Father and Son Team Create S.M.A.R.T. Housing for Austin

Austin, TX: As one of the newest, affordable, housing subdivisions in Austin, Devonshire Park celebrated, by hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to showcase their new homes. In an effort to cut long commutes and traffic headaches for those who work in Austin, the subdivision is conveniently located in central Austin with easy access to schools, shopping centers, Morris Williams Golf Course, hospitals, the University of Texas and the State Capitol.

Devonshire Park homes offer an "Old Austin" feel, by creating a neighborhood that is relaxed, comfortable, beautiful, friendly and affordable. The 45 single-family homes are a combination of traditional-styled wood frame homes with two-car garages ranging from 1127 to 1700 square feet. The homes are also fully accessible and meet S.M.A.R.T. Housing requirements.

"This project is special in several ways;To have this a new subdivision this close to Morris Williams Golf Course and the Mueller site is an opportunity for families in Austin that they simply have not had before," said Paul Hilgers, Community Development Officer. "It will be close to one of the most innovative developments our City has ever seen. Secondly, the owner and builder have worked to ensure superior quality with a product that includes stick-built garages with excellent manufactured housing from Patriot Homes. We must continue to develop alternative methods of building that are affordable and of high quality for Austin residents. This development sets a high standard for those future alternative approaches," he said.

Community Development Block Grant funds from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) were used to finance the infrastructure at Devonshire Park. Additional funds for the project were made available from a Wells Fargo Bank loan. Of the 45 homes, 27 will be marketed to families earning at or below 80% of the Median Family Income (MFI), or about $56,500 for a family of four. The sales price of the homes range from $119,000 to $131,000. As an added benefit, all potential buyers may participate, provided eligibility is met, in the AHFC's Mortgage Credit Certificate Program, which offers tax benefits for first-time homebuyers.

Devonshire Park is owned by Devonshire Partners, a limited partnership. It is a partnership comprised of two father and son teams who shared a vision to provide convenient and reasonably priced housing for working Austinites like teachers, policemen, firemen, and healthcare workers.

"For over two years, we've been working to create a community that would provide both affordable housing and a convenient location for Austin residents; there needs to be an alternative to driving through traffic to Kyle and Hutto. With AHFC's help we have achieved those goals," said Mark Patterson, Director of Marketing for Devonshire Partners.

For additional information, about Devonshire Park, call (512) 785-9545, or visit their web site at www.onlineaustinhomes.com.

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation was created in 1979 and assists Austin citizens with first-time homebuyer and home repair programs. The AHFC's primary mission is to generate and implement strategic housing finance solutions to benefit low-and moderate-income residents of the City of Austin.

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Brenda Ham, 974-3175(voice) or 802-7105 (pager)