AUSTIN, TX – Austin City Council today 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, including affordable housing and other community benefits, on Blocks 16 and 18 on East 11th Street. Located in the heart of the African American Cultural Heritage District, Pleasant Hill Collaborative’s development proposal builds on many years of engagement and planning efforts (1990s through present day). 

“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,” explains 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.” 

On approximately 2.02 acres of land downtown, the vibrant mixed-use development will feature public spaces designed to be welcoming for residents and the historic East Austin community. The Rally Austin team, formerly the Austin Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), facilitated the pre-development feasibility and community engagement, facilitated the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, provided technical assistance to the Urban Renewal Agency, and provided technical review of the proposals. Building an inclusive environment, the final recommendation supports community values and reflects public input provided multiple times throughout the process while adding more than 100 affordable housing units. The process is further detailed in a separate memo from the Urban Renewal Board of the Urban Renewal Agency. All related solicitation materials are available online.

The Future of Blocks 16 & 18

The Pleasant Hill Collaborative proposal for Blocks 16 and 18 stood out for its comprehensive approach to residential, commercial, and public spaces. The Urban Renewal Agency noted 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 community organizations Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation (GNDC), Servitas, and TOPO, and is supported by Creative CultureWorks, Carter Design Associates, Moody-Nolan, and Forgecraft Architecture as well as many other locally based firms. It dedicated two years to curate a list of potential tenants featuring arts and culture projects, nonprofits, commercial cultural and creative professionals, and ethnic/culture-based food and beverage businesses. Potential capital partners include JP Morgan Chase, Berkadia, WNC, Greystone (LITHC investors), and Regions. Additional proposal details are included in the Pleasant Hill Collaborative presentation.  

As next steps, the Urban Renewal Agency, supported by Rally Austin, will negotiate and collaborate with Pleasant Hill Collaborative to achieve a project that best meets the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This ensures that future development will be a reminder of the legacy of the East 11th Street neighborhood and provide long-term opportunities for Black Austinites. 

Pending negotiation and financing approvals, construction for the sites is expected to begin in 2025 with a grand opening for Phase 1 in 2027 and Phase II complete in 2029.

Block 16 – East 11th Street & Curve Street