About the Project

The St. John Site is located in the heart of the St. John neighborhood on the northeast corner of St. Johns Avenue and Interstate I-35 (800 E. St Johns Avenue).  With a rich history dating back to the 1890’s when it was established as a Freedman community, the St. John neighborhood has served as a pivotal anchor to the African-American community in Central Texas over the centuries.  The City of Austin acquired the St. John Site in the early 2000’s and in 2017, the City of Austin, with support from the University of Texas Center for Sustainable Development (CDS), worked with the community to establish a Council-adopted vision for the site, one that would serve current and future needs of St. John neighborhood residents.  In 2023, the City of Austin partnered with Greystar Development, LLC and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) to implement the community’s vision through a Public-Private Partnership.

To learn more about the City's actions and community engagement for the St. John Site, visit the City's website for the St. John Site. 

The St. John Site project team recently completed a community-storytelling effort to gather lived experiences from former and current St. John community members that document the story of the St. John Neighborhood.  Click here to see the final booklet.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What community benefits will the St. John Site have? 

526 units of rental housing, 50% of which will be affordable (263 units) to qualifying individuals making 50%-70% of the Austin Median Family Income.  It will also increase the size of the St. John Pocket Park from .79 acres to roughly 3.5 acres and provide for 15,000 square feet of commercial space focused on serving the needs of the St. John community.   

What is the status of the project? 

The St. John Site Redevelopment is currently working through final design of the park and permitting for the site and buildings.

Who is the St. John Project Team? 

The St. John Site Redevelopment is being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership between the City of Austin Financial Services Department and Greystar Development, LLC with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA).  Greystar’s design team includes Meeks + Partners, Lemmo Architecture and Design, and TBG Partners.  Community engagement for the project is being provided by Pink Consulting under the leadership of Bobbie Garza-Hernandez.   

What is the current timeline for the project? 

Click here for the updated timeline. 

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at St.John.Site@austintexas.gov