Rio Lado Apartments now demolished. (Revisited)

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.

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.

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.

It’s official! All buildings that were once HUD housing units for Rio Lado Apartments have now been demolished. 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.