The City of Austin Housing Department has announced the opening of Burnet Place Apartments, a new housing development located at 8007 Burnet Road on the city’s North Side in District 4. The property is strategically situated close to high-frequency transit and is less than a mile from one of the Imagine Austin activity centers. Imagine Austin is the city’s 30-year comprehensive plan aimed at creating communities where people can live, work, shop, and recreate without traveling long distances. The new 61-unit residence will be reserved for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
“We are excited about the new residences at Burnet Place. This is truly a unique community designed to address an important but often overlooked need here in the city,” said Mandy DeMayo, Interim Director for the Housing Department. “The housing and other supportive services offered at Burnet Place will provide stability to individuals living with AIDS/HIV and help address the city’s overall goals to reduce homelessness.”
Of these affordable units, 12 will be allocated for those at or below 30 percent of the median family income (MFI), another 12 units for those at or below 40 percent MFI, while the remaining 37 units will be for those at or below 50 percent MFI. Nine units are set aside for residents designated as chronically homeless. Project Transitions is both the developer and property manager and will provide wrap-around supportive services through collaborations with several community partners.
Jeannie Swink, Chief Programs Officer for Project Transitions, emphasized that such housing initiatives contribute significantly toward ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. “Connecting people living with HIV to medical care is an essential step in that process. It’s difficult to maintain treatment adherence without stable housing,” Swink stated.
Total construction costs for the residence were slightly over $18 million, funded through various sources including approximately $6.3 million from Austin Housing Finance Corp., which utilized General Obligation Bonds ($3.6 million), Housing Trust Fund ($457,083), and HOME Funds from HUD ($2.2 million). An additional $9.3 million came from Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), along with contributions from Moody Foundation, private grants, fundraising efforts, and HOPWA funding from Austin Public Health.
Lew Aldridge, Campaign Co-Chair for Project Transitions expressed gratitude for the funding support received: "Now that this project is built and paid for, it will serve Austin for generations to come," he said.
For more information on accessing affordable housing and community resources in Austin, visit www.austintexas.gov/housing.