Clarke Heidrick, Chairman of the board for the Austin Geriatric Center speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony

The development and renovation of the Rebekah Baines Johnson Senior Center began with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Among the dignitaries on hand to help turn the dirt was Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Baines Johnson who helped envision the center as a place where seniors could receive a continuum of housing and healthcare.

The Austin Geriatric Center (AGC), which operates the historic property on the north shore of Lady Bird Lake, will renovate the existing 16-story tower, and add new units in a five-story wraparound building. There will 279 units of new construction affordable housing for seniors as well as 225 senior units in the renovated tower. Additionally, there will be two phases of market-rate residential homes, 50,000 square feet of commercial/retail space and a public park.

The team of Austin developers DMA Development, Momark, and Southwest Strategies Group was selected by AGC for the project in 2014. The work is expected to be complete by June 2022. The new units will be completed first. At that time, residents living in the 16-story tower will move into the new units while the tower is renovated. When that work is complete, residents will have the option of remaining in the new building or moving back into the tower. Because of the high demand for affordable housing AGC is no longer accepting applications for new residents. Learn more about the project in the Austin American-Statesman.