Grand Re-opening for Historic Affordable Housing Pathways at Rosewood Courts

AUSTIN, TX – Austin Housing is excited to announce the grand re-opening of Pathways at Rosewood Courts. The modernized and expanded affordable housing community is the result of a collaboration between the Austin Housing Authority (AHA) and Carleton Development Ltd. 

Located in District 1 at 1141 Chicon St., Pathways at Rosewood Courts is situated in a displacement-risk area and represents the reconstruction of an existing affordable housing community combining rehabilitation and new construction to preserve and expand long-term affordable housing for families in an area facing displacement pressures.  

The redevelopment adds 60 units, bringing the number of affordable rental homes to 184. Pathways at Rosewood Courts offers 96 affordable multifamily housing units, all subject to a 45-year affordability period, in accordance with applicable regulatory agreements. Unit affordability includes: 

• 18 units affordable at or below 30% area median income 

• 74 units affordable at or below 50% area median income 

• 92 units affordable at or below 60% area median income 

In addition to new and rehabilitated homes, the redevelopment features dedicated park space, a visitor center and community areas designed to support education, resident engagement and shared public use, subject to final operational policies. The broader redevelopment also includes Prospect Heights, 12 affordable homeownership opportunities developed with Austin Habitat for Humanity, helping families establish lasting roots in East Austin. 

“We are excited to welcome residents back to Pathways at Rosewood Courts. This redevelopment honors the history of the site while providing quality, affordable homes where families can put down roots and remain connected to the East Austin community,” says Deletta Dean, Director of Austin Housing. “Stable, affordable housing matters, especially in neighborhoods experiencing displacement. Our commitment is to make sure longtime residents can remain in the communities they call home. We are proud to work alongside our partners to make that possible.”   

The community is designed to ensure lasting affordability while improving housing quality, safety and accessibility, reflecting the City’s commitment to equitable housing preservation.  

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Pathways at Rosewood Courts and the families who will call it home. After more than a decade of planning and collaboration, we’re proud to see this vision become a reality—one that honors Rosewood’s extraordinary history while creating more affordable homes and new opportunities for future generations,” says Mike Gerber, CEO of the Austin Housing Authority. “We’re especially grateful to Austin Housing and our City leaders for their continued support and partnership in making this transformation possible. Together, we’re preserving an important piece of Austin’s history while building a stronger future for this community.” 
 

Preserving and Reimagining Affordable Housing 

The redevelopment of Pathways at Rosewood Courts preserves a historically significant affordable housing community while expanding long-term housing opportunities for current and future residents in East Austin.  

Originally opened in 1939 as Rosewood Courts, it was one of the Austin’s first three public housing developments. Built during an era of segregation, it was also the first public housing community for African Americans in the United States under the Housing Act of 1937. The revitalization acknowledges and preserves this legacy via historic exhibits and storytelling installations that honor the site's connection to the original Emancipation Park and East Austin's African American heritage.  

Most of the existing structures were demolished. However, eight original historic buildings were retained, rehabilitated and modernized, preserving 20 renovated units. Additional new construction added one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. 
 

Investing in the Future 

The redevelopment represents a significant public investment in housing preservation and expansion. Pathways at Rosewood Courts received approximately $5.9 million from City of Austin funding sources, including 2022 general obligation bonds, the Housing Trust Fund and Homestead Preservation District tax increment financing. In addition, the development received $9.2 million in Project Connect funding, which supports housing investments aligned with the city’s voter-approved mobility and affordability goals. 

An affiliate of the Austin Affordable Housing Corp. will serve as the sole member of the project’s general partner and as the landowner. This ownership structure allows the development to qualify for a full property tax exemption, consistent with state law and applicable agreements, helping support long-term affordability. 

Through the completion of Pathways at Rosewood Courts, the City of Austin continues its commitment to preserving historically significant communities, addressing displacement pressures and ensuring residents have access to safe, affordable and dignified housing for generations to come. 

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About Austin Housing   
Austin Housing creates and preserves housing opportunities to stabilize communities. To access affordable housing and community resources that help you, visit www.austintexas.gov/housing.  

About the Austin Housing Finance Corporation  
The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) was created as a public, non-profit corporation and instrumentality of the City of Austin. The mission of the AHFC is to generate and implement strategic housing solutions for the benefit of low- and moderate-income residents of the City of Austin.  

About the Austin Housing Authority  
Established in 1937, the Austin Housing Authority (AHA), formerly know as the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), is an independent public unit separate from the City of Austin and responsible to an autonomous Board of Commissioners. AHA works works with civic and community partners to expand and preserve affordable housing opportunities for low-income families, older adults, people with disabilities and individuals experiencing homelessness. Learn more at www.austinha.org.