What’s New

 

Colony Park Sustainable Community Development Agreement Signed

The City of Austin is pleased to announce the signing of the Colony Park Sustainable Community Development Agreement with CDC Colony Park Holdings, LP, an affiliate of Catellus Development Corporation (Catellus). This agreement paves the way for the development of 208-acres of City-owned land as a master-planned community, including essential services, public amenities, and diverse housing options. To view the Development Agreements and Exhibits reference the document tab. 

Council authorizes updates to the negotiated terms of a comprehensive development agreement

At the May 30, 2024 meeting, council approved several, budget, policy, and land development code updates to support the development of the Colony Park Sustainable Community.  Additionally council authorized updates to the negotiated terms that will lead to the execution of a comprehensive development agreement, and set a public hearing date of July 18, 2024 for council to consider approval of the final project and financing plan. 

 

Colony Park Highlighted at the Annual Fair Housing Conference

The City of Austin, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) hosted their annual conference on April 16 - 17, 2024.  Austin community members, local municipal employees, and other fair/affordable housing stakeholders participated in the conference. A bus tour of the Colony Park Sustainable Community hosted by Community Stakeholders, City Staff, and Catellus Development Corporation, coupled with a panel discussion around the proposed development, served as the keynote event the first day of the conference.  

 

Council authorizes the negotiation and execution of a comprehensive development agreement

At the November 30, 2023 Council Meeting, Council approved Item No. No. 20231130-013 , which authorizes the negotiation and execution of a comprehensive development agreement and all other documents and instruments necessary or desirable with Catellus Development Corporation, for the development of 208 acres of City-owned land located at 7900 Loyola Lane, known as the Colony Park Sustainable Community.

 

Council approves to amend the planned unit development (PUD)

At the November 30, 2023 Council Meeting, Council approved Ordinance 20231130-107 , which amends City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 7900 Loyola Lane to amend the planned unit development (PUD) zoning district.  The zoning amendment secures the goals and aspirations of the Colony Park Sustainable Community vision to achieve Council's priorities as informed by over a decade of community engagement with stakeholders in existing adjacent neighborhoods.

 

Colony Park Sustainable Community Bus Tour with Council Members

On November 13, 2023, City staff, Catellus, and community stakeholders participated in a bus tour with City Council Members, to learn about the history of the community, the proposed Colony Park Sustainable Community PUD rezoning & related land use plan, and community benefits.

 

Planning Commission recommends amendment to the planned unit development (PUD) 

At the October 23, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting, the Commission recommended the Colony Park Sustainable Communities Initiative Plan Unit Development (PUD) zoning amendment for City Council consideration.

 

Colony Park Sustainable Community Bus Tour with the City Manager’s Office

On September 15, 2023, City Staff and Community Stakeholders along with the City Manager’s Office (CMO) took a bus tour of the Colony Park Community, to learn about the history of the community, and the proposed Colony Park Sustainable Community. Concerns were also raised about a lack of city resources to address basic municipal services within the existing communities.  Following the tour, the City Manager’s Office allocated the necessary resources to address the concerns.

 

Council authorizes Phase 2 predevelopment services for Colony Park Sustainable Community   

At the November 3, 2022 City Council meeting, the Economic Development Department was authorized to amend the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Catellus Development Corporation for the Colony Park Sustainable Community. Council’s authorization provides $2,600,000 in funding for Phase 2 predevelopment services and allows the parties to continue negotiations towards the execution of the Master Development Agreement. A legal services agreement was also approved related to real estate documents necessary for negotiations. 

 

Council authorizes creation of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone for Colony Park Sustainable Community 

At the November 3, 2022 City Council meeting, Council also approved held a public hearing and approved an ordinance authorizing the creation of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 20 for the Colony Park Sustainable Community as a key component of the funding strategy. A TIRZ is a financing tool enabled by Texas Tax Code to encourage economic development within a defined geographic area or zone. A TIRZ for Colony Park would provide a means of financing the costs of public works, public improvements, programs, and other projects benefiting the zone.  

 

Council affirms the Colony Park Sustainable Community is a top priority. 

On March 24, 2022, Council passed a resolution affirming the Colony Park Sustainable Community is a top priority and provided direction regarding funding, development, and cooperation with other entities related to the project.  The approved resolution directed the City Manager to, using all resources that may be necessary, bring forth the finalized Master Development Agreement and the public finance plan and funding strategy recommendations to Council for consideration no later than end of the 2022 calendar year.  The resolution further directs the City Manager to submit a formal request for Travis County and Austin Transit Partnership to participate in the Colony Park Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). Read the feature on the KXAN website.   

 

U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett selects Colony Park Health and Wellness Center for Community Project Funding  

U.S. Representative Doggett included City of Austin projects among ten projects the congressman advanced as part of his office’s Community Project Funding Requests and President Biden signed the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill into law on March 15, 2022. The Colony Park Sustainable Community Health and Wellness Center infrastructure project will be the beneficiary of $1 million dollars in earmark funding.  The City of Austin will use the federal funding to develop the water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needed to fulfill the City's responsibilities to provide the utilities on the parcel of land before it is conveyed to Central Health for its development of the Colony Park Health & Wellness Center.  The infrastructure developed for the Health & Wellness Center will serve current residents of Colony Park and serve as the catalyst to fully develop and complete the remainder of the Colony Park Sustainable Community.   

 

City and Central Health sign Purchase and Sale Agreement for first parcel in the Colony Park Sustainable Community 

On January 4, 2022, the City of Austin and Central Health executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for 2.28 acres of land in the Colony Park Sustainable Community.  The PSA allows Central Health to acquire land suitable for the design and construction of a Health and Wellness Center.  On January 31, 2022, the City and Central Health executed the Interlocal Agreement (ILA). The ILA authorizes Central Health to reimburse the city to fund their proportionate share of the design and construction of the required public infrastructure.  The ILA also authorizes Austin Public Health (APH) and Austin Public Library (APL) to reimburse Central Health for services provided by their Architecture and Engineering Consultants for preliminary design and cost estimating services necessary to establish long term lease terms for consideration.  An Overview Presentation and the Purchase and Sale Agreement are available for download. Read the feature on the KXAN website.    

 

2020 Updates

 

City Enters into Exclusive Negotiations with Catellus Development Corp.

The Economic Development Department signed an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Catellus Development Corporation (Catellus) for the Colony Park Sustainable Community project on May 12, 2020. When complete, the project is expected to feature a mix of housing types, retail and office space, a transit center, and an innovation district. The Colony Park Sustainable Community will be the largest redevelopment of city-owned land since the Mueller project.  

The Exclusive Negotiation Agreement ends the solicitation process and anti-lobbying/no contact requirements between the Economic Development Department, Catellus, and community partners. It also establishes a two-year time frame for the City and Catellus to perform due diligence and negotiate a Master Development Agreement for the Colony Park Sustainable Community project.  

 

Nearby City Initiatives

Colony Park Loop Drive: The City of Austin is conducting preliminary and design-phase work to connect two existing Colony Loop Drive sections as part of the 2016 Mobility Bond Program. Ultimately, improvements would create a continuous connection between Loyola Lane and Decker Lane through the Colony Park Sustainable Community project site and existing adjacent neighborhoods. The project will also provide critical connectivity for residents and visitors of the Colony Park/Lakeside Neighborhood to access Volma Overton Elementary, Turner-Roberts Recreation Center, and Colony Park District Park. In September 2020, over 2,500 residents in the area received a newsletter regarding updates on the project.

This project is a partnership between the Economic Development Department and Corridor Mobility Program Office in support of the Colony Park Sustainable Community vision.

 

City Enters into Exclusive Negotiations with Catellus Development Corp.

The Economic Development Department signed an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Catellus Development Corporation (Catellus) for the Colony Park Sustainable Community project on May 12, 2020. When complete, the project is expected to feature a mix of housing types, retail and office space, a transit center, and an innovation district. The Colony Park Sustainable Community will be the largest redevelopment of city-owned land since the Mueller project.  

The Exclusive Negotiation Agreement ends the solicitation process and anti-lobbying/no contact requirements between the Economic Development Department, Catellus, and community partners. It also establishes a two-year time frame for the City and Catellus to perform due diligence and negotiate a Master Development Agreement for the Colony Park Sustainable Community project.  

 

Colony Loop Drive Virtual Public Meeting

The Austin Economic Development Department and Corridor Mobility Program held a virtual Public Meeting on Thursday, December 3, 2020 to discuss design updates and next steps to the Colony Loop Drive project. Prior to the meeting, a detailed Colony Park letter (PDF, 478 KB) was sent to residents living near Colony Loop Drive by the Austin Transportation Department.

If you missed our meeting, please see information below:


Quick Colony Loop Drive Project Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Will we see the project design before it goes for permit? Yes, the 90% will be presented to the community before permitting is final.  This should occur in early summer 2021.
  • When will the project be constructed? At this time there is not a funding source identified for construction of the project.  It is a high priority for the City of Austin to identify construction funds within the next 3 years.  The community will be updated as soon as the project is funded.