EPS provides rigorous analysis and insightful solutions to address complex challenges in real estate development, land use policy, and local government finance. We are motivated by the role our work can play in shaping places where people live and we strive to create high-quality urban environments that advance the principles of diversity, resiliency, and shared prosperity.
EPS offers a wealth of experience, robust technical expertise, and the ability to offer insightful solutions to address the challenges and opportunities of urban development.
EPS Managing Principal Jason Moody joined two other panelists to discuss issues and trends related to “Affordability in Green Economy”. Since 1991, CivicWell has convened a conference at Yosemite National Park for elected officials from across California to collaborate and build consensus on practical solutions to pressing issues facing the state. Jason’s presentation, entitled “California Dreaming or State of Insomnia” addressed the cross-cutting economic, demographic, and financial challenges facing the state and how elected officials can leverage their regional assets to address them.
To incentivize the production of affordable housing and other community benefits, the City of Austin has created over a dozen different density bonus programs over the past 20 years. Some programs apply to properties citywide, while others only pertain to specific districts or corridors. The City was interested in understanding the effectiveness of the various programs, and to refine them to achieve greater utilization by developers.
EPS used long-term parcel-level construction data to evaluate how successful each program has been in changing development patterns and delivering community benefits. EPS also engaged developers, land use attorneys, architects, and engineers to understand their experience using the density bonus programs and suggestions for improvement. In addition, EPS prepared case studies of density bonus programs in major cities throughout the country to explore similarities and differences in their intentions, implementation, and successes.
In February 2025, EPS presented to the City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee our findings and recommendations for improvements to individual programs and the City’s overall approach to density bonuses and community benefits programs. EPS is now assisting the City to amend certain programs, including financial analysis of the tradeoffs between the attainable added density and the cost of providing the community benefits.
