The Dallas City Council approved Wednesday the establishment of a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone program, which will spur the creation and rehabilitation of affordable housing in Casa View and six other areas of the city.
The program will encourage homeowners and landlords in areas with rapidly rising property values to invest in their properties and receive help with a potentially higher tax bill. It will also incentivize new middle-income home construction on vacant lots, according to a news release District 9 Councilwoman Paula Blackmon posted on Facebook.
In these zones, developers, homeowners and landlords may qualify for development fee reimbursements and a 10-year city tax abatement if they do one of the following:
- Build a new home on a currently vacant lot and sell it to a household making at or under 120 percent of area median income (about $100,000 for a family of four)
- Spend at least $5,000 renovating their own home and have a household income at or under 120 percent area median income
- Spend at least $10,000, bring single-family or duplex rental units up to code and reserve it for households under 60 percent area median income (about $50,000 for a family of four)
In addition, for homeowner repairs and new construction, those in educational instruction, library occupations, health care practitioners, health care support occupations and protective service occupations, including firefighters and police officers, with a gross household income under 140 percent area median income are considered eligible households.
Staff will create an application process and organize community meetings this spring. The City will begin accepting applications this summer.
