[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6640580,"mediaKeyId","2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40","parentId",2555902,"title","Housing Authority updates: Rosewood, Santa Rita and Chalmers redevelopment progress and resident protections","audioSeconds",233,"startMs",1533000,"endMs",1766000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40&start=1533&end=1766","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40/thumbnail_1533000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6640580/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Housing-Authority-updates-Rosewood-Santa-Rita-and-Chalmers-redevelopment-progress-and-resident-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640580-a3261553ea4e2452c539f97599eed898/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812480&Signature=jBmneTVf5yrPtk7SaShYwcA374zBUgoNF4AiAh32Jh57nUxra21ZIBOEM6tMJHPStoAddHa~fd8MvZj9N93c~sLVPb1oHD6MUUf2VlolRZ22FtJ-kHCXIAZM6WNiEsPsmTRSHY~hPVTdEiexPBOCHXGImOD191H0iMO-2BqB2sHUf5JpnQKxiGvX1YwSx-SZC1sgla6Gk-rLGrsV7hqbe4JjSYqF57pzvRAHs3RAxxxYKXiWeiKo4svXUpz72PvcrxfPZ4Lc7K1jHfnyrgwREzIumk3eOt1ARtD8xEQ3z-yuX3cOdv~NFqlwX1We~l~Bi9o9pe-VvXx7gtABfWK2gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) presented March 11 to the Community Development Commission on the status of three public-housing redevelopment projects — Chalmers Courts, Rosewood Courts and Santa Rita Courts — including construction progress, preservation strategies, homeownership components and relocation protections.

Anne Gass, HACA’s director of strategic housing initiatives, said the redevelopment of Chalmers Courts is complete and occupied. She described Rosewood Courts as an active redevelopment featuring three program elements: new-construction rental buildings (adding capacity and modern systems), preservation and restoration of historically significant 1939 buildings, and a Habitat for Humanity–led homeownership component. Gass said the site will offer 184 rental units plus 12 homeownership units (a total of 196 units), restoring previously existing units on a one-for-one basis while adding about 60 new rental units.

Gass described preservation work at Rosewood that restores exterior features to the 1939 appearance under the direction of a historic architect and removes legacy lead-based paint safely. The homeownership component — 12 duplex-style units developed with Austin Habitat for Humanity and marketed under a name HACA calls Prospect Heights — includes eleven three-bedroom homes and one four-bedroom home. Sales prices cited in the presentation were approximately $156,000 for three-bedrooms and $182,000 for a four-bedroom; HACA said sales are targeted at households roughly in the 60–80% area median income (AMI) range with HACA families receiving priority.

Gass also described Rosewood’s historical significance: the site is tied to early East Austin Emancipation Park history and HACA has secured a heritage-preservation grant to create a commemorative park and a “welcome center” with augmented/virtual reality historical programming in partnership with local nonprofit e4Youth.

On Santa Rita Courts, Gass said HACA received a competitive award of 9% federal low-income housing tax credits for a western portion of the site (phase 1) that will include roughly 96 new units and a high-quality pre-K/daycare operated in partnership with Mainspring Schools. HACA said the site plan envisions a second phase with approximately another 96 new units and preservation/renovation of historic bungalow units, with potential use of historic tax credits to offset preservation costs.

For Santa Rita, Gass provided a relocation timeline: staff expect relocation outreach to start in the third quarter of 2025 and finish in the first quarter of 2026; construction is scheduled to begin in mid‑2026 with first units available late 2027. HACA said relocated residents receive moving-cost coverage, security-deposit assistance and individualized relocation support, and those residents will have first right to return. Gass said the housing authority’s resident-protection team coordinates individual moves, works with recipients on lease timing and monitors lease renewals and other barriers that might prevent a resident from exercising the right to return.

Commissioners pressed HACA staff on unit mixes, affordability tiers and waiting-list processes. Gass said Rosewood will open a wait list in about 60 days and that the initial right to return is reserved for relocated former residents; HACA is purging older waiting-list records and will notify applicants if they wish to remain on the list. Commissioners raised concerns about AMI thresholds for homeownership units (60–80% AMI) and whether that excludes many working-class essential workers; HACA staff said Habitat and HACA provide pre‑purchase counseling and down-payment assistance paths and that sales prices reflect construction costs and available subsidies.

Commissioners asked about lessons from Chalmers: Gass said Chalmers achieved a greater-than‑80% return rate and credited extensive resident engagement and choice in the relocation process for that outcome. Commissioners requested site tours of redevelopment projects; HACA staff said tours can be arranged and that staff would coordinate a commission visit in mid‑construction.

