North Austin News

The opening of a new mixed-income community in the East St. John neighborhood of Austin has been celebrated by the City of Austin Housing Department and its development partners. The community, located in the 1000 block of E. St. Johns Ave., includes six townhomes, three of which are income-restricted. Angela Means, Interim Deputy Director of the Housing Department, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, "It takes a village to create opportunity to provide stable housing so families can flourish."

The 'A at St. Johns' townhome community was made possible through funding from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and the Affordability Unlocked development bonus program. Conor Kenny, principal of Capital A Housing, emphasized the importance of leveraging these tools to increase low and moderate-income housing, saying, "Priced at under $250k, these new construction, home-ownership units are unprecedented within a 15-mile radius and the first of their kind."

Councilmember José ‘Chito’ Vela highlighted the significance of the affordable housing project in District 4, stating, "This is an excellent example of what partnerships between the public and private sector can accomplish; bringing affordable homes to those who need it close to all the amenities that central Austin has to offer."

The three affordable townhomes, priced at 80 percent of the median family income, have already been sold for $245,800. The remaining three townhomes are available at market rate. Reflecting on the community's history and the impact of the new development, Mudassir Ansari, Chief Operations Officer of Constructinople, remarked, "Today, at this ceremony, we are not just closing a chapter in construction; we are opening the doors to new possibilities for the families that are going to call the ‘A at St. Johns’ home."

The St. John's community, with its rich history, is located near essential amenities such as the St. Johns Community Center and the Austin Public Library. It also offers easy access to public transit. The completion of the units, which took about a year, marks a significant milestone in providing affordable housing in the area.

For those seeking more information on affordable housing in Austin, they are encouraged to visit www.austintexas.gov/housing. The development of the 'A at St. Johns' community is a testament to the ongoing efforts to address housing affordability and provide opportunities for families to thrive in the East St. John neighborhood.