Nonprofit Foundation Communities celebrated the opening of its Norman Commons complex, a new affordable housing community that received millions of dollars in city support, including funds from Austin’s 2022 housing bond.
Foundation Communities opened the 156-unit Norman Commons affordable housing community in East Austin. (Courtesy Foundation Communities)“This community exists because the people of Austin made it happen. You showed up, you voted for the housing bonds and you told us you want a city where regular people can still afford to live. That matters, because for too long we’ve seen costs go up and families get pushed out,” Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela said April 8. “These bonds were a commitment to do something about it, to build more housing, to bring down costs and make sure Austin stays a place where everyone can live, where everyone can enjoy.”
The overview
Foundation Communities manages nearly 30 properties across the city with affordable housing and services for more than 10,000 residents. The nonprofit has frequently partnered with the city on those developments, including Norman Commons, which received more than $8 million in local funds.
The new four-story complex at 5712 Jackie Robinson St. features 156 rental units with a mix of one-to-four-bedroom floor plans. All apartments are affordable based on the local median family income, or MFI.
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Housing at Norman Commons is open to individuals and households earning up to 30%-60% MFI. Sixteen units are set aside for tenants exiting homelessness through partnerships with The SAFE Alliance and The Salvation Army, and more than 20 were designed for residents with mobility, vision or hearing disabilities.
Norman Commons is now open, and Foundation Communities Executive Director Walter Moreau said roughly one-third of the community is already occupied or leased as of early April. Anyone interested in applying can call 512-610-0814 or visit www.normancommonsapts.org for more information.
The details
The development provides free Wi-Fi to tenants and features amenities including a courtyard, basketball court, playground and picnic area. Free services like tenant case management, food pantry access and children’s after-school and summer programming at a learning center are also offered.
Norman Commons includes several community areas with sidewalks featuring horse tracks inspired by the East Austin trail riders. (Courtesy Foundation Communities)The learning center at Norman Commons is Foundation Communities’ 17th in Austin, Moreau said, and those facilities now serve roughly 600 students across town. The new development is located next door to Norman-Sims Elementary School, and its students are also expected to be involved with the learning center.
“Norman Commons brings together affordable homes and the on-site support families need to move forward,” Moreau said in a statement. “By connecting residents to education, financial stability programs, and community resources, we’re helping create the conditions for long-term success.”
The complex also features locally-inspired murals painted by Austin artist Toni Ardizzone depicting current and past members of the East Austin trail riders, a local Black cowboy group.
Norman Commons features murals of the East Austin Trail Riders, a local Black cowboy group, painted by Austin artist Toni Ardizzone. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact)Project funding
Some of Norman Commons’ financing came from voter-approved sources in Austin. The city provided a total of $8.84 million, including $8.43 million from anti-displacement funds tied to the Project Connect transit program and $436,331 from the 2022 bond.
The largest share of project funding came through a $31.5 million tax-exempt bond issued by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corp., a statewide public nonprofit created by Texas lawmakers. David Danenfelzer, TSAHC senior director of development finance, said Norman Commons is one of several local Foundation Communities projects the entity is funding.
“Really what those bonds do is they incentivize private investors to bring their money to the table, to fund projects like this. And they also create the opportunity for projects like this to get housing tax credits without doing it on a competitive basis,” he said. “That kind of opportunity is really big.”
Dan Danenfelzer, Texas State Affordable Housing Corp. senior director of development finance, spoke about the affordable housing community’s funding. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact)Other financing included:$25.5 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equityA total of $19.2 million in loans from Wells Fargo$2.5 million from Capital Magnet FundsA $2 million sponsor loan from Foundation Communities$850,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of DallasIn addition to support for Norman Commons’ development, Wells Fargo will also sponsor ongoing services at Foundation Communities projects. Christopher Rios, Wells Fargo regional vice president of philanthropy and community impact, announced a $100,000 commitment to on-site financial coaching and wraparound services for residents April 8.
“This investment reflects our commitment to expanding access to financial empowerment and wellness services, services that will reach tens of thousands of individuals and families this year alone,” he said.
What else?
Norman Commons is one half of an east side joint affordable housing venture between Foundation Communities and the nonprofit Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corp.
The 2023 rezoning of the East Austin property that includes Norman Commons also paved the way for the GNDC’s Ada Anderson Place homeownership community that’ll feature 32 affordable homes. City Council is scheduled to direct $6.4 million from 2022 bond funds to the project April 9.
Norman Commons added 156 units to Foundation Communities’ citywide affordable housing portfolio. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact)