Project approval
Leander City Council voted on Sept. 4 to move forward with an affordable housing development called the Preserve at Mason Creek. The project will be built through a partnership between the Housing Authority of Travis County and Cascade Homes.
Under the resolution, the city authorized a cooperation agreement that sets parameters for payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT). Because the Housing Authority will hold an ownership interest, the property will be exempt from traditional property taxes. Cascade Homes will begin making annual PILOT payments to the city 11 years after construction is complete, with amounts equal to what the city would have collected in ad valorem taxes.
Development details
Plans call for 64 single-family rental homes with three- and four-bedroom layouts. The development will sit on about 7.7 acres south of Horseshoe Drive, roughly 480 feet west of South West Drive.
The next steps for the project include selecting a general contractor and beginning the permitting process.
Why it matters
City officials say the project will help balance housing costs as Leander grows. Mayor Christine DeLisle noted that while tech-driven growth brings high-paying jobs, it also raises the cost of living for essential workers.
“We still need teachers, road crews, and other critical employees,” DeLisle said. “Programs like this can help keep housing attainable for the people who make our community run.”
