City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date: Oct. 23, 2025
Contact: Kasi Jackson 5129742243 Email
Future residents must be 62+ and earn between 30% and 60% MFI
AUSTIN, TX – Austin Housing and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) celebrate the opening of The Rebekah, a 224-unit senior housing community for households earning between 30% and 60% median family income (MFI). Located in District 3 at 1320 Art Dilly Drive, the apartments consist of 92 efficiency units and 132 one-bedroom units. The Rebekah will offer supportive services for residents, including health and wellness education and screenings, financial planning, transportation services, food pantry resources, and regular social events.
“The Rebekah reflects Austin’s commitment to expanding affordable housing options through strong partnerships,” explains Deletta Dean, Austin Housing Director. “This development honors the legacy of a historic site, preserving its roots, while creating safe, accessible homes that allow residents to age in place.”
The Rebekah, part of RBJ Residences.
The Rebekah tower is one of the buildings comprising the RBJ Residences, which also includes The Ladybird that opened in 2022. The site will be owned and operated by DMA Companies. The property received $6 million from AHFC through the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) Program using Austin’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) funding, a $28.2 million loan from Barings LLC, and an equity investment of $28 million from the National Equity Fund. The development also received $45 million in construction financing from JPMorgan Chase Bank.
“The Rebekah coming on line marks the finish of a 12-year development effort, which started with land entitlements, then construction of The Lady Bird with 279 senior units which allowed us to relocate residents of the RBJ Tower, followed by the reconstruction of the original tower with 224 additional units of affordable senior housing,” stated Diana McIver, President of DMA Development Company. “To be able to partner with the Austin Geriatric Center on this iconic and storied structure – and to create homes for more than 500 seniors – is a great honor.”
Development History
The history of the site dates back to the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center and the Austin Geriatric Center in 1968, during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s final term. Led by Frank C. Erwin, Jr, the vision was to create a continuum of care for seniors to promote their health, security, and happiness in longer living. By 1972, the 250-unit residential apartment tower was constructed on the current 18-acre site, and a 168-bed nursing facility was constructed on the adjacent 9 acres. The residential tower was named in honor of President Johnson’s mother, Rebekah Baines Johnson.
The buildings on site have since served as public health support administration offices. DMA was selected by the Austin Geriatric Center to partner on the development of The Rebekah and engaged with the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Association for feedback on the redevelopment plans for the residential tower. Site improvements include code-compliant residential units, upgraded site utilities, new landscaping, ADA-accessible sidewalks, and the preservation of several mature heritage trees. Additionally, the parking garage was newly constructed.
Community courtyard at The Rebekah, courtesy of RBJ Residences.
Residents interested in calling the community home can learn more at www.rbjseniorhousing.org.
Resources for affordable housing are available online 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 DMA Companies
DMA Companies is a boutique real estate firm specializing in the development and management of multifamily properties. It brings affordable and special needs housing to communities nationwide by utilizing the various private, state and federal financing options. Its solid corporate structure enables them to provide the highest quality housing communities, while optimizing performance and achieving financial objectives.