6909 Ryan Drive will be an approximately 300-unit mixed income community with public parkland and pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to Crestview Station.
Informed by previous and ongoing engagement with the Crestview neighborhood, and its location adjacent to Crestview Station, this project will be developed as a public-private partnership between Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and DMA Development Company, LLC (DMA).
Development Timeline
The timeline below will continue to be updated throughout the development process.
May 2024
6909 Ryan Drive development opportunity awarded by AHFC to DMA.
Summer 2024-Spring 2026
Explore financing strategies with potential debt and equity partners.
Engage design team (Nelsen Partners).
Discuss unit mix and site layout options with design team.
Engage Advisory Committee members regarding site plan options.
Negotiate and execute Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AHFC and DMA.
Engage Austin Parks & Recreation and CapMetro staff regarding parkland and future plans for Crestview Station.
Design team engages with Development Services Department to get feedback regarding site plan before submitting for Site Development Permit.
Summer 2026
Design team to submit for Site Development Permit.
2027
Close on financing and start construction.
2029
Complete construction and begin lease up.
Project Background & Previous Community Conversations
The property at 6909 Ryan Drive is a 5.5-acre site in the Crestview neighborhood, adjacent to the Crestview Station. Austin Energy purchased the site in 1997 for use as a storage facility. Since then, the site has been identified as an opportunity for redevelopment to serve community needs including housing, public open space, and transit-oriented development.
2013 – 2018: Initial Planning and Community Engagement
In 2013, City Council passed Resolution No. 20130117-054 directing evaluation of the site for a park and/or energy-efficient, affordable, family-friendly multifamily development.
In early 2018, a community-led Ryan Drive Working Group formed to explore community objectives for redevelopment. The group recommended a multi-use approach for the site including:
Multifamily housing affordable to a mix of income levels and in a mix of unit sizes with reduced parking due to transit access
Pedestrian and bicycle access to Crestview Station from the site
A neighborhood park including flexible use outdoor performance space
On November 1, 2018, City Council passed Resolution No. 20181101-024 directing issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the site’s redevelopment.
2019 – 2023: Original RFP Development, Development Partner Selection, and Termination
From August 2019 – June 2020, City staff and consultants undertook site planning, market feasibility analysis, and community engagement to start the RFP process. Engagement included two community meetings and online surveys. Meeting and survey results included:
An emphasis on the need for affordable housing for various household types including seniors and families
A range of housing types
Willingness to allow taller buildings and a higher density of housing units to maximize open space onsite, especially including a children’s playground and dog park
Improved pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between Crestview Station and the area to the south
Desire for onsite retail as a secondary use
Desire for multi-use spaces that can accommodate performance, art exhibits, and gatherings
On August 25, 2020 the City’s Economic Development Department issued a memo finalizing development criteria for the original RFP, which included:
At least 300 housing units at the site, of which at least 50% must be affordable. The housing should be provided in a manner consistent with the City’s Affordability Unlocked Program;
At least 1.25 acres of the site should be dedicated to park/open space;
At least 7,000 square feet should be built and allocated for creative, community commercial, and/or multi-purpose community space; and
Site development must prioritize bicycle and pedestrian accessibility and provide direct access to Crestview Rail Station to Justin Lane and/or Ryan Drive.
On October 8, 2020 the City issued RFP 550 SMW3010 for the Ryan Drive redevelopment.
In August 2021, the City’s Purchasing Office recommending awarding the RFP to 3423 Holdings, LLC and City Council authorized staff to negotiate and Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with 3423 Holdings.
In March 2022, the City executed an ENA with 3423 Holdings, which outlined numerous community benefits consistent with the RFP and council direction including delivery of affordable housing, parks, open space, community-serving commercial space, and pedestrian and bicycle connections to transit through the site.
On May 25, 2023, 3423 Holdings terminated the ENA with the City based on current financial conditions in the market.
2023 - Now: Land Transfer to AHFC, RFQ, and Selection of DMA Companies as Development Partner
On July 12, 2023, the City’s Economic Development Department recommended transfer of the property to the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and the transfer was approved by City Council on July 20, 2023, with the goal of AHFC issuing a new solicitation for redevelopment to reflect community vision and council direction previously expressed for the site.
In March, 2024, AHFC issued an RFQ for Ryan Drive with the following requirements:
Approximately 300 multifamily units of which 90% are affordable to households earning between 50% and 120% of area median income for at least 55 years
Approximately 1.25 acres of the site to be dedicated to park space and/or publicly accessible amenities
A portion of the site to be dedicated as a transit plaza
On March 18, 2024, DMA Companies (DMA) submitted a response to the RFQ.
In May 2024, AHFC awarded the RFQ to DMA, the top scoring applicant.
In early 2025, DMA began negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AHFC.
FAQs
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DMA Development Company, LLC (DMA), an Austin-based multifamily development and property management firm, in partnership with Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), a quasi-public, non-profit entity whose mission is to generate and implement strategic housing solutions for the benefit of low- and moderate-income residents of Austin.
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Transit-oriented development, or TOD, combines a variety of uses in close proximity to a transit station, in this case, Crestview Station. The site will enable residential, parkland, and retail uses to interact in a relatively compact manner while fostering greater connectivity to the neighborhood and the station through bicycle and pedestrian access. The site, which is essentially its own mini TOD, exists within the larger Lamar Blvd./ Justin Lane TOD.
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Mixed-income housing, in this case, means housing that is affordable to households earning a range, or mix, of incomes. Just over half of the units at 6909 Ryan Drive will be available to households making at or below 80% of area median income, while just under half will be available at market rates. This mix of incomes creates opportunities for a diversity of households to live in this transit- and amenity-rich Austin neighborhood.
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Design and development of this site will take into account the existing light rail stop at Crestview Station by allowing pedestrian and bicycle access across the site between Ryan Drive and Easy Wind Drive. Additionally, the design of the site will allow for future connectivity to the proposed new Crestview Station on N. Lamar, which is contemplated as a long-term goal of Project Connect. It is important to note, however, the development of this site is independent from the construction of the planned light rail stop.
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Yes, in 2021 a different development group, 3423 Holdings, LLC, was selected by the Austin Economic Development Department to develope this site. This agreement was terminated in June 2023 and the City of Austin, through AHFC, issued a new Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a new development partner. DMA was selected as the current development partner in May 2024.