The Blackland neighborhood has experienced rapid transition as property values have escalated. In 2005, to preserve housing for low and moderate-income households in the neighborhood, Blackland CDC committed itself to developing twelve new affordable housing units along East 22nd Street. The neighborhood strives to be an inclusive community where people of all cultures, religions and means can thrive in harmony. The 22nd Street Project will assure that low-income households can remain in Blackland and contribute to the diverse culture.

To keep costs down and build community, we use volunteer labor wherever feasible. The project will also provide community arts and garden spaces while embracing green building technology and solar energy.

You can help! Join us for our Blackland Work Saturdays, a neighborhood-wide celebration of people working together to create affordable housing. We are looking for building materials, financial contributions and volunteers of all skill levels. For more information, call Bo McCarver, (512) 474-6009 or e-mail .

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We are very excited about our newest project: This half-block on 22nd Street between Chicon and Poquito will house eight to ten units of housing for low-income families or people with disabilities and provide unique community spaces and gardens. Solar panels will keep energy bills low for tenants. The Stewart House, donated by Fannie Mae Stewart, is currently being transformed into a community arts conservatory by volunteers and with the vital assistance of Home Depot. See our Blackland Journeys blog to track the progress of this project.

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In 2008 we cut the ribbon on our Solar Duplex, created for only $48/square foot. The duplex consists of a solar house, designed by University of Texas School of Architecture students and exhibited at the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C., and the Harden family house, a 1930s bungalow moved from across the street. Both were donated by the University of Texas at Austin and rehabilitated with thousands of hours of volunteer labor.

State laws prevented us from sharing electricity across lot lines, so we connected the two. The surplus electricity generated by the Solar House's 8 KW system is shared with the low-income tenants in the Harden house. See our tenants' blog and visit the articles in the Austin American-Statesman and Austin Chronicle. Or feel free to stop and take a look at the duplex and information kiosk.

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Blackland began committing itself to environmentally friendly building practices before it was fashionable. In 1992 solar panels were installed on the roof of the Blackland Neighborhood Center. Since then, they have provided lower cost energy to the residents of Robert Shaw Village, a six-unit housing development for low-income senior citizens.

In addition to those houses, by rehabilitating older houses with energy-saving methods, the neighborhood will recycle approximately 310,000 pounds of building materials.

The Solar House at 1701 E. 22nd Street will share its surplus of energy with the residents of the Harden house in front.

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