Chris Gannon
@chris-gannon.bsky.social
Architect bopping around Austin, advocating for more housing, better buildings, and walkable neighborhoods
Reposted by Chris Gannon
James Talarico: These predatory social media algorithms elevate the most extreme voices to provoke our outrage.
Billionaires are engineering our emotions so they can profit off of our pain.
These platforms want us at each other's throats because those billionaires benefit.
Billionaires are engineering our emotions so they can profit off of our pain.
These platforms want us at each other's throats because those billionaires benefit.
December 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
James Talarico: These predatory social media algorithms elevate the most extreme voices to provoke our outrage.
Billionaires are engineering our emotions so they can profit off of our pain.
These platforms want us at each other's throats because those billionaires benefit.
Billionaires are engineering our emotions so they can profit off of our pain.
These platforms want us at each other's throats because those billionaires benefit.
On Oct 13, the Austin BOA accidentally rewrote the city’s housing rules late at night by declaring attic space over 6' high = floor area, even if it’s unfinished, uninhabitable, and literally just insulation + HVAC.
A late add-on motion. No study. No notice. Now citywide policy
A late add-on motion. No study. No notice. Now citywide policy
December 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
On Oct 13, the Austin BOA accidentally rewrote the city’s housing rules late at night by declaring attic space over 6' high = floor area, even if it’s unfinished, uninhabitable, and literally just insulation + HVAC.
A late add-on motion. No study. No notice. Now citywide policy
A late add-on motion. No study. No notice. Now citywide policy
Reposted by Chris Gannon
From day one, this campaign has been about building an Austin that works for everyone.
We’ve made real progress
together — but there’s still more to do.
Grateful for everyone who believes in the road ahead.
We’ve made real progress
together — but there’s still more to do.
Grateful for everyone who believes in the road ahead.
August 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
From day one, this campaign has been about building an Austin that works for everyone.
We’ve made real progress
together — but there’s still more to do.
Grateful for everyone who believes in the road ahead.
We’ve made real progress
together — but there’s still more to do.
Grateful for everyone who believes in the road ahead.
Help get our single stair panel into SXSW, please give us a vote!
participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...
participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...
PanelPicker | SXSW Conference & Festivals
PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.
participate.sxsw.com
August 5, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Help get our single stair panel into SXSW, please give us a vote!
participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...
participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...
Let’s go Colorado!!! Great work by everyone involved especially @seanjurs.bsky.social who keeps showing us how it’s done.
Today, along with other housing advocates, I joined Colorado's @govofco.bsky.social as he signed his Smart Stair legislation legalizing 5-story single stair housing in the state.
Let's goooo
Let's goooo
May 14, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Let’s go Colorado!!! Great work by everyone involved especially @seanjurs.bsky.social who keeps showing us how it’s done.
Reposted by Chris Gannon
Austin architects have succeeded in promoting a new path for small lot infill and improving the city's housing quality
www.archpaper.com/2025/04/aust...
www.archpaper.com/2025/04/aust...
Austin City Council approves code change to allow single-stair construction
Earlier this month Austin City Council approved a code change that allows buildings up to 5 stories tall to be built with a single staircase. Among housing advocates and architects, single-stair refor...
www.archpaper.com
April 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Austin architects have succeeded in promoting a new path for small lot infill and improving the city's housing quality
www.archpaper.com/2025/04/aust...
www.archpaper.com/2025/04/aust...
I’ve been following the Transfer Tax in LA since I learned about it through @shanedphillips.bsky.social ‘s The Affordable City. Really interesting policy, I’m glad they’re working out the kinks.
Today the @uclalewiscenter.bsky.social published our analysis on Measure ULA's effect on multifamily housing production in Los Angeles — a report that has been more than a year in the making for me and my coauthor Jason Ward at RAND. A thread on our findings below. www.lewis.ucla.edu/research/tax...
Taxing Tomorrow: Measure ULA's Impact on Multifamily Housing Production and Potential Reforms
This research links Measure ULA to an 18% drop in multifamily housing production in Los Angeles, estimating 1,900+ fewer units annually since its implementation.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
April 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I’ve been following the Transfer Tax in LA since I learned about it through @shanedphillips.bsky.social ‘s The Affordable City. Really interesting policy, I’m glad they’re working out the kinks.
Reposted by Chris Gannon
The Texas House single-stair bill was left pending as the committee adjourned today. It was the very last bill to be read before the Easter break after a bruising voucher fight.
But that didn't stop @jamestalarico.bsky.social from showing up to speak passionately for the bill. Man doesn't quit!
But that didn't stop @jamestalarico.bsky.social from showing up to speak passionately for the bill. Man doesn't quit!
UPDATE: Montana's single-stair bill has passed both chambers and is moving to Governor Gianforte's desk.
The bill could serve as a model for future states seeking outright adoption six story single-stair building code amendments.
legiscan.com/MT/bill/SB21...
bsky.app/profile/sean...
The bill could serve as a model for future states seeking outright adoption six story single-stair building code amendments.
legiscan.com/MT/bill/SB21...
bsky.app/profile/sean...
April 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The Texas House single-stair bill was left pending as the committee adjourned today. It was the very last bill to be read before the Easter break after a bruising voucher fight.
But that didn't stop @jamestalarico.bsky.social from showing up to speak passionately for the bill. Man doesn't quit!
