Mayor Kirk Watson, City Of Austin | City Of Austin website
Mayor Kirk Watson, City Of Austin | City Of Austin website
The Austin City Council has authorized the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Austin (URA) to negotiate an exclusive agreement with the Pleasant Hill Collaborative for a mixed-use development on Blocks 16 and 18 on East 11th Street. The project, located in the African American Cultural Heritage District, aims to include affordable housing and other community benefits.
“This milestone for Blocks 16 & 18 marks a significant step forward in the City’s ongoing efforts to preserve cultural vibrancy, create economic opportunity, and expand affordable housing access,” said Mandy DeMayo, Interim Director of the Housing Department. “We are thrilled to see these plans create an anchor for the future of the African American Heritage and Cultural District.”
The development will cover approximately 2.02 acres downtown and feature public spaces designed to be welcoming for residents and the historic East Austin community. Rally Austin, formerly known as the Austin Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), facilitated pre-development feasibility studies, community engagement, and technical assistance throughout the process.
The Urban Renewal Agency highlighted Pleasant Hill Collaborative's comprehensive approach in its recommendation: “The proposed development team has demonstrated experience in executing projects on this scale, created a reasonable strategy for providing an option for public ownership in the near term as well as a structure that provides for increased public oversight, provided a variety of housing options to suit a broader range of stakeholders at various income levels, and has provided preliminary budget and cost information showing a commitment to include a significant inclusion of MBWBE firms from pre-development through the project outcomes.”
Pleasant Hill Collaborative includes Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation (GNDC), Servitas, TOPO, Creative CultureWorks, Carter Design Associates, Moody-Nolan, Forgecraft Architecture, and other local firms. The collaborative spent two years curating potential tenants such as arts and culture projects, nonprofits, commercial cultural professionals, and ethnic food businesses. Potential capital partners include JP Morgan Chase, Berkadia, WNC, Greystone (LITHC investors), and Regions.
Next steps involve negotiating details with Pleasant Hill Collaborative to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 with Phase I opening in 2027 and Phase II completing in 2029.
Block 16 will feature multi-family affordable housing units alongside retail spaces and rooftop amenities. Block 18 will include live/work townhomes and cultural venues adjacent to Victory Grill.
The City of Austin Housing Department focuses on equitable housing solutions while Rally Austin facilitates inclusive economic growth through real estate development projects.
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