Number of Units: 40
As a community, Austin needed to address a housing gap for workforce families seeking 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom units and invest in a blighted area adjacent to downtown. After a successful partnership on Fox Pointe Townhomes which opened in 2019, the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Three Rivers Community Action partnered on 1st & 3rd Apartments.
The Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority purchased individual single-family homes to assemble the site beginning in 2021. The site also had a history of use as a railroad yard and the project provided environmental mitigation for contaminated soils.
With support for capital costs from the Hormel Foundation, Mower County and the City of Austin, the project applied for funding with Minnesota Housing which was awarded in 2022.
Construction started on the 3-story building in 2023. Common spaces include laundry and a community room with access to an outdoor gathering area and playground. The smoke-free facility is served by an elevator, incorporates universal design for full accessibility, and includes solar panels on the roof. An office for supportive housing services is also located in the building.
Supportive housing services are provided by Independent Management Services (IMS) for people experiencing homelessness and people living with disabilities. IMS staff conducted a supplies drive to help equip the supportive services units with cleaning tools and supplies as residents move in.
1st & 3rd’s location is walkable to employment and services in downtown Austin including the Community Action Building, Mower County Human Services, Austin Public Library, YMCA at ACRC, and more. The first tenants occupied the building in September 2024.
