The City of Austin Economic Development Department announced on Monday the successful execution of a Master Development Agreement (MDA) contract between the City of Austin and Greystar Development Central, LLC. This partnership aims to redevelop the 19-acre, city-owned site located at 800 East St. John Avenue (formerly 7211 & 7309 North IH-35, Home Depot & Chrysler Dealership) into a vibrant mixed-use, mixed-income community, featuring open spaces and commercial services tailored to enhance the St. John neighborhood.
Prior to its acquisition by the City of Austin in 2008, the St. John Site held significant historical importance for the African-American community. Its roots trace back to the 1890s when the St. John Regular Missionary Baptist Association obtained 350 acres north of Austin to establish a freedman community with the St. John Industrial Institute and Orphanage as its anchor. In 2017, the Austin City Council directed staff to collaborate with the St. John community in creating a new community vision, which was officially adopted in 2020.
“This agreement represents a pivotal step toward realizing our vision for a more inclusive and vibrant St. John community,” stated Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department. “The collaboration exemplifies our commitment to creating lasting positive impacts through thoughtful urban development.”
The MDA agreement will bring to fruition a development featuring 526 units, with 50% designated as income-restricted affordable housing. Notably, the project will significantly expand the St. John Pocket Park, creating a larger open space complete with walking trails and a splash pad between St. John and Blackson Avenues. The site’s layout was developed in close consultation with the St. John community and the Council-initiated Community Advisory Committee, in alignment with the 2020 community vision.
Councilmember José “Chito” Vela expressed pride in the collaborative efforts, stating, “I’m proud of the St. John neighbors and city-wide community leaders for making this critical work possible. I can’t wait to celebrate the groundbreaking of this development with all our neighbors and partners early next year. I appreciate the effective partnership between the City, Greystar, and HACA and hope this project serves as a model for future developments.”
David Walsh, Director of Development at Greystar, shared the company’s excitement about reaching this significant milestone, stating, “Greystar is excited to reach this milestone in the redevelopment of the St. John site. We are humbled by the opportunity to help fulfill the community’s vision of bringing much-needed affordable housing to the St. John neighborhood. We would like to recognize and thank the St. John community for their thoughtful input that shaped our site plan as well as their support and partnership throughout this process.”
Construction is slated to commence in 2024, with units becoming available as early as 2026.
