Shovels hit the dirt this week in Dove Springs, where crews and developers kicked off construction on two new affordable housing communities that will bring roughly 110 apartments, townhomes, and condos to southeast Austin, according to KVUE. The twin projects are designed to boost both rental and ownership opportunities for lower-income households in a neighborhood local leaders say has spent years on the sidelines.
Sycamores at Pleasant Valley Will Add 75 Mixed-Income Rentals
Sycamores at Pleasant Valley is set to deliver a 75-unit mixed-income apartment community at 5900 S. Pleasant Valley Road, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Plans call for resident-friendly touches like a rain garden and a mural by a local artist, as per KVUE. Construction is slated to begin later this month, with occupancy expected in 2027.
Willows Crossing Offers a Path to Long-Term Ownership
Just east of the Sycamores site, Willows Crossing at 5901 Drowsy Willow Trail will add 38 homes through the Austin Housing Finance Corporation’s community land trust. The project includes one- and two-bedroom condominiums and 14 townhouses that are being built for sale to lower-income buyers, KVUE notes. The development team says affordability protections are intended to keep those homes within reach for decades, and the project website lays out details for prospective buyers interested in the ACLT model at Willows Crossing.
City Backing, Funding, and Neighborhood Input
The City of Austin has committed loan support and other financing to both developments. City records show Willows Crossing received a $7.752 million OHDA loan along with additional Housing Accelerator funding to help deliver permanently affordable ownership units, as reported by the City of Austin. At the groundbreaking, local officials underscored that neighborhood voices were central to the planning process. AISD Trustee Ofelia Zapata described the area as neglected and said residents had pushed for more options between renting and owning.
What Neighbors Can Expect Next
Both development teams have set up local advisory committees and say construction activity will ramp up in the coming months. Preleasing and homebuyer outreach are slated to begin in late 2026, with move-ins targeted for 2027. The projects fold into a broader city effort to expand affordable housing in District 2, and project materials highlight preference policies aimed at serving families with deep generational ties to Dove Springs.
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