NRP Group and Housing Authority of Travis County Break Ground on Sanara Affordable Family Community in Southeast Austin
The NRP Group and the Housing Authority of Travis County broke ground on Sanara, a 348-unit affordable housing community in Southeast Austin. The development will reserve all units for households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income and is sited at 4401 E. Slaughter Lane adjacent to expanding commercial corridors and employment hubs.
Sanara will consist of 13 three-story residential buildings across a 56-acre site, with roughly 18 acres dedicated to residential use and the remaining floodplain conveyed to the City of Austin Parks Department for integration into East Austin’s trail network. The location is less than 10 minutes from Interstate 35 and approximately 15 minutes from State Highway 130, providing access to nearby employers including Tesla’s Gigafactory and Samsung’s semiconductor facilities. Southpark Meadows and other retail and service nodes are within a short drive.
“Sanara is designed for families seeking attainable rents in well-connected neighborhoods, a demographic that is often underserved in today s market, said Max Whipple, Vice President of Development at The NRP Group. By prioritizing curated amenities and high quality finishes in a thriving commercial corridor, we are creating housing that better reflects how people live today. Through our partnership with Travis County, we are delivering modern, well-designed homes where families can thrive and grow alongside the community for decades to come.”
Unit mix is intentionally family-oriented: 12 one-bedroom units, 120 two-bedroom units, 144 three-bedroom units and 72 four-bedroom units, with more than 60 percent of residences offering three- and four-bedroom layouts. Apartment interiors will include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, modern cabinetry, vinyl plank flooring, walk-in closets and Energy Star appliances.
On-site amenities will include a 24-hour fitness center, business center with coworking space, clubhouse with lounge and community kitchen, outdoor pool with lounge seating, children’s activity center and playground. Tailored resident programs offered at no cost will include after-school care, financial literacy courses, ESL classes and first-time homebuyer programs.
“Expanding access to affordable housing in high-growth areas like Southeast Austin is critical to ensuring that working families are not priced out of opportunity, said Patrick Howard, Executive Director & CEO of The Housing Authority of Travis County. Sanara reflects our continued partnership with The NRP Group to deliver housing that is not only attainable, but thoughtfully designed to support long-term stability and quality of life for residents. This community will help meet growing demand across Travis County while connecting residents to nearby jobs, services and everyday amenities.”
The project is supported by tax credit equity from MetLife Investment Management with credits syndicated by Redstone Equity Partners. Construction and permanent financing is provided by PIMCO and arranged by Berkadia. Safehold is participating as a ground lessor, marking the first use of its ground lease structure for an affordable multifamily development in Texas.
“We re pleased to partner with The NRP Group on Sanara as we continue to expand our affordable housing platform in Texas, said Steve Wylder, Safehold s Head of Investments. As affordability pressures persist, our focus is on providing long-term, low-cost ground lease capital that helps experienced developers move projects forward. This investment underscores our commitment to supporting the delivery of high-quality affordable housing at scale across growing markets.”
Construction is underway. The NRP Group anticipates initial move-ins in April 2027. Sanara represents a public-private financing model and a family-focused unit mix intended to expand affordable housing options within a rapidly growing Austin submarket.