Residents recently started moving into Aldrich 51, one of Austin’s newest affordable communities. The upscale, yet affordable complex in the Mueller Development has 240 units including efficiency, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Developer, DMA Development has earmarked 85 percent of the units for families, working couples, single parents and older adults who earn 30 percent to 60 percent of the area’s median family income. Many of those residents will be people who work in the Mueller Development. That workforce housing initiative is in keeping with Mueller’s goal to be a place where people can live, work and play without contributing to the city’s traffic woes.

The $40 million project was funded with help from $2 million from the 2013 affordable housing bonds, another $2 million from the City of Austin’s Community Development Block Grant program and more than $10 million in tax credits.

On October 27th, Aldrich 51 was the launching point for HousingWorks’ Building an Affordable Austin Bus Tour. Afterward, participants were treated to a guided tour of the complex. Manager Blake Mauldin also took a moment to talk about how exciting it is to be able to offer new, quality housing to residents, many of whom might otherwise be homeless.