Site Characteristics—Proximity to Transit
Projects located in a "high opportunity" area,
near a bus transfer center or commuter rail stations, may be eligible for a
boost of up to 30% to their eligible basis for computing the amount of federal
9% low-income housing tax credits at the property.
Applicants can also earn 4 points in the competition for
tax credits for their proximity to amenities, including being within a
quarter-mile of a mass transit stop, as part of the Site Characteristicssection
of Texas' qualified allocation plan (QAP).
Site Characteristics—Walkability
Applicants for projects can earn 4 points for their
proximity to amenities, including being within a mile of services like schools
or shopping.
Project Construction—Energy-Efficient Construction
Projects that win federal renewable energy tax credits
may also be eligible for the 30% to their eligible basis.
Applications can also earn up to 6 points under the Green
Building part of the state's scoring criteria by including green features such
as water and energy conservation, submetered utilities, and recycled building
materials.
Likelihood of Success Without Sustainable Development
Applicants can earn a total of 10 points for a variety of
sustainable development practices in Texas's 240-point competition for tax
credits.
Trends, Changes
Many of these green criteria were put in place in the
2009 QAP and were not substantially changed for 2010. Most stakeholders, including
the development and investment community, seem pleased with how the criteria
are working, according to state officials.