In 1971, City of Austin leased property to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build apartment homes for public housing. In 1973, US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made arrangements for building contractors to build apartment homes for US HUD and City of Austin. Shriro Corporation constructed the Rio Lado Apartments. Morris Ward of Shriro Corporation was responsible for the project. These apartment homes for HUD and City of Austin would become known as Rio Lado Apartments. Rio Lado Apartments consisted of 11 two‐story buildings that had once consisted 90 dwelling units, and 1 single story office combined as a community building on nearly 7 acres of land (6.939 acres). Another single story community building was built later. The layout of Rio Lado Apartments were 38 one‐bedroom units, 14 two‐bedroom units, and 38 three‐bedroom units.
Rio Lado Apartments have had a history of poverty and crime as a HUD complex. Police officers were seen patrolling the HUD complex on a daily basis. Police presence was a common sight in the HUD complex. It was a scary neighborhood many former residents say. The HUD complex was a haven for drugs for some reason. Austin Housing Authority inspected Rio Lado many times. The Rio Lado Apartments had a high occupancy are of all units at Rio Lado during initial occupancy. It's initial occupancy was well rapid. High occupancy led to a high crime rate of course.
City of Austin along with Austin Housing Authority has considered the public housing units for Rio Lado Apartments a weather hazard. During rain weather, Pecan Springs Creek would be flooded. The water would sometimes reach up to the black gate during heavy rainfall. Of course that was only on occasion. This was due to Rio Lado being located in a floodplain. This floodplain was a 100‐year floodplain as designated by City of Austin. In fact, Rio Lado Apartments were located next to Pecan Springs Creek.
A contract for demolition of Rio Lado Apartments was originally approved by the Board of Commissioners on September 26, 2012. The Rio Lado Apartments were previously approved for demolition through a Demolition/Disposition Application with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) due to their obsolescence. VP of Housing and Community Development Veronica Macon spoke about improvements to the Rio Lado Apartments in November 2012. HACA procured a development team to assist with redevelopment of Rio Lado in March 2013. The demolition project was subsequently postponed in 2014 to the expensive cost of asbestos abatement. As for demolition, the demolition project was subsequently postponed while HACA researched and considered alternate uses for the property through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). Title to the land for Rio Lado will remain with HACA.
HACA has received HUD approval under Section 18 for the demolition of Rio Lado Apartments. A demolition contract has recently been procured and approved in 2016. Process of building demolition on Rio Lado Apartments began in September 2016. Asbestos abatement was performed by building contractors. Code enforcers from City of Austin, HACA, and Austin Housing Authority were present on site.
Furthermore, HACA has received numerous code violation notices from the City of Austin as a result of the current condition of the property. The property is prone to various city code compliance violations and health code violations. Black mold and asbestos have been found in the apartment buildings. The buildings in their current condition are unsightly to the neighborhood. During HACA's inspection, it was determined that 80% of Rio Lado Apartments was encumbered in a floodplain. Due to the location in a flood plain, restrictions have been placed on development of the site.
All buildings that were once HUD housing units for Rio Lado Apartments have now been demolished as of September 2016. Now all that remains is the black metal gate surrounding the property. Asphalt has been replaced with dirt. Parking lots have reverted to their once natural state. Demolition work has been completed.
The Rio Lado Apartments were located at 2989 East 51st Street, Austin, Texas, US 78723.
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