Avenue Station: New 68-Unit Affordable Housing Project Fully Leased in Houston’s Near Northside
HOUSTON — Avenue Station, a newly completed 68-unit affordable housing development in the Near Northside, is now fully leased. The project, developed by Avenue, a local nonprofit focused on building affordable homes and strengthening neighborhoods, in partnership with the City of Houston’s Housing & Community Development Department (HCDD), sits at 2010 N. Main St. along MetroRail’s Red Line and serves a neighborhood designated as one of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s five “Complete Communities.”
Addressing Houston’s Affordable Housing Shortage
The demand for affordable housing in Houston has intensified following Hurricane Harvey and years of rising development across the urban core. Mary Lawler, executive director of Avenue, noted that the storm exacerbated losses of naturally occurring affordable housing and reinforced the need for long-term disaster recovery investments in housing that are healthier, more affordable and more sustainable. Avenue Station adds much-needed inventory to the Near Northside, where roughly one-third of the neighborhood’s 25,000 residents live below the poverty line and nearly 40% are housing cost-burdened.
Project Details, Funding and Timeline
Construction of the $13 million Avenue Station project was completed in late 2016. Within 18 months of completion, every unit was rented. The project received primary funding from Round 2 of the Texas General Land Office (GLO) Disaster Recovery funds, administered by the City of Houston following Hurricane Ike. Additional financial support came from Capital One, Houston Endowment, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and National Equity Fund.
Unit types include efficiencies and one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans. Fifty-five units — about 81% — are designated for low-income households earning 30%, 50% and 60% of area median income (AMI). The remaining 13 units, approximately 19%, are offered at market rate. This mix helps preserve affordable housing options while maintaining a diverse resident base.
Transit-Oriented Location and Neighborhood Amenities
Avenue Station is a transit-oriented development with easy access to transit and local green spaces, supporting both mobility and quality of life. Nearby parks include Hogg Park, Woodland Park and Moody Park. The complex is also close to local schools such as Ketelsen Elementary, Northside High School, Marshall Middle School and Sherman Elementary School. The Metro North rail line connects residents with downtown Houston, Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center, enhancing access to employment, education and medical services.
Resident Services and On-Site Amenities
Avenue Station was planned to promote health, safety and community well-being. On-site amenities include an athletic court, swimming pool, business center, laundry facilities, a computer lab and a community clubhouse. Residents can participate in a range of supportive services and social programs such as cooking and nutrition workshops, after-school tutoring, art classes, homebuyer education, and individual financial counseling. These services aim to strengthen household stability and foster pathways to greater economic mobility.
Avenue’s Broader Work in the Northside
Avenue, a HUD-certified nonprofit operating since 1991, has developed multiple affordable communities across the greater Northside. Recent projects include Fulton Gardens, a 49-unit senior apartment community located along the Metro Rail; Avenue Place, a 95-unit single-family community; and Avenue Terrace, a 192-unit multifamily complex. In the nearby Northline area, Avenue Meadows adds 10 single-family homes targeted to low- and moderate-income families alongside market-rate buyers. Across its developments, Avenue consistently pairs affordable housing with after-school programs and community enrichment opportunities, and offers homebuyer education to support first-time buyers.
City Perspective and Future Opportunities
Tom McCasland, director of Houston’s HCDD, emphasized that projects like Avenue Station illustrate the city’s opportunity to create sustainable, thriving affordable homes and complete communities. By combining transit-oriented design with supportive services, these developments expand access to opportunities that benefit working families, professionals and the broader local economy.