AIA Austin Advocacy Update – Oct 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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ADVOCACY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: MAYOR’S OFFICE |
| Each month, AIA Austin Advocacy and Leadership meet with the Mayor’s Office to provide input on emerging municipal issues, discuss infrastructure projects, mobility, and housing initiatives, and to weigh in on legislative priorities coming before the city council.
CURRENT PRIORITIES
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UPDATES FROM AIA NATIONAL |
AIA’s national advocacy efforts have been in full swing this year. Here is a small sample of recent examples of the organization leading in policy and public awareness of the role and benefits of architecture and architects.
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COMMITTEE INITIATIVES
Housing Advocacy
Focuses on zoning reforms and legislative fixes to improve housing stock and preservation.
Housing Advocacy would like to start a team to review the TX Lege bills we’ve been sent. Anyone interested in joining, reach out to Chris at chris@shamsgannon.com.
Wins:
- We’ve been participating in a national ICC comment session regarding bringing 4-units into the base IRC
- AIA Housing Forum video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2EPcp1vb0A
- Hosted info and discussion session with Austin Planning on draft of Mixed Use zones
- Supporting Dallas single-stair initiative
Active Priority Issues:
- City-wide Density Bonus
- Missing Middle and Mixed Use Zoning
- Houseplex (4 Units in IRC)
- Setback Reform
- Looking at State Bills for next session
Tracking Issues:
- 2026 Housing Bond Election
- Austin Housing Department / AHFC Monitoring and Compliance
- Affordability Unlocked Updates
- AffordabilityImpact Statements
- Green Social Housing
- Elevator Reform
Informational:
- California passed AB 2074 The Downtown Revitilization Act – https://cayimby.org/legislation/ab-2074/
- Courtyard Urbanism example for setback reform – https://courtyardurbanist.com/
- Best case for elevator reform, a must watch! – https://www.sightline.org/2026/01/11/video-fixing-north-americas-big-elevator-problem/
Resiliency & Climate Response
Addresses environmental impact, resource management, and climate-conscious design standards.
Wins:
- Advocacy Roundtable with Mobility: The Shade Imperative, well-attended with “many cooks in the kitchen.” Lots of follow-up with additional people reaching out saying they would have liked to also attend.
Active Priority Issues:
- Continue Shade Tree Discussion
- Water Reuse Strategy Working Group
- Resilience component and AEGB rating assistance for Design Austin (Center)
Tracking Issues:
- Barton Springs Bridge – Env Comm recommended Council reconsider demo
- Bird Friendly Design recommendations & COA adoption
- Dogs Head annexation – impacts to ecological health and other
- South MoPac – impacts to aquifer recharge and other
- Deconstruction ordinance strategies and policy
Mobility Advocacy
Focuses on transportation infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly streets, and major urban corridor planning.
Wins:
- Advocacy Roundtable: The Shade Imperative attended by a new and diverse audience representing Austin’s established urban planning stakeholders across many disciplines
Active Priority Issues:
- Great Streets Update
- Downtown Density Bonus Program: Phase II Urban Design Standards
- Citywide Code and Criteria Manual Updates by Green Infrastructure Working Group and TPW
- I-35 Frontage Road Street Trees and Urban Design Improvements
- First/Last Mile Transit Access Streets
Tracking Issues:
- ACT Plan Implementation & Two-Way Reversions
- Dog’s Head Planning (ASMP)
- Barton Creek Road Bridge: Multimodal Improvements and Preservation
- Central City District Plan
- Project Connect (Austin Light Rail)
- I-35 Cap & Stitch
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
OCT 16
Housing Book Club!
Housing Advocacy’s Book Club is back at it with Humanize by Thomas Heatherwick, first meeting on the 16th. Reach out to diego@chiocodesign.com for more information
OCT 19
Downtown Development and the Downtown Density Bonus program
3–4 p.m. | Virtual on Teams
Join AIA Austin and City of Austin Planning staff for a virtual discussion of the next phase of downtown development and the Downtown Density Bonus program. Following City Council’s adoption of Phase 1 in May 2026, Phase 2 will consider extending the program to the remainder of downtown and South Central Waterfront, along with revisions to the development and urban design standards adopted in Phase 1. Learn about the proposed changes, ask questions, and share your perspective.
RSVP HERE
OCT 28
Austin Housing Coalition Fall Happy Hour
Cosmic Pickle, 121 Pickle Rd, 78704
DETAILS COMING SOON
NOV 2
HCD Webinar: Architects as Housing Advocates: Lessons from Seattle and Austin
11AM-Noon | Virtual on Zoom
Join Matt Hutchins of AIA Seattle and Chris Gannon of AIA Austin to learn replicable strategies for successful policy campaigns and collaborations with local governments. Speakers will provide a behind-the-scenes look at transformative zoning, code, and design review reforms that support higher quality affordable housing and greater access to healthy neighborhoods, covering topics including missing-middle housing, single-stair reform, and construction costs.
RSVP HERE
NOV 2
Advocacy Roundtable: TX Lege 90th Session Preview
Noon-1:30PM | AIA Austin, 801 W 12th St. 78701
Bring your lunch; light snacks provided
REGISTRATION COMING SOON
NOV 12
AIA Austin Advocacy Fall Happy Hour
5:30-7:30 PM | Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya, 1600 E 6th St B, 78702
Join us for a casual post-election happy hour. Great for the advocacy-curious, first-timers, and jaded veterans alike.
NO RSVP NECESSARY