AIA Austin Advocacy Update – August 2026
The monthly Advocacy Update summarizes the advocacy efforts of AIA Austin, led by the Advocacy Commission and its three Tactical Committees.
The Advocacy Commission coordinates systematic efforts to promote our expertise and identify audiences, venues, and mediums to advance the values of our organization. To get involved, please join the committee email list(s) using the links below.
2026 Public Role & Advocacy Commissioner: Jason John Paul Haskins, AIA
ADVOCACY TACTICAL COMMITTEES AT-A-GLANCE
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CALL FOR DOG’S HEAD REGULATING PLAN WORKGROUP
AIA Austin Advocacy is forming a joint committee work group to study and propose amendments to the upcoming Dog’s Head regulating plan. This is an opportunity to collaborate with the Planning Commission and help shape the development of 2,600 acres of new city land. We need your ideas! Please reach out to chris@shamsgannon.com if you are interested in joining!
AIA AUSTIN ADVOCACY RECOMMENDS
DESIGN EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE + BEC SYMPOSIUM
August 27-28
Commons Conference Center
Under the theme FLUID, AIA Austin’s Design Excellence Conference includes many sessions presented or organized by our Advocacy Committee members, plus a few more we highly recommend on topics that our Tactical Committees are deeply engaged with:
- Antitrust Law, Construction Consolidation, and the Fight for Neighborhood-Scale Architecture
- Design for Decarbonization
- Designing for What’s Next: AEGB’s Updated Residential Ratings
- Letting the Land Lead: How Site Cues Inform Design
- New frontiers in Building Code Reform across Texas
- Together We Adapt: Architects, Allies, and the Networks That Make Cities Resilient
- Water Resilience: Big Picture – Flooding, Drought, and Land Scaping
- Water Resilience: Opportunities for On-site Water Reuse
- Water Resilience: Source & Re-Source
- What Water Do: Budgeting Building Moisture in Humid Climates
- Why Advocacy Matters for Decarbonization of Buildings?
VIEW DESIGN EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE DETAILS & REGISTER HERE
COMMITTEE INITIATIVES
Housing Advocacy
Focuses on zoning reforms and legislative fixes to improve housing stock and preservation.
Wins
- Dog’s Head Workgroup forming (see above).
- Houseplex passed! Writing progress underway, expecting December adoption; will engage with writing as much as possible.
Active Priority Issues
- City-wide Density Bonus
- Houseplex
- Missing Middle and Mixed Use Zoning
- Looking at State Bills for next session
- Setback Reform
Tracking Issues
- Review of proposed legislation for next state lege session
- 2026 Housing Bond Election
- Austin Housing Department / AHFC Monitoring and Compliance
- STR Regulations
- SMART Housing Updates
- Affordability Unlocked Updates
- AffordabilityImpact Statements
- Green Social Housing
- Elevator Reform
Resiliency & Climate Response
Addresses environmental impact, resource management, and climate-conscious design standards.
Wins
- Water track of presentations at the Design Excellence Conference this week (see above)
- Tour of PDC on-site water systems (collab with COTE) was very well attended
Active Priority Issues
- Collab with COTE to expand water-oriented programming for 2026
- Resilience integration for new Design for Center
Cross-Advocacy Collaboration
- Dog’s Head Annex – moving quickly, workgroup forming (see above); Resiliency to address flooding, green infrastructure
- September Green Infrastructure roundtable
- Track E. 51st street bond-funded project design
- Barton Springs Bridge
- Streetscape & Green Infrastructure design standards
Mobility Advocacy
Focuses on transportation infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly streets, and major urban corridor planning.
Wins
- Downtown Density Bonus Program’s Urban Design Standards: City will re-engage AIA Austin and other stakeholders this fall to refine standards
- I-35 Cap & Stitch: City funding secured for roadway elements of 14-acre vision
- Streetscape Standards Update Resolution passed by Council
- Barton Creek Road Bridge: Proposed demolition delayed due to significant pushback and proposed landmarking of the bridge
Active Priority Issues:
- Great Streets Update
- I-35 Frontage Road Street Trees and Urban Design Improvements
- Citywide Transportation Criteria Manual Updates by TPW
- First/Last Mile Transit Access Streets
Tracking Issues:
- ACT Plan Implementation & Two-Way Reversions
- CoA 2026 Bond Package / Budget
- Dog’s Head Planning
- Downtown Density Bonus Program Phase II
- Collaboration with Austin Outside
- Barton Creek Road Bridge: Multimodal Improvements and Preservation
- Curbside Management Plan
- Central City District Plan
- MoPac South Expansion
- Project Connect
- I-35 Cap & Stitch
- East 51st Street Project
- CoA New Planning Director
GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to get involved in advocacy with AIA Austin, from listening in on committee meetings or just reporting issues to working on tactical committee issues or giving public testimony. We encourage anyone to explore advocacy, regardless of experience or time available. To get started, consider joining a Tactical Committee, attending an event, or engaging with one of these current opportunities:
- SUBMIT AN ISSUE: AIA Austin Advocacy Intake Form – Please tell us what you are concerned about in local government and the built environment.
- SIGN UP AS AN AIA AUSTIN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. Are you interested in assisting with advocacy and outreach but don’t have time to join a committee? Looking for a way to share your expertise and experience with other members and the general public? Sign up as a Subject Matter Expert to let us know your interests and areas of expertise, and we will contact you when requests for experts on your topics when they come up.
- TACKLE URGENT ISSUES WITH AIA NATIONAL: Your voice matters! AIA speaks directly with lawmakers, manages coalition partners, makes statements, gives testimony, and organizes official public comments, but we also need the voice of constituents speaking to their lawmakers, explaining why these policies matter at home. That’s where you come in. Visit the AIA Action Center to find ways to push forward the policies important to you.
ADVOCACY EVENTS
SEPT 14
Candidate Forum – Registration Now Open!
Presented by AIA Advocacy and Austin Housing Coalition. Candidates for the open City Council seats will share their positions on various issues related to housing affordability, planning, and development.
5:00-8:00pm at Assembly Hall
Free
MORE INFO & REGISTER HERE