HACA’s presentation included renderings, unit counts by bedroom size and an outline of preservation decisions. The authority said it will provide notice to commissioners when Rosewood’s wait list opens and offered to supply additional data requested by commissioners about waiting-list sizes and unit-type breakdowns.

The commission thanked HACA for the update and said it will monitor relocation outcomes and unit affordability as projects advance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Community Development Commission - Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Housing Authority of the City of Austin told the Community Development Commission on March 11 that Chalmers Courts redevelopment is complete, Rosewood Courts is under active redevelopment with preservation and a Habitat for Humanity homeownership component, and Santa Rita Courts will be redeveloped in two phases with resident protections and an on-site pre-K.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640583,"City staff report CSBG spending, food distribution and eviction-prevention numbers at March 11 CDC meeting",88,637000,725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40&start=637&end=725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40/thumbnail_637000.jpg","/articles/6640583/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-staff-report-CSBG-spending-food-distribution-and-eviction-prevention-numbers-at-March-11-CDC-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640583-8ae58aaaa08d1d491aa6665812ded51e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812480&Signature=oK2Ty3183L4oaadp--olXpgiJFJIMOTjqh--4ZmdmHbN6m8Zlp~0~4D-JHUf4OcXhiLTJuHHnXjgaLgw4X4I6ZmHmfXV~M-Y2nuzmIC-KpGSneow15KC59B7j6UdQoM3P28mF12Xcaa-12Jt0PpQfS2N9G-rw2IZ5HpcGivtlCnMg5pojSk1JjsqJAVlSIpoNoOj6OPmKhVrA0lplpOoTVdPpRt4wZRSXO77UxJ5M6KPYGRmm8b6Zk5WzclN2j96kvnrsucLA3~HSuqzEvk3496LxC5TfL83kTs9~RVcJRypj07hy8oRwrzwDFlgGFAlOPOvIe46~dATKJS2~v1~Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the Austin Community Development Commission March 11 on monthly Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) activity, neighborhood-center services and program outcomes handled by the Neighborhood Services Unit.

Ankit, speaking for the Neighborhood Services Unit, said the CSBG funds services across Travis County and support local neighborhood centers that deliver basic needs assistance, preventive public-health services and employment supports. Staff reported the 2024 contract budget had an extension through March 31 and is approximately 91% expended; staff expect to fully expend remaining funds before the end of the extension.

Staff highlighted several performance datapoints tied to CSBG and related programs. The state’s annual transition-out-of-poverty goal for the city is 43 households; staff said the program had five recorded transitions so far this calendar year and met the full 43-goal in the previous reporting year. The Neighborhood Services Unit tracks transitions through a self-sufficiency case-management program that enrolls people under 125% of the federal poverty guideline and works with social workers on needs assessments, job-search support and training referrals.

On rental assistance, staff reported roughly $218,382 in rent-assistance payments processed for January–February, helping 160 people across 74 households avoid eviction. Staff said available local rent-assistance funding is limited — about $775,000 annually from city general-fund sources — and that the City had moved to process funds in-house rather than contract through Catholic Charities to improve efficiency.

Food support activities served 8,108 people so far this year through a combination of food pantries, smaller distributions and ongoing programs (including Fresh Food for Families and partnerships with the Central Texas Food Bank). Staff said lower totals compared with the prior year reflected center closures tied to HVAC renovations and related disruptions to larger mass distributions.

Staff provided local program context and administrative notes: CSBG supports personnel costs and funds 13 positions out of an NSU staff of roughly 40, the CSBG-funded services include public-health nursing hubs (blood-pressure and blood-sugar screenings at community locations such as the Consulate of Mexico, Garcia Rec Center and Colin Guerrero Senior Activity Center), and the unit has conducted outreach and service programming at neighborhood food distributions.

Staff also gave an update on commission-related elections and membership: recent neighborhood-seat elections filled seats for St. John’s (Valerie Menard), Colony Park (Ebony Trice), South Austin (Cassandra Medrano) and East Austin (Sonia Martinez). The commission has formed a work group to create a process for future CDC elections and plans presentations on the proposed process later this spring.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about program thresholds, the definition of a “transition” out of poverty (three months of sustained employment at a living wage after case-management), funding origins and eligibility rules. Staff confirmed the CSBG grant is federal pass-through funding administered by the state and that the city’s approximately $775,000 annual allocation comes primarily from the city’s general fund supplement; staff said increasing that local allocation would require Council action.