But that didn't stop @jamestalarico.bsky.social from showing up to speak passionately for the bill. Man doesn't quit!
Montana is blazing the way with Texas following close behind. @jamestalarico.bsky.social introduced HB5148 was heard at the LRM Committee and everybody loved it! Let’s go single-stair!
capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...
capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...
April 18, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Montana is blazing the way with Texas following close behind. @jamestalarico.bsky.social introduced HB5148 was heard at the LRM Committee and everybody loved it! Let’s go single-stair!
capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...
capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...
Reposted by Chris Gannon
Austin's Planning Commission just approved six-story single-stair! Hats off to @cityjane.bsky.social and @chris-gannon.bsky.social for their housing advocacy and code reform efforts
www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025...
www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025...
A once-banned type of building is back in favor – and the Planning Commission approves - Austin Monitor
The Planning Commission approved several proposed amendments to an amendment of the city’s Technical Building Code during a meeting March 25, all of which address a peculiar kind of development called...
www.austinmonitor.com
April 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Austin's Planning Commission just approved six-story single-stair! Hats off to @cityjane.bsky.social and @chris-gannon.bsky.social for their housing advocacy and code reform efforts
www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025...
www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025...
Reposted by Chris Gannon
This month's Architect's Newspaper includes a great feature on single-stair reform efforts to improving housing quality and affordability.
Included are interviews with @stephenjacobsmith.com @holz-bau.bsky.social @conradspeckert.bsky.social and Austin City Councilmember Chito Vela.
Included are interviews with @stephenjacobsmith.com @holz-bau.bsky.social @conradspeckert.bsky.social and Austin City Councilmember Chito Vela.
February 21, 2025 at 4:53 PM
This month's Architect's Newspaper includes a great feature on single-stair reform efforts to improving housing quality and affordability.
Included are interviews with @stephenjacobsmith.com @holz-bau.bsky.social @conradspeckert.bsky.social and Austin City Councilmember Chito Vela.
Included are interviews with @stephenjacobsmith.com @holz-bau.bsky.social @conradspeckert.bsky.social and Austin City Councilmember Chito Vela.
Reposted by Chris Gannon
This should really put some urgency behind Mass's single-stair reform work. 3/5 of those buildings in the picture can't be built without allowing six-story single-stair multifamily.
February 12, 2025 at 2:48 AM
This should really put some urgency behind Mass's single-stair reform work. 3/5 of those buildings in the picture can't be built without allowing six-story single-stair multifamily.
Memphis’s ‘Large Home’ amendment to the IRC is directly aimed at producing these.
A good, workhorse building we should build more of: Either 12 units for singles or 6 family-sized units. Everyone gets a balcony. Easily fits on a standard 5,000 square-foot lot. Fits around six parking spaces in the back. And yet, illegal to build in the typical US residential neighborhood.
February 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Memphis’s ‘Large Home’ amendment to the IRC is directly aimed at producing these.
Reposted by Chris Gannon
THE SHARED STREETS BILL JUST DROPPED!
SB 5595 legalizes a type of street (“woonerf” or “home zone”) common across Europe where cars, bikes, and pedestrians share the same space but speed limits are low and pedestrians are the priority. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
SB 5595 legalizes a type of street (“woonerf” or “home zone”) common across Europe where cars, bikes, and pedestrians share the same space but speed limits are low and pedestrians are the priority. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
January 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
THE SHARED STREETS BILL JUST DROPPED!
SB 5595 legalizes a type of street (“woonerf” or “home zone”) common across Europe where cars, bikes, and pedestrians share the same space but speed limits are low and pedestrians are the priority. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
SB 5595 legalizes a type of street (“woonerf” or “home zone”) common across Europe where cars, bikes, and pedestrians share the same space but speed limits are low and pedestrians are the priority. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
Reposted by Chris Gannon
Code that requires big elevators results in smaller apartment buildings forgoing elevators altogether, or if a code-compliant large elevator can be squeezed in, it raises the construction cost and eats up a big chunk of the building's space.
WA has a fix for that: SB 5156.
Hearing is tomorrow!
WA has a fix for that: SB 5156.
Hearing is tomorrow!
WA's elevator code reform bill, SB 5156, has it's first hearing this Friday.
It's a brand new idea and will need the support of experts who can explain why it matters for creating accessible, small-scale apartment buildings.
Register to testify or sign in pro:
app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/Senate?s...
It's a brand new idea and will need the support of experts who can explain why it matters for creating accessible, small-scale apartment buildings.
Register to testify or sign in pro:
app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/Senate?s...
January 17, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Code that requires big elevators results in smaller apartment buildings forgoing elevators altogether, or if a code-compliant large elevator can be squeezed in, it raises the construction cost and eats up a big chunk of the building's space.
WA has a fix for that: SB 5156.
Hearing is tomorrow!
WA has a fix for that: SB 5156.
Hearing is tomorrow!
Reposted by Chris Gannon
I hear a lot of truly bad housing takes and “the housing crisis is due to illegal immigration” is one of the dumbest fucking housing takes I’ve ever heard
October 2, 2024 at 2:13 AM
I hear a lot of truly bad housing takes and “the housing crisis is due to illegal immigration” is one of the dumbest fucking housing takes I’ve ever heard
Back when Blueskies was cool
September 23, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Back when Blueskies was cool
A little nap time reading
September 15, 2024 at 5:30 PM
A little nap time reading