Wildflower Terrace is a 201-unit, 4-story mixed-income apartment community for ages 55+ located within the 700-acre Mueller Redevelopment community in Austin, Texas. The building meets the Green requirements set by funding programs and the master developer, receiving a 3-Star rating from Austin Energy’s Green Building Program and a LEED Silver Certification. Amenities include a community activity room with covered terrace, movie theater, fitness center, art studio, library, laundry facilities, business center, game room, billiards room, smaller lounge areas, an outdoor courtyard, and management offices. As part of the larger Mueller redevelopment, residents enjoy access to greenways and trails, swimming pools, parks, shopping and convenient public transportation.

The design, while achieving a density 84+ units/acre, has been artfully crafted to be compatible with the surrounding uses with various exterior treatments on each of its four sides. The west elevation that faces Berkman Drive, a four-lane commercial thoroughfare, has the highest density residential and the most urban and commercial feel achieved by using expansive storefront glass with brick and stone to frame the street level retail uses. The Vaughn side to the east, facing future residential development, has a more neighborhood friendly feel achieved by stoops, landscape and stucco. Structured parking for 215-cars is hidden at the center of the project. Individual apartments feature high-end finishes, such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, secure garage parking and energy-saving lighting, heating, and cooling equipment.

Wildflower Terrace effectively advances both of the city’s objectives. Most obviously, with 174 units (85% of the total units on site) of housing at 80%, 60%, 50%, and 30% of area median income, the income mix helps the city meet its affordability targets. Wildflower Terrace was one of the first developments in the Tower District redevelopment, which was named for the iconic control tower that still remains from the former airport. Wildflower Terrace’s beautiful and modern building anchors this budding area of the community.

The community space along the street of the new-urbanist development facilitates interaction between the residents and the greater community: nonresidents are invited to participate in art and writing classes and on-going lecture series at Wildflower, and the Wildflower Terrace Community Room and Theatre are used by local community groups such as the Mueller Neighborhood Association, NeighborWorks, and Austin Women in Housing. Additional efforts to promote community engagement include the coordination of volunteering opportunities for residents with local organizations like the Ronald McDonald House and Friends of Mueller Prairie Landscape.

Location: Austin, TX
Developer: DMA Development Company, LLC
Owner: Austin DMA Housing, LLC