Commissioners requested more details on waiting-list sizes and itemized unit counts for specific projects; staff agreed to follow up with those numbers in later reports.","Neighborhood Services Unit staff outlined Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) performance and neighborhood center activities, reporting near-full expenditure of last year’s contract extension and program outcomes including rent assistance, transitional case management, and food distributions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640587,"Community Development Commission urges Austin City Council to budget for equity-overlay recommendations",356,197000,553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40&start=197&end=553","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40/thumbnail_197000.jpg","/articles/6640587/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Community-Development-Commission-urges-Austin-City-Council-to-budget-for-equity-overlay-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640587-50e373acdc3caa1b7754979037ae7dc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812480&Signature=TsxMpmxVH-prmoGtw6h5dhbDkBVGgEvUpNFfSlkMwdeK22AOUGkq8jtxhNpupK~phSwr-RN-AeKaD50ds8Q2waOTVGR-nECTMsofAdHrOM6u0X7VDHGAXiC9g0wzK3LBnxXLpqzxXkNQGbfz1Oygd4u7AewlQVT7YGHzKy8WxjsZ1JcnBQDqdYVUT-22aGKwJ63DrkvGbS8PnbbbEbMSA7eV3dQhsvmbmYDYYn6mgkXj2hsYXMWrYwucho~SVX0spXlH5PBh5Dw45kDOFhOX4Ttfk6Rp47l42WiPeCWHwVgScTg8JpkAIKug8Oh5or9AoLmoTUYybbSjpiCxaojnJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin Community Development Commission voted March 11 to send a budget recommendation to the Austin City Council asking the council to plan for funding needed to implement recommendations expected from an ongoing equity overlay feasibility study.

Commission Chair Elias read the commission’s recommendation aloud: “The Austin Community Development Commission received unprecedented testimony from the community supporting the equity overlay. An equity overlay would allow for vulnerable communities to have a voice in the development process in order to decrease the pressures from gentrification and displacement...The Austin Community Development Commission recommends that the Austin City Council plan for the budget implications that will come from implementing the recommendations that will come from this study.”

The commission’s action directs the City Council to “proactively allocate appropriate funding to properly plan for the anticipated recommendations.” Commissioners said staff drafted the language based on public testimony collected over the past year and consultations with other commissions and the Planning Department.

Commissioners acknowledged the recommendation does not include a dollar amount. Chair Elias and other commissioners noted the study’s findings, which the commission expects later, will determine the fiscal needs and that it was “extremely difficult and...impossible” to assign a precise number now. Commissioners also said staff had contacted the Planning Department about possible budget numbers but none were available by the March 11 deadline for the commission’s recommendation.

Commissioner Longoria moved to approve the recommendation; Commissioner Ortiz seconded. The motion passed; recorded discussion shows one abstention in the roll call.

The commission moved the budget recommendation earlier in the agenda so it could be submitted before the March deadline. Commissioners said they intend the request to ensure the council can plan proactively for potential program and staffing costs that might follow implementation of any equity-overlay measures.

The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Austin City Council as part of the City’s budget planning process; the commission did not specify exact funding levels or implementable line items pending the feasibility study’s recommendations.

The commission will continue to monitor the equity-overlay study’s timetable and follow up with further budget guidance if specific recommendations and cost estimates are made public.","The Austin Community Development Commission unanimously recommended the City Council proactively allocate funding to implement anticipated recommendations from an equity overlay feasibility study, after reading and voting on a budget recommendation at its March 11 meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640569,"Votes at a glance: March 11 Austin Community Development Commission meeting",421,123000,544000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40&start=123&end=544","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40/thumbnail_123000.jpg","/articles/6640569/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-March-11-Austin-Community-Development-Commission-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640569-de1d410e002ea4c465da2ab8ecfb6865/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812481&Signature=PUUmP6lH1tlfP4UH4xi7tv7PpAu4GcOLwIxZDf9A6-PxNzf4RLTEzAtlMcTaiF5Q151mpM1MRsRw-9U~xMtXueLawd2GPKRSImsrW14PPAxZniAVkuideXvsFRRfR5qk7Tahliy~25y4Vm9rpwiAN7vKtIX2xdAqZ8x4z2LGPRdZulJOicEjkBsDofUtz3cAWjdtj8O55Xw9~Lwq3M6guwcwdyJsmulJEN5dAwvgGJFiDHsNVe7jQY67lhemEf1q5Bya8CQjFjY94sxKR56Y8RGTV6CMDHwNt12KDO4teq0Fk2kvMEJrc9feh3lYKJLEdgk3nX5KNxOgM2QvkeYO2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Austin Community Development Commission recorded the following formal actions during its March 11 meeting.

1) Approval of February 11, 2025 meeting minutes
- Motion: Approve minutes from February 11, 2025 Community Development Commission meeting (as included in the packet).
- Mover: Commissioner Longoria.
- Second: Commissioner Achilles.
- Vote: Passed unanimously.
- Notes: Procedural approval recorded at the start of the meeting.

