THE ASSAULT ON SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURTS

In Texas, single-family neighborhoods have come under attack from two different directions.

First, short-term rentals, which are nothing but mini-hotels, invaded many single-family residential neighborhoods, including in Arlington in the late 2010s. This invasion threatened to upend the sense of safety, community and belonging in neighborhoods -- as long-term residents folks knew and trusted were supplanted by a revolving door of total strangers. In 2019, the Arlington City Council took decisive action by banning these mini-hotels in all single-family residential neighborhoods, except in a defined Entertainment District.  STR front groups have tried in several legislative sessions to void our STR ordinances and those adopted by other cities.  They will be back.

Second, in the 2023 and 2025 legislatures, bills were introduced, and nearly passed, that would have killed single-family zoning in all or at least all large, cities. Texas Neighborhood Coalition, of which Dave is a co-founder was able to beat back these bills.  However, it is clear that those who wish to upend traditional single-family neighborhoods are preparing for a similar attack in 2027.

Dave will cover both threats to single-family neighborhoods in his presentation and of course take questions.