HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Houston Habitat for Humanity, with Hines serving as strategic advisor, has broken ground in northeast Houston on Robins Landing, a 127-acre master-planned community designed to serve low- and moderate-income Houstonians.
Situated near Tidwell Road and Mesa Drive, Robins Landing will deliver much-needed affordable housing along with essential services, retail opportunities, and generous green space for residents and the surrounding community.
Developed in partnership with the City of Houston and other stakeholders, Robins Landing will begin home construction this fall after completion of streets, utilities, and other infrastructure.
“Along with our partners, we are creating a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible path to homeownership. Everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to call home with nearby resources that support a thriving community,” said Allison Hay, executive director of Houston Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat Launches Houston Neighborhood with 450 Homes, 12-Acre Park & Library
Planned as a mixed-income, multi-generational neighborhood, Robins Landing will include more than 450 single-family homes. Houston Habitat will build 100 homes reserved for households earning at or below 80 percent of the City of Houston’s area median income (AMI), offering them through the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership program. An additional 300 homes will be developed and sold by partner builders CastleRock Communities and Chesmar Homes for buyers at or below 120 percent AMI.
“A Vibrant and Sustainable Neighborhood” — John Mooz of Hines
“Robins Landing marks an important evolution for Houston Habitat—from building individual homes to creating a full community,” said John Mooz, senior managing director at Hines. “With scale, Hines contributes experience in planning complementary uses, adjacencies, and placemaking that help form a distinctive, lasting neighborhood. We’re excited to share our expertise for Robins Landing and hope to apply it to other urban projects.”
Beyond housing, Houston Habitat and community partners are planning a range of amenities to support residents and neighbors. Central to the plan is a 12-acre park featuring hike-and-bike trails, a community garden, and a neighborhood resilience hub. A Town Center will provide essential services, including a community health clinic and a Houston Public Library branch.
“Address the underlying causes of inequity” — Mayor Sylvester Turner
“Affordable housing is about more than a roof over someone’s head,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “We must collaborate across sectors and address transportation, access to quality grocery stores, and pathways to opportunity to tackle the root causes of inequity. Robins Landing is positioned to do just that.”
Houston Habitat has assembled an innovative funding package for site infrastructure totaling $33 million. The funding includes a $4.79 million grant from the City of Houston and $1.5 million from Habitat for Humanity International. Construction financing was provided through interest-free loans from Arnold Ventures and low-interest loans from the Houston Housing Finance Corporation. Remaining capital will come from traditional development sources, including lot and land sales for single-family and multi-family homes, senior housing, and nonresidential space. Houston Habitat is seeking an additional $10 million in philanthropic support to preserve long-term affordability, sustainability, and resiliency.
Houston Habitat has built more than 1,150 homes across 11 Houston neighborhoods, including the Fifth Ward and the city’s northeast and southeast quadrants. The organization also conducts home repairs after natural disasters; since Hurricane Harvey, Houston Habitat has completed repairs on more than 800 homes for families lacking the resources to restore their properties.
March 2, 2022 Realty News Report Copyright 2022
File: Habitat Starts Houston Neighborhood
Photo Credit: Jeff Fitlow