About the Project
 

The City of Austin owns more than 100 acres of land near the intersection of Grove Boulevard and East Riverside Drive. We are launching a community driven visioning process to identify the types of community benefits that should be prioritized as we explore how this site could be planned as a cohesive, vibrant neighborhood serving both current and future residents of the East Riverside Corridor. 

As part of this effort, we’re inviting community members and stakeholders to participate in outreach and engagement activities that will help shape a shared vision—one that reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of the people who live, work, and spend time in this part of Austin. 

The Grove–Riverside Site is also located within several major, ongoing initiatives, including Project Connect, Austin Light Rail, and the East Riverside Planning and Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) efforts. These overlapping initiatives create a unique opportunity to coordinate planning and align priorities for community benefits for the East Riverside neighborhoods.

Learn more at AustinTexas.gov

Grove-Riverside Site Goals

Community Benefits:

Work with the community to learn what services and spaces would best support the neighborhood. This could include job training and education centers, childcare, places to buy healthy food and banking services. These services should make it easier for everyone to get the help and resources they need and should help guide future plans for the area. 

Phased Approach:

Plan to develop the 125-acre site in steps over time. This will allow the City to carefully add community benefits and meet City service needs. The plan will also adjust to changes in the market and help attract private investment to support the project. 

Displacement Prevention:

Understand that some people in and around the Site may be at risk of being pushed out because of rising costs. The plan will include way to help prevent this. This means keeping and adding affordable housing, offering support and resources to current residents and making sure everyone has a chance to share their ideas about the future of the area. 

City Operations:

The Site will continue to support City work. The City plans to keep the buildings that are already there and use them for City offices. The City will also look at ways to grow its services over time. This will happen in phases and may include a mix of City services and spaces that the community can use. 

Fiscal Responsibility:

Work with partners and community members to find the right balance between what the community needs and the roads, utilities and other basic services required to support the area. 

Community Engagement:

Work closely with the community to create a shared plan for the future. The City will stay involved with the community during the planning and as the project moves forward. We will focus on outreach and building strong relationships in Southeast Austin. Community feedback will help decide the order of the project and guide how it grows over time.  

Strategic Redevelopment:

Create a clear plan for the 125-acre site at Grove and Riverside that the City owns. This plan will guide future development and make sure it reflects the needs and priorities of the people who live, work and spend time in the area.

Housing:

Focus on homes that are affordable for both renters and people who want to buy. This means building homes that people with lower incomes can afford. It includes rentals for families who earn less money and homes for sale that are still affordable to working families. The plan should include different types of homes, like homes for large or multi-generational families and homes that are easy for people with disabilities to use. The goal is to help current homeowners and renters stay in the neighborhood to prevent people from being pushed out because of rising costs. 

Economic Development:

Treat this as more than just a housing project. It is also a chance to grow the local economy in a way that includes everyone. The plan is to build affordable homes along with City services, parks and open spaces. It will also improve connections to nearby neighborhoods and make it easier to use public transit. The goal is to create a lively area with shops and businesses. The City will look for ways to support small and local businesses, especially minority-owned businesses, by offering affordable space for them to rent.