Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), has earned a top award from a national housing and community development organization for First Creek at Austin Phase 1.
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) selected KCDC for an Award of Merit in the category of project design for the holistic approach to the neighborhood, including community input; preservation of culture; connection of the site to opportunities; open and walkable spaces; and trust built with residents and stakeholders well before construction started.
“First Creek at Austin has become a blueprint and innovative catalyst for neighborhood revitalization,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “The transformation of the neighborhood is apparent across the development through variations in housing styles, resident amenities, downtown access, and opportunities for employment, education, recreation and connectivity. It’s also the city’s first mixed-income affordable housing community.”
KCDC received the award during a presentation ceremony at NAHRO’s 2024 National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida last month.
NAHRO, which was established in 1933, is a membership organization of more than 26,000 housing and community development providers and professionals throughout the United States. NAHRO members create and manage affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, and support vibrant communities that enhance the quality of life for all.
First Creek at Austin is built on the site of the former Austin Homes, which was established in 1941 on nearly 23 acres. The redevelopment of the site followed months of dialogue with residents, stakeholders and community members in interviews and public meetings and included options for overall site use, street layouts, residential building types and green spaces.
Phase 1 opened in 2022 with 105 total units – 57 in one multifamily building and 48 spread across eight smaller townhome-style buildings. Phase 2 opened in 2024 with 180 one- to three-bedroom units.
Construction for Phase 3 is underway now and will provide approximately 161 new housing units, including 50 supportive housing units for low-income seniors, age 62 and older. The family units will be located in large buildings and townhomes and will offer one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom options.
Master planning for the community was provided by Gensler and Johnson Architecture, the architect of record for the redevelopment project. Applied Real Estate Analysis, Inc. and CRJA-IBI Group were also members of the planning team.
KCDC is the public housing authority for Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee, tasked with finding solutions to create affordable housing to address the dwelling unit shortage. Construction funds for First Creek at Austin came primarily through $13 million of low-income housing tax credits from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), which allowed KCDC to raise tax credit equity to fund development.