KCDC to preview draft Austin Homes master plan at April 30 open house

Scott BirdAustin Homes Revitalization, Uncategorized

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) invites the community to preview the draft master plan for the Austin Homes site at an open house Tuesday, April 30, from 4:30-7 p.m., at Green Magnet Academy, 801 Lula Powell Drive in East Knoxville.

Attendees may view an overview presentation of the draft plan at 5:15 and 6:15 p.m.

The draft Austin Homes master plan is based on months of dialogue with residents, stakeholders and community members in interviews and public meetings. Topics discussed have included options for overall site usage, street layouts, residential building types and use of open spaces, along with research and analyses regarding Knoxville’s housing and retail markets. Following additional input at the open house, the plan will be finalized in mid-2019 by KCDC’s design team of Gensler, a global architecture firm based in San Francisco, and Knoxville-based Johnson Architecture.

Dialogue with residents, stakeholders and community members has shaped a draft master plan for the Austin Homes site to be presented at an open house at Green Magnet Academy on April 30. Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation and its design team of Gensler and Johnson Architecture invite the public to review and provide additional input on the draft plan, which will be finalized in mid-2019. Austin Homes is a nearly 23-acre site located just east of downtown Knoxville.

Established in 1941, Austin Homes is a nearly 23-acre site located just east of downtown Knoxville. KCDC will replace the existing affordable housing on the site and plans to add a mix of housing choices for families and individuals of varied income levels and other appropriate non-residential uses to create a vibrant urban community.

“KCDC values the input and feedback provided by Austin Homes residents, stakeholders and other community members during this master planning process and looks forward to further input on the draft plan,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “Austin Homes revitalization is a unique opportunity for KCDC due to its proximity to downtown Knoxville, and this community input is helping to create the best path forward.”

Austin Homes residents living at the site at the start of redevelopment will have relocation choices at other KCDC properties, including the revitalized Five Points community and the recently renovated The Vista at Summit Hill, which are both nearby. These residents will have the right to return to the Austin Homes site when the first phase of revitalization is complete. KCDC anticipates breaking ground on the first phase in early 2020 but will finalize the timeline after completion of the master plan and confirmation of phase one financing, which is expected to include Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and private financing.

For updates on the Austin Homes master plan development, visit the Austin Homes Revitalization section at https://www.kcdc.org.