400-units may soon be made available for Houstonians whose income falls below the average median income. The Houston Housing Authority board voted to approve 13 new mixed-income housing developments.

The proposed mixed-income developments include both acquisition of existing apartment buildings and new construction, and locations are spread across Houston, Cypress and Spring. The housing authority is still negotiating terms with developers and the projects will be put back to the board for a vote when details are finalized.

The projects use so-called public utility corporations, which take properties off the tax list when developers make some units affordable. Public agencies, like the Houston Housing Authority, are the product of a 2015 law that allows developers to receive a 100 percent property tax reduction in return for charging below market rent.