AUSTIN, Texas — A major transformation is coming to East Austin.
Austin City Council members greenlit the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) to move forward with negotiations with developer Pleasant Hill Collaborative to transform two blocks on East 11th Street – Blocks 16 and 18 – into new mixed-use buildings.
“This milestone for Blocks 16 and 18 marks a significant step forward in the city’s ongoing efforts to preserve cultural vibrancy, create economic opportunity and expand affordable housing access,” Mandy DeMayo, the interim director of the Housing Department, said in a press release.
Block 16, located on East 11th and Curve streets, would include multi-family affordable housing, retail spaces and a parking garage.
Block 18, located on East 11th and Waller streets, would "include live/work townhomes, exterior amenities and restaurants/cultural venues."
History is wrapped in the heart of East Austin, and while it's an area that is no stranger to gentrification, community staples such as Victory Grill, Hillside Farmacy and Sam's Bar-B-Q said it's a change they welcome.
Steven Gomes is the operations partner for Victory Grill. He believes there is no stopping gentrification.
"Look at all the major cities; they change and unfortunately the people have to change with it," Gomes said.
Gomes said affordable housing added to the development will help because when new builds come in, prices tend to skyrocket.
"During gentrification, they try to push out a lot of low income families, but at least they're kind of building homes for those people instead of pushing them all out and giving them a place that they can probably stay," Gomes said.
Sasha Loseva, who manages Hillside Farmacy, echoed Gomes' remarks.
"I'm glad that it's spreading in affordable housing and shops," Loseva said. "It's always nice to have extra business because again, they're going to be marketing themselves to bring more foot traffic in the area. So, hopefully, it brings those people our way."
Brian Mays runs Sam's Bar-B-Que on 12th Street and can recall the time when the neighborhood began to change.
"They didn't run nobody out. They bought everybody out," Mays said.
Mays has been at the family-owned business for 50 years and said he has no worries about the change. He only looks forward for the day his grandchildren take over.
In the meantime, he is excited to welcome new customers.
"It's gonna be good for me. Everybody is gonna come and meet me, and they're going to want BBQ," Mays said.
The developments will have a price tag totaling approximately $111 million. Construction could start as early as 2025, with a grand opening for Phase 1 in 2027 and Phase 2 to be completed by 2029, according to the city's Housing Department.
The memo for the project can be found at this link.
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