First affordable housing in area
By SARAH DOOLITTLE, Four Points News
The Cardinal Points affordable housing apartment complex, located at the corner of Four Points Drive and River Place Boulevard, started accepting rental applications Oct. 16 for move ins starting next month.
The complex was built by Foundation Communities, an Austin non-profit dedicated to creating housing and education opportunities for lower income families and individuals.
Walter Moreau, executive director of Foundation Communities, explained that, “We’ve always had a philosophy as an organization… We want to create affordable housing in all parts of (Austin).”
Foundation Communities offered their first-ever tour of Cardinal Point last month to supporters, representatives from the community including Vandegrift HS principal Charlie Little, and members of the press.
Cardinal Point is comprised of 120 one- and two-bedroom apartments on eight acres, and is expected to house approximately 300 residents. Apartments average around 1,000-square-feet.
Rents are on a sliding scale depending on income and range from $400 to $1,175. To qualify to apply, residents must earn between $20,000 – $50,000 annually.
Twelve of the apartments are reserved for families referred through local social services programs, food banks or shelters.
The apartments are bright and airy, with open floor plans and tile floors throughout. As Moreau said, the units all pass the “I would live here” test. “We want apartments that are beautiful, that don’t fit the stereotype that people have about affordable housing.”
The units are also “green,” with heavy insulation, ceiling fans and energy efficient lighting. Foundation Communities installs solar panels on all their common buildings, making the group the largest private producer of solar power in Austin.
Cardinal Point features a number of amenities: a playground and basketball courts; an electric car charging station; and an on-site learning center, with after-school programs, adult and child education programs, and health and fitness classes.
It is one of 13 run by Foundation Communities and a source of great pride. “This is the heart of the community,” said Moreau. “The big focus is academics,” including homework help, tutoring, and a summer program that helps to prevent the “summer slide.”
Moreau added with a laugh that,”The thing we’re known for around town (is) the biggest Zumba classes,” in addition to Tai Chi, cooking classes, financial management classes, English as a second language and others.
All programs are free and open to the public, but priority enrollment is given to residents.
The complex is the culmination of three years of work focused on bringing affordable housing to the Four Points area.
Addressing initial resistance in the area to affordable housing, Moreau said, “It took time at the beginning to get all the approvals we needed. But once we were approved, my sense was that the neighborhood perspective shifted,” from concern to welcoming.
“I think what’s particularly attractive and exciting here is the great employment opportunities and the great schools,” said Moreau.
Students from Cardinal Points will attend River Place Elementary School, Four Points Middle School and VHS.
Additionally, “There are over 500 low-wage jobs within a mile of our site,” including Target, H-E-B and all the retail stores and restaurants in the area.
Moreau explained that, for those worried about more traffic in the area, “We expect that a majority of residents here will work very close by,” including at the schools.
In order to promote walking, they are adding an additional 1,100 feet of sidewalk, at an additional cost of $100,000, connecting Four Points Drive to RM 620 for pedestrians.
Foundation Communities usually prefers to build apartments in locations with access to public transportation, but made an exception in this case due to the need for affordable housing in the Four Points area.
More than 325 families have expressed interest in leasing one of the 120 units. Those interested in applying are encouraged to do so by visiting www.FoundCom.org.
As Moreau said, “You can do the math… It’s going to fill up.”