Location: East 13th Street Alley Flat, Central East Austin Neighborhood Planning Area
Owner: Lenora Givens
Designers: Jesse Miller and Mason Moore
Layout: two 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom units, 429 sf each

Video coverage of AF 9 + 10 featuring Lenora Givens by Andres Quintero

AFI Volunteer Work Day June 19, 2010

On Saturday morning, June 19th, 10 volunteers and homeowner Lenora Givens worked to clean up and clean out in preparation for future renovations. Volunteers cleaned the yard, gathered building materials, cleaned inside, and sorted recyclables. Thanks to all our volunteers – Jesse, Lance, Allison, Heather, Andrew, Michael, Lauren, Barbara, Terry, and Sarah!

Video coverage by Andres Quintero.

Project program: 2 bedroom / 1 bath, 850 sf maximum, retain existing trees, 3 off-street parking spaces
Budget: $105,000
Level of Affordability: 80% MFI, S.M.A.R.T. Housing certified

Option 1
Layout: 780 sf, 2 bedroom / 1.5 bathrooms
Designer: UTSOA students Sarah Hafley, Lauren Kohlhoff, and Lauren Braud

Location: Johanna Street, Bouldin Creek Neighborhood
Owner: Private Owner
Designer: Mark Kuykendall of Design Research Office
Layout: 685 sf, 2 bedroom/1 bathroom
Budget: $105,000

Location: Willow Street, Holly Neighborhood
Owner: Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation
Designer: University of Texas School of Architecture students, Spring 2009
Layout: 725 sf,  2 bedroom/1 bathroom
Budget: $105,000

The Willow Street Alley Flat is located in East Austin’s Holly Neighborhood. Willow Street is one block south of East Cesar Chavez Street, a main east/west thoroughfare, originally known as First Street. As shown in the 1919 Survey of the City of Austin and Suburbs, a dam-power, electric streetcar line once connected this portion of Austin to the downtown center. The neighborhood was initially subdivided into 16 blocks extending to Pedernales Street, the eastern boundary of the City Limits in 1919. Willow Street is just blocks away from the Colorado River and “Sandbeach Reserve”, presently known as Festival Beach.

The main house was built in 1916 by the Ravey family. The form and construction is typical for the time period, with a colonnaded front porch tucked within the square plan.  An alley runs at the rear of property adjacent to several commercial properties.

Location: Lydia Street, Guadalupe Neighborhood
Size: 600 sf, one-bedroom/one-bathroom
Designer: University of Texas School of Architecture students
Budget: $80,000 + in-kind donations
Level of Affordability: 30% MFI, S.M.A.R.T. housing certified
Design Feature: rain barrels, low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants, natural concrete stain, spray foam insulation, reflective metal roof, high performance windows, durable terra cotta rain screen, Austin Energy Green Building Program Five Star Rating

The second Alley Flat was completed in August 2009 on Lydia Street. The property is one of many rental properties owned by the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation. Saldana Homes, a local home builder, and University of Texas students collaborated to complete the construction. The home is a true “granny flat,” since it was designed for the elderly grand mother of the family living in the primary house. The design Is fully accessible for mobility impairments and earned a five star rating from the Austin’s Green Building Program.

Location: 2nd Street, East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood
Layout: 700 sf, one-bedroom/one-bathroom
Designer: University of Texas School of Architecture students
Budget: $109,000 + in-kind donations
Level of Affordability: 80% MFI, S.M.A.R.T. Housing certified
Design Features: solar panels, rain barrels, clerestory windows, local cedar rainscreen, ecocrete pathways, spray foam insulation, ductless mini-split HVAC system, high performance windows, reflective metal roof, low VOC paints, tankless water heater, Austin Energy Green Program Five Star Rating

The Initiative’s first Alley Flat prototype, is located on East 2nd Street and was completed in June 2008. Built for a private homeowner that was a previous client of the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation, the 700 s.f. structure first housed the owner’s sister and is now being rented out to generate a secondary source of income. This home employs both passive and active systems that work in unison to provide a comfortable interior environment and reduce overall energy consumption.