Austin Scrap Yard on South Congress Closer to Becoming Condo Development

A south Austin scrap yard is one city council vote away from becoming a 33-condominium neighborhood.

In a city facing an acute housing shortage, the zoning and platting commission of the Lone Star State’s capital city signed off on a zoning change that will allow multifamily units to be developed at a scrap yard off South Congress Ave.

Even though the Austin metro area is building more homes than any other city in America, it still faces a shortage because the pace has not kept up with the city’s population growth.

The commission’s approval is the first step in Austin-based Thrower Design’s plan to build 33 condos on a 3-acre plot at 7901 Peaceful Hill Lane, which is owned by Austin chiropractor Jeffrey Fluitt.

It’s another win for developers looking to build denser housing in a city with relatively strict zoning regulations.

With the commission’s approval, the zoning change will be sent to the Austin City Council for a final vote.

According to an Austin Business Journal report, the plot was under contract and had been listed by Coldwell Bank Realty for $2.2 million.

Though Thrower Design’s plan to redevelop the plot is moving forward, it still faces opposition.

Some residents of the neighborhood are concerned about how structures 30 feet or taller near Peaceful Hill Lane will affect the look of the low-rise area, and asked to delay the commission vote.

“These are new cases that will forever inform how the neighborhood feels,” said Margaret Valenti, a representative of the Peaceful Hill Preservation Association. “More time is needed to work with the developer to come to a complete agreement,” she added.

Victoria Haase, a land planner with Thrower Design, however, pushed for the vote.

“We have been able to reach an agreement on some matters but not all,” said Hasse, a former senior planner with the city of Austin. “We will continue to work on some of those matters, but we would like to move forward this evening.”

As a condition of the approval, Thrower Design agreed to include 10 percent more parking than city regulations require.