Image: Austin Independent School District
Efforts by the Austin Independent School District to repurpose one of its large land holdings for affordable housing development are moving forward, with a rezoning case for a nearly 20-acre AISD property in the Govalle neighborhood of East Austin known as the Anita Ferrales Coy Facility at 4900 Gonzales Street securing the approval of Austin’s Planning Commission earlier this week.
The rezoning, now scheduled for a hearing at Austin City Council’s upcoming July 18 meeting, would grant the property a vertical mixed-use designation under the city’s DB90 density bonus program, allowing the district’s contracted developer the NRP Group to pursue the construction of up to 700 units of multifamily workforce housing focused on the needs of AISD employees, including teachers, librarians, support staff, and maintenance workers. During the Planning Commission’s discussion of the rezoning at its meeting Tuesday, AISD director of real estate Jeremy Striffler explained that more than two-thirds of the school district’s approximately 10,000 employees describe themselves as cost-burdened by Austin housing prices, finding it increasingly difficult to afford living in the communities they serve.
The district’s plan for the Anita Coy Facility’s redevelopment would provide residences suitable for AISD employees by offering 350 of its homes at income-restricted rates under the terms of the city’s SMART Housing program, with the developers committing 40% of the total units at rates affordable at individuals or families earning no more than 80% of the regional median family income, and 10% of units affordable for earners at 60% MFI or less. Although under Fair Housing law the new residences at the Anita Coy site would be available to everyone, the developers will work with AISD to emphasize leasing units to its rent-burdened employees.
AISD is committed to maintaining ownership of the land and will enter into a long-term ground lease with the developers. Under this model, neither AISD nor its taxpayers incur any cost, expense, or increased taxes as a result of the redevelopment of the non-school facilities since the developers will be solely responsible for all costs of constructing, managing, and operating the housing, commercial, and associated amenities. Further, the multifamily housing portion of the development will be created under a public facility corporation model in order to ensure that a significant number of the housing units will be affordable.
The preliminary concept plan also includes new soccer fields and parks at the northeast end of the site. Some of the uses being considered for this area are additional playgrounds, a dog park, walking paths, and installed workout and sports equipment, all to be determined through ongoing discussions with the community.
Alongside new housing, the redevelopment of the property would provide public outdoor recreational space, a number of community commercial uses, and a new facility for the district’s Alternative Learning Center, which currently occupies a building at the site. With the rezoning of the property expected for approval at City Council next week, the district could potentially see a groundbreaking at the property by 2025.
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