Redeveloping East 12th Street : challenges and opportunities for the City of Austin

East 12th Street was the heart of the African American community through the 1970s. After that time the African American population became less concentrated along the corridor, leaving a street in disrepair, and with continuous promises for improvements and redevelopment. However, none of the projects envisioned decades ago came to fruition along the East 12th Street corridor, but East 11th Street was able to transform into a bustling center city street.

This report will examine the history of the East 12th Street corridor, the multiple efforts made at redevelopment, and what strategies may be useful going forward to encourage investment in the area, after several unsuccessful attempts.