Austin is set to embark on a significant redevelopment project at a former Home Depot site located at the intersection of I-35 and St. Johns Avenue, marking a momentous occasion after two decades of planning and acquisition. Construction is slated to begin this week on the 19-acre property, which the city purchased in 2006.
The two-year construction effort will adhere to a vision plan developed in 2020, reflecting extensive community feedback. This mixed-use development aims to provide over 500 housing units, a variety of retail spaces, and an expanded park featuring a splash pad. The St. John Pocket Park will remain closed throughout the construction period.
Christine Freundl, the city representative overseeing the project, highlighted that 70% of the residential units will be designated for families earning between 50% and 80% of the area’s median family income. For a family of four, this income bracket ranges from $67,200 to $106,800, according to city statistics.
In addition to housing, the development will offer 15,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, with approximately 5,000 square feet reserved for below-market rental opportunities. Freundl expressed confidence that the project will meet the community’s pressing needs for affordable housing, shopping, and recreational spaces.
“Witnessing this vision come to life over the next two years will be truly remarkable,” Freundl stated. “It’s exciting to see a community vision created in 2020 being realized in 2028.”
The site holds historical significance, having been acquired in the late 1800s by the St. John Regular Baptist District Association for the establishment of an orphanage and school. As part of the redevelopment, a new art installation will pay tribute to this legacy.
Initially, city officials intended to use the land for expanding public safety facilities, but in 2017, after engaging with the community, a more suitable plan emerged that honors the neighborhood’s history. St. Johns has long been a central part of Austin’s Black community, with the land being sold to individual Black families for home construction.
Freundl reassured that the city aims to commemorate this rich history through the new public art piece planned for the site. The project is expected to be completed by 2028, with hopes that the apartments will be ready for new tenants by late next year.