2) Budget recommendation regarding equity overlay (FY2025–26)
- Motion: Approve and transmit budget recommendation asking the Austin City Council to plan for and proactively allocate funding to implement recommendations from the equity overlay feasibility study (text read into the record by Chair Elias).
- Mover: Commissioner Longoria.
- Second: Commissioner Ortiz.
- Vote: Passed (recorded roll-call indicated one abstention).
- Notes: The recommendation was moved up on the agenda to meet the March deadline for submission to the mayor and council; no dollar amount was specified in the motion.

3) Establishment of a Housing Committee for the Community Development Commission
- Motion: Establish a Housing Committee (per CDC bylaws Article VIII) to explore in-depth policy issues related to affordable housing and community development.
- Mover: Commissioner Longoria.
- Second: Commissioner Tisha.
- Vote: Passed (show of hands recorded in the meeting).
- Notes: The commission established the committee; appointment of members and a committee chair will be made after officer elections at the April 8 CDC meeting. Bylaws require at least three committee members.

These formal actions were the only recorded votes taken at the meeting. Other agenda items — presentations from the Housing Authority, a CSBG program report and a briefing on possible federal HUD staff reductions — were presented for discussion and did not include formal commission votes.","The Community Development Commission approved prior meeting minutes, passed a budget recommendation on the equity overlay study and established a housing committee; motions and recorded outcomes are listed below.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640573,"City housing staff warn HUD staff cuts could threaten grant oversight and local programs",82,2464000,2546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40&start=2464&end=2546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555902-729cddb6ae513697eeaa2bad6d073c40/thumbnail_2464000.jpg","/articles/6640573/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-housing-staff-warn-HUD-staff-cuts-could-threaten-grant-oversight-and-local-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640573-8369d8ece4033f14f4fe21bc622e126a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812481&Signature=WKqpPb5erk0In2PaYIKCKgEmL7dKPX4qWXjrkXJ2xXTEsnGFkkfR5bjLQb0C0jkNHzpkRrLxaeorMrShBx5JO76ITRHmDSkbV~00UOJG0Ja0KpMdqHaWki1OahVKWrQDuWB~dIe6z4dDZW0F6qYahKnB25LfCJL5GF53S~WVte3Np360fHFMao22mcew-LWzwv8fF0wjYLVfFs9ZdC0YfUe48U4vEbZhE333QsSPDfsnZSWE~2pBwHUKA-M2U~HO07xWCGEE1QJHa21Wjbh-9A7u7QgwKe~ofnJsBQILXmZANMjZC-HX6xfCiLSHFgia729Yayokl2YjwVg4JzqXFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mandy DeMayo, interim director of the City of Austin Housing Department, briefed the Community Development Commission on March 11 about possible federal staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the potential implications for locally administered programs.

DeMayo told commissioners she had conveyed a memo to the Mayor and Council outlining concerns after media reports that HUD might significantly reduce staff. She said the Community Planning and Development (CPD) division — which oversees block grants such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, HOPWA, and ESG and the Continuum of Care process — had been cited in media reports as facing disproportionate cuts. DeMayo said the reported scenarios included CPD staff reductions from around 1,000 people nationwide to 50 in one office, and an 84% cut in one HUD division discussed in public reports; she emphasized the city had seen no formal funding cut notices at the time of the briefing.

DeMayo explained why CPD staffing matters locally: CDBG, HOME, HOPWA and ESG together account for about $14 million in federal flows to the City of Austin this fiscal year and fund programs such as minor home repair, public services through APH, down-payment assistance, tenant-based rental assistance for people experiencing homelessness and shelter operations. She said current-year grant agreements have been executed for the four block grants, but Continuum of Care grant agreements had been announced and not yet signed.

DeMayo said the city is monitoring national reporting, coordinating with the HUD San Antonio field office and preparing to adapt if formal notices arrive. She said local operations are “business as usual” but cautioned commissioners that staffing reductions at HUD could slow grant administration, processing of agreements and technical support that local agencies rely on.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the duration of grant agreements; DeMayo said the current grant agreements are annual and that the city typically plans year-to-year. She said staff will continue to brief the commission and the Council as new federal information becomes available.","City of Austin housing officials told the Community Development Commission that proposed staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Planning and Development division could hamper local grant administration but that operations are continuing while staff monitor federal developments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Housing Authority updates: Rosewood, Santa Rita and Chalmers redevelopment progress and resident protections

City staff report CSBG spending, food distribution and eviction-prevention numbers at March 11 CDC meeting

Community Development Commission urges Austin City Council to budget for equity-overlay recommendations

Votes at a glance: March 11 Austin Community Development Commission meeting

City housing staff warn HUD staff cuts could threaten grant oversight and local programs