Repurposing Austin's historic schools to increase affordable housing

This professional report addresses the issue of housing affordability in Austin, Texas, and explores adaptive reuse of historic school buildings as one solution. The report looks at the relationship between affordable housing and historic preservation as well as the relationship between neighborhood schools and the community. I explore case studies of adaptive reuse projects around the United States that have converted historic school buildings into affordable housing using a combination of Historic Tax Credits and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits as a financing strategy. I then explore the possibility of adapting the Baker Center in Austin into affordable housing as an example for future projects. Finally, I look at the applicability of adaptive reuse strategies to Austin’s inventory of historic post-war neighborhood schools.