It’s 2019 and Boomers Collaborative is on the Move!

Boomer’s Collaborative made significant progress in 2018. We started the year uncertain about how to move forward, but by year’s end we had a site identified and were working to close relationships with several partners.

Highlights

  • We identified a highly-desirable site in a transit-oriented district (TOD) on Ryan Drive. It is a city-owned property on the Metro rail line that will be subject to a Request for Proposals (RFP) later this year.

  • We also identified a redevelopment partner to respond to the RFP, a general contractor to build the project, and an affordable housing expert to participate in the City’s Affordable Housing Program. We will soon meet with an architect who often works with our prospective general contractor partner.

  • We launched our website at www.boomerscollaborative.org.

  • We were asked to apply and participated in Impact Hub’s Fall 2018 Affordability Accelerator.

  • We are in discussions with a local Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) for financing of the project (including share loans* for individuals).

  • In December, the City of Austin Commission on Seniors voted to support the Boomers Collaborative cooperative housing and mixed-use creative space model

  • The Austin Cooperative Business Association (ACBA) has agreed to work with us, and we are retaining Key Figures Cooperative to keep our books.

Thank Yous

Many thanks to Teresa Ferguson and AustinUP for their support and help with our recent survey.

Thank you Brandi Clark Burton of EcoNetworking for donating lunch hours to mentor us during the Impact HUB Affordability Accelerator.

Since appreciation to Ashley Phillips, Reagan Pugh, and Kelsey Willard for the experience of the Impact HUB Affordability Accelerator — ushering us through the process, opening doors, and helping us refine our pitch.

How You Can Help

Provide Expertise: We need to establish relationships with the following:

  • A restaurateur

  • A high-quality artisanal product retailer

  • Artists

  • Makers

LOIs: We will be accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) from all prospective residents, partners, and commercial tenants. A draft Letter of Intent is currently under development. Look for it soon!

Volunteer: Consider serving on our board of directors.

Donate: Visit our website to contribute. We humbly and sincerely appreciate donations in any amount to help us grapple with housing affordability in a new way.