Old Space New Face

Rosewood Courts are Set to Get a Facelift.

Words by Jessi Devenyns Photo by Housing Authority of the City of Austin

Eighty years ago, thanks to the then Congressman LBJ, Austin received three public housing projects in its Eastside communities. One of these projects became the now aging Rosewood Courts, the first public housing project construction for African Americans.

Built with the intention of offering a higher standard of living to those who were economically unable to achieve that lifestyle, the Courts were emblematic of progress and historically significant from the outset. Today, however, many complain that they are more symbolic of a sub-standard of living than anything else, and many residents were strongly in support of the proposed redevelopment.

For several years, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) has worked with city commissions and members of City Council to resolve the situation in a way that would not only preserve the historical significance of the property but also bring updates to the residents.

Finally, this spring City Council voted on a resolution to the debate. Developers will permanently preserve eight buildings that are directly facing Chicon Street. The buildings considered by the city’s Historic Preservation Office to be the most historically and architecturally significant will be maintained in their current state. The rest of the 124 units will be redeveloped to give the residents the upgrades that they desperately need.

So that the original buildings will never be forgotten, HACA plans to add historical markers to the property to highlight the preserved buildings and educate visitors about their history.