Seabrook Square I Opens Bringing 204 Affordable Homes to East Austin

AUSTIN, TX – Austin Housing and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) celebrate the opening of Seabrook Square Apartments, a 204-unit affordable rental housing community located in District 1 at 2210 Pershing Drive. The apartments offer studio to 4-bedroom homes with on-site management, a clothes care center, a structured parking garage, an art plaza, and cultural spaces. Residents interested in calling the community home can learn more at www.seabrooksquareapartments.com.

Seabrook Square is in the J.J. Seabrook Neighborhood and is named after Dr. John Jarvis “J.J.” Seabrook, a Black educator, pastor, and well-known community leader in Austin. The community consists of two buildings, Seabrook I and Seabrook II, and was envisioned as an inclusive, sustainable, and active hub for the neighborhood that seamlessly integrates with the neighborhood’s existing resources, cultural history, and physical environment. Together, the buildings are bringing 264 units of affordable housing to Austin. 

“Seabrook Square reflects what’s possible when we invest in housing rooted in community,” explains Deletta Dean, Austin Housing Director. “Seabrook provides access to affordable housing while honoring the history and culture of the J.J. Seabrook neighborhood. It was designed to ensure Austinites could connect and thrive in their community, and we are proud of this partnership.”   

Development History

In 2021 and 2022, AHFC purchased approximately 3 acres of land located at 3515 Manor Road with 2018 General Obligation Bonds for affordable housing. Following community engagement efforts, AHFC and Austin Public Health (APH) solicited proposals to develop and operate a multifamily rental housing development(s), with on-site social services. AHFC committed upfront to providing Local Housing Vouchers for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units. APH then transferred support to Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations to contract with a qualified nonprofit service provider to provide wraparound services to residents living in those PSH units.  AHFC awarded the development opportunity in July 2022 to the NHP Foundation, Capital A Housing, and Integral Care. 

Seabrook Square I

Seabrook Square I, developed, owned, and operated by The NHP Foundation, Capital A Housing, and AHFC, includes 5-story and 4-story elevator-serviced buildings offering a diversity of affordable housing options. All units are affordable for households earning 30% to 60% median family income (MFI) and include 10 live-work-residence studios dedicated to East Austin artists. 

“Seabrook Square represents the kind of affordable housing we strive to create, housing that is connected to the community," said John Welsh, Senior Vice President, The NHP Foundation. "From the beginning, our vision was to create a place where families, artists, and seniors have the opportunity to put down roots, thrive, and be part of East Austin. Thanks to the extraordinary partnership with the City of Austin, Austin HFC, Capital A Housing, Integral Care, Citibank, Boston Financial, and many others, that vision is now a reality. Seabrook Square demonstrates the power of strong partners with a shared purpose.” 

Seabrook Square I homes feature modern kitchens with upper white and lower navy cabinetry, granite countertops, brushed nickel kitchen hardware, and stainless-steel appliances. The pet-friendly community offers amenities designed to enhance daily living, creativity, and connection, including outdoor social spaces, a resident lounge, an on-site café, and a fitness center. Additional conveniences include bike storage, an outdoor event space, self-serve package lockers, on-site laundry, EV charging stations, and 24-hour emergency maintenance. 

“This project shows we can build high-quality housing affordable for working class and middle class Austinites, but with the kind cultural amenities, social spaces, and design that you would expect in high-priced luxury apartments,” said Conor Kenny, a partner with Capital A Housing. 

Seabrook Square I received approximately $13.5 million in 2022 GO Bond funding from AHFC through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) program, $40 million in tax-exempt Bonds issued by AHFC, $3.4 million Citibank construction bridge loan, and $32.3 million in 4% LIHTC Equity syndicated by Boston Financial. 

Seabrook Square II

Seabrook Square II is a new 60-unit, fully furnished Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) community offering high-quality housing paired with voluntary, wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness. The community was also developed by Capital A Housing and will be owned and operated by Integral Care. The Seabrook Square II grand opening is set for August 28. 

“Permanent supportive housing reflects what is possible when a community comes together to expand pathways to housing stability,” said David Gray, Austin Homeless Strategies & Operations Director. “It provides the foundation people need to build a more stable future, with a safe place to call home and the support to thrive. This achievement is the result of strong collaboration and a shared commitment to addressing homelessness.” 

The development received $7.9 million in 2022 GO Bond funding from AHFC through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) program, $10,684,557 from Travis County, and $850,000 from FHLB Dallas. Additionally, the City of Austin allocated 60 project-based Local Housing Vouchers for the property, dedicating all 60 units to the Austin/Travis County Homelessness Response System. The land the development occupies is also owned by AHFC and provided to Integral Care through a long-term ground lease.  

To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.

Resources for affordable housing are available at www.austintexas.gov/housing.  

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 NHP Foundation
Headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington, DC, and Chicago, IL, The NHP Foundation (NHPF) was launched on January 30, 1989, as a publicly supported 501(c)(3) not-for-profit real estate corporation. NHPF is dedicated to preserving and creating sustainable, service-enriched multifamily housing, and single-family homes that are both affordable to low- and moderate-income families and seniors, and beneficial to their communities. NHPF’s Construction Management Group provides in-house resources dedicated to infrastructure review, infrastructure development and cost management. Through Family-Centered Coaching, NHPF’s subsidiary Operation Pathways engages with, and assists, families experiencing poverty and other hardship, to problem-solve together. Through partnerships with major financial institutions, the public sector, faith-based initiatives, and other not-for-profit organizations, NHPF has 61 properties, including over 10,000 units, in 16 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, please visit www.nhpfoundation.org.  

About Capital A Housing
Capital A Housing is an Austin-based and focused development company of affordable and mixed-income projects. It specializes in projects that range from a quarter acre to 50 acres and are responsive to neighborhood, city and elected official concerns, delivering outstanding amenities, affordability and services. Through its methodology, Capital A Housing accomplishes rezonings or other permissions that would typically be infeasible for more standard developments. For more information, please visit capitalahousing.com. 

About the Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations 
The Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations (HSO) envisions a community where everyone has access to stable housing and the support they need to thrive. HSO coordinates shelter, housing, and outreach efforts across the community, working with partners to connect residents to safe, stable homes and supportive services. 

About Integral Care
Integral Care improves the lives of adults and children living with mental illness, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Travis County. Our services include a 24-hour helpline for anyone who needs immediate support, ongoing counseling to improve mental health, drug and alcohol treatment to help with recovery, and housing to regain health and independence. As the Local Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority, Integral Care has pioneered high-quality, community- based care since 1967, collaborating with partners to build a supportive network and combat mental health stigma in Austin. To learn more about Integral Care, visit our website at: www.integralcare.org.