CLPHA Press Room

From the Austin Housing Authority's press release:

The Austin Housing Authority announced today that Pathways at Chalmers Courts has received the 2026 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Austin Impact Award for Best Project Design.

ULI Austin presented the award Aug. 26 at the ULI Austin Impact Awards Ceremony & Celebration, held at Austin PBS on the Austin Community College Highland campus. The annual Impact Awards recognize projects and people helping create better places to live, work and gather across Greater Austin.

Best Project Design goes to a completed project that pairs design excellence with priorities like sustainability, resiliency, healthy places and equitable communities.

"This award is a tremendous honor because it shines a light not only on the architecture of Pathways at Chalmers Courts, but also on the positive impact this community is having in East Austin," said Michael Gerber, president and CEO of the Austin Housing Authority. "Chalmers is modern, sustainable and beautifully designed, but what makes it truly special is that residents were at the center of every decision - from how the community was rebuilt in phases to the design of the buildings and shared spaces. It shows what is possible when affordable housing is created with the same ambition, quality and care as any other community."

Chalmers Courts opened in 1939 as one of the nation's first public housing communities. Its redevelopment unfolded in three carefully sequenced phases and wrapped in October 2024, replacing 158 aging apartments with 398 new, affordable homes. Families didn't have to leave the neighborhood to get there: residents stayed in their existing units until new homes were built directly across the street, then moved into the finished community.

Residents helped design that community. Surveys, workshops and design votes shaped decisions on building orientation, exterior materials, decorative screens and public spaces. The result pairs greater housing density with shaded courtyards, recreational areas and preserved heritage trees, and turns a former street into a Greenway for pedestrians and cyclists connecting Chalmers to the surrounding neighborhood.

Rooftop solar offsets a portion of the development's power needs. Passive solar orientation, natural shading, rain gardens, biofiltration ponds and native landscaping cut energy use and manage stormwater, while durable, low- and no-VOC materials keep homes healthier to live in.

The community also includes a Boys & Girls Club, medical and dental services, classrooms, resident services offices, fitness centers, gathering spaces, a sports court, playgrounds and a splash park. Together, they're designed to support residents and strengthen the surrounding East Austin community.

The Austin Housing Authority developed Pathways at Chalmers Courts with Carleton Development, Nelsen Partners, DWG, Connect Structural, Dunaway and PHA Consulting Engineers.

Learn more about Pathways at Chalmers Courts at austinha.org.

From the Oklahoma City Housing Authority's press release:

This week, the Oklahoma City Housing Authority (OCHA) and the City of Oklahoma City were awarded a $25,115,577 grant from the Choice Neighborhoods program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The grant will help revitalize the Will Rogers Courts housing development and the Westwood Exchange neighborhood. The neighborhood is bordered between the Oklahoma River and SW 22nd Street to the north and south, the Oklahoma National Stockyards to the west and South Douglas Ave. to the east.

“The residents are the true beneficiaries, because this grant gives them the power to build the Westwood Exchange neighborhood of their dreams,” said Mark Gillett, Executive Director of OCHA. “Over the past several years, OCHA hosted a dozen community meetings, and we will host many more over the next eight years to ensure that the community’s voice remains central to our redevelopment work.”

In partnership with Community Action Agency, Lilyfield, Brinshore Development and dozens of other committed partners, the Choice Neighborhoods grant will support the revitalization of the neighborhood and fully rebuild the housing development following the plan revealed to the community last fall.

The Stockyards City neighborhood, which includes Westwood Exchange, is also participating in the city’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, which will provide investment in new homes, sidewalks, signage, trees, parks and public art.

"This $25 million grant from HUD is validation of the work we have been doing to support the housing needs of those in our city who need it most,” Mayor David Holt said. “Through MAPS 4, our 2025 bond issue and other resources, our city has previously committed $33 million to the renewal of the Westwood Exchange area. This HUD grant will bring the total commitment from all sources to $227 million. The capital efforts are amazing on their own, but this grant goes further, supporting education, job connections, and long-term support that will help the people of Westwood Exchange thrive. On behalf of the people of Oklahoma City, I thank HUD for this support, as we look forward to the progress to come.”

In addition to the funding from HUD, financial and in-kind commitments to this project from organizations across Oklahoma City total more than $227 million. These commitments include $77M in federal, state and local government resources, $49M in housing, $35M in neighborhood resources and $66M in people-focused programs are committed to the project.

The 348 units currently at Will Rogers Courts will be replaced with mixed-income housing, and residents can expect neighborhood projects like a new gateway entrance to the neighborhood, increased access to fresh food through an urban farm and a new Head Start space for children in the area.

"This award reflects the hard work by OCHA, our residents, the City and our community partners who came together around a bold, community-driven vision for the future," said Rocky Chavez, Chