Austin Nonprofits Awarded $125,000 from Wells Fargo to Support New Net Zero Townhome Community
AUSTIN – January 19, 2023 –
Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation (GNDC) announced today that it was awarded a $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support the next phase of its 11-acre Guadalupe-Saldaña Net Zero Subdivision in East Austin. The grant will go towards the pre-development, engineering and design work for a future 24 unit townhome development on the west side of the multi-family zoned site under a community land trust model of home ownership. The townhome units will be constructed with solar powered, energy efficient designs and marketed for sale at price points to families making 80% and below of Austin Median Family Income levels. In addition, Solar Austin received a $25,000 grant from Wells Fargo to provide solar paneling for a resiliency center that will serve as an education hub for the new community.
“Innovative and sustainable home ownership opportunities for families are unfortunately becoming less frequent in our community,” said Christopher Rios, vice president of social impact, Wells Fargo. “Our local Wells Fargo team is grateful to partner with GNDC and Solar Austin to bring this project to life for the East Austin community.”
Future Construction of Townhome Community
The grant will primarily be used to get the infrastructure ready for the new townhome community. The work will include drainage and water quality improvements, grading, building three private streets, the installation of water, waste water, electrical and telecommunication utilities.
Designed by Nelson Partners, the 24 townhomes are 2.5 story walk-ups with features including:
· Ground floor garages,
· First story kitchen,
· Dining and living rooms,
· and top floor bedrooms
In addition, there will be:
· 16 two-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom units with 1,186 square feet
· 4 three-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom units with 1,393.5 square feet
· 4 three-bedroom, 2/5 bathroom units with 1,416 square feet
Austin’s First Net Zero Community
When completed, the Subdivision will provide 124 units of super-green, permanently affordable homes to the East Austin community. This innovative project merges sustainable design, homeownership counseling, a 35-unit supportive housing development with a 5-classroom child development center and GNDC’s affordable rental and home ownership Community Land Trust (CLT) programs. The 7-acre site also features walking trails, community gardens, green space and easy access to shopping, Austin Community College and public transit.
“GNDC is thrilled to be taking on the next phase of The Guadalupe-Saldana Net-zero Subdivision thanks to the help of Wells Fargo. This subdivision has transformed a former unregistered dump site into one of the greenest housing projects in Austin, Texas. Its location in the heart of one of the most gentrifying areas in the nation has been described as “an island of affordability in an ocean of displacement.” We can’t wait to see the townhomes take shape for the next wave of homeowners,” said Mark Rogers, GNDC’s Executive Director.
New Resiliency Center
In addition to the 24 townhomes, GNDC and Wells Fargo are also partnering with Solar Austin to preserve a historic house, known as the Leonard East House, that has been moved from downtown Austin onto a site within the Subdivision. The Leonard East House will be situated near the center of the Subdivision and is envisioned to serve as an homebuyer education hub and community resiliency center.
Once complete, the historic house will host on-site homebuyer education classes for future CLT homebuyers and the public, taught by GNDC’s newly HUD-certified housing counselor. The East House will also provide community space for resident meetings and gatherings, and be outfitted with solar panels and a battery to provide a resiliency center so people may learn about renewable electricity and access heat or air conditioning in case of system-wide power outages.
Wells Fargo has provided a $25,000 grant to Solar Austin to coordinate the installation of solar panels and a battery for the Leonard East House through the Donated Solar Installation program.. This program helps bring diverse youth into the solar industry through outreach and recruitment to those who may not otherwise enter the field, such as Black and Brown students, as well as women.
“Solar Austin's Community Installation program creates community resiliency hubs in low-income communities for basic needs or during extreme weather events caused by climate change,” said Tatianna Cannon, executive director, Solar Austin. “With Austinites facing more climate impacts each year, this work is more important than ever. It is our honor to partner with GNDC to elevate these efforts and create a center for learning about renewables and home ownership.”
About Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation
GNDC is a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit corporation with over 40 years of service as an affordable housing developer and manager for rental and homeownership opportunities for families with generational ties to East Austin. For more information about Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporations Homebuyer Opportunities, please visit the website: https://www.guadalupendc.org/
About Solar Austin
Solar Austin is a 501(c)3 founded in 2002 with the mission to accelerate the transition to clean, renewable energy in Central Texas and to expand access to the benefits of solar to everyone to mitigate climate change, create a healthy community, and support a strong local economy. More information about their work is available at www.solaraustin.org or by emailing info@solaraustin.org.
Contact Information
Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation
Melinda Barsales, Homebuyer Counselor, 512-479-6275 x 2
Solar Austin
Tatianna Cannon, Executive Director, 405-596-3836