out, in part because of its significantly higher costs. The $17 million Aria Grand was made possible through a federal program that incentivizes private developers to build affordable housing. Developers get federal tax credits to help lower the cost of building an apartment complex. In exchange, they promise to offer a specific number of units at a reduced rent to households with lower incomes.
Not shocking.
But would it take the Whip In?
Can we please just get a rail system
Hey TxDOTAustin, TxDOT, eminent domain is theft. It will never not be theft. When you put your kids to bed tonight, be sure and tell them that you're a thief.
Poor people don't matter in Austin, right? TxDOT