McKinney To Hold Its First Affordable Housing Summit
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When it comes to growth, McKinney has been on a tear. All that growth, though, means the Collin County suburb might need to be more deliberate in its housing policy to address affordability issues.
To that effect, housing advocates and officials are putting on the first-ever McKinney Affordable Housing Summit next month. The event will bring together stakeholders to discuss solutions to the city’s workforce housing shortage.
“Affordable housing solutions can significantly improve workforce retention and recruitment by reducing commute times, increasing housing stability, and helping employees live closer to where they work,” summit organizers said in a press release. “Through collaborative initiatives, businesses and developers may also gain access to incentives and support from the City of McKinney to help bring workforce housing projects to life.”
Earlier this year, a city-commissioned report by the community planning firm Root Research Policy outlined where gaps in McKinney’s housing market are leading to affordability pressures on both renters and prospective buyers.
Rapid population growth and a sharp deterioration in affordability have resulted in surging cost burdens. Back in 2011, most single-family homes were priced under $200,000. Fast-forward to 2024, and less than 1% of single-family stock reflected that range. The majority of listings are easily above $400,000 now. Rents have also climbed, rising by 44% between 2015 and 2025, according to the report.
McKinney added more than 90,000 residents to its population in the last 15 years, clocking an estimated 227,500 residents in 2024. It’s currently the third-biggest city in Collin County behind Plano and Frisco.
The city has earned its share of attention from CandysDirt.com for its luxury highlights and high-end high-rises. While the development pipeline has become more diverse, lower-income households remain concentrated in multifamily and attached housing, with the city short some several thousand affordable units.
Despite the existing rental gaps documented by the city’s consultant, McKinney was ranked as the best city in the United States for renters to live in 2025.
According to the ranking, the growing Collin County suburb struck the right balance among overarching factors like cost of living and housing, economic opportunity, and quality of life. Underlying those broad categories were 20 metrics, such as average apartment size, share of high-end units, job growth, school ratings, and air quality.
Root Research Policy noted that McKinney has taken significant steps toward implementing a proactive housing strategy, but that more could be done, including aligning affordability goals across city departments, land banking, more voucher support, anti-displacement measures, zoning updates, and creating dedicated funding sources for housing programs, among others.
The summit is scheduled for April 13 at the McKinney ISD Community Event Center (4201 S Hardin Blvd.) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
McKinney Mayor Bill Cox will open the program with remarks on the city’s workforce housing needs, followed by a city housing update by Margaret Li, the city’s director of Housing & Community Development.
Panel discussions will offer a range of topics and expert insights from employers, advocates, and academics. Felicity Maxwell of Texans for Housing will provide a legislative outlook, and Cullum Clark of the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative will deliver the keynote address.
Registration is open at a cost of $50, with discounts available for nonprofit organizations.
The summit is being hosted by McKinney Front Porch, City of McKinney, McKinney Chamber of Commerce, McKinney Community Development Corporation, and McKinney Housing Authority.
