The Plan
The City of Brownsville is leading a citywide housing plan to develop policies that will guide City actions and private investments that support attainable, quality housing opportunities for all Brownsville residents, while ensuring community voices remain at the center of the process.
What brought us here?
City of Brownsville's leadership identified the need for a set of top quality, visionary, data-driven, and community-led Long-Range Plans covering all major aspects of city life and socioeconomics, starting with the Downtown Renaissance Master Plan and Citywide Housing Plan.
Brownsville Housing Plan Objectives
The City of Brownsville, with the support of HR&A Advisors and Tecolotl, is taking a comprehensive look at the community's current and future housing needs.
Evaluate Brownsville's evolving housing needs to meet resident demand and housing preferences
Activate partners and stakeholders to collaboratively address the city's housing needs
Develop community-driven strategies and tools that will have the greatest impact
Utilize findings to serve as a resource and guide future City-led plans and strategies
What this plan will and won't do.
This Plan Will
- Assess Brownsville's housing market
- Project housing needs through 2035
- Recommend a concrete menu of strategies — financing, land use, zoning reform, and public-private partnership
- Engage residents and the full community to determine priorities through public events, surveys, and bilingual outreach
- Establish goals and a way to track progress
This Plan Won't
- Build or directly fund housing
- Rezone land
- Replace housing agencies, nonprofits, or developers
- Solve all affordability challenges overnight
- Serve as a development permit or approval
A 10-month plan: April 2026 – January 2027.
Map the current housing ecosystem and align with city leadership on scope, priorities, and engagement plan.
Informed by community, practitioners, and partners.
The plan will be informed by a range of stakeholders, housing practitioners, and community members.
Technical Committee
Group of ~10 leaders across public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Community Open Houses
4 interactive public events to share information and gather community input.
Public Input Website
An open website that shares housing plan updates, needs assessment findings, and gathers community input.
Event Tabling
Interactive activities at community events.
Stakeholder Interviews
One-on-one or small group interviews with key housing and community stakeholders.
Join us as we kick off the plan.
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City Commission Briefing
June 2 · 5:00pm — 1001 E Elizabeth St, Brownsville TX 78520
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Public Kickoff
June 3 · 12:00pm — Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1312 E Adams St, Brownsville TX 78520
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Tabling at First Friday
June 5 — Interactive activity to share updates and gather community input.
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Tabling at Farmer's Market
June 6 — Interactive activity to share updates and gather community input.
Led by the City, supported by partners.
HR&A Advisors
HR&A Advisors leads the analytical and strategy work behind the Plan — drawing on a national real estate, economic development, and public policy practice to translate Brownsville's market data, community priorities, and policy options into a clear, actionable Housing Plan.
Tecolotl
across languages. with community. for transformation.
Guided by language justice, leadership development, and grassroots organizing principles, Tecolotl connects and empowers communities, organizations, and institutions to envision and enact the places where they want to live and thrive.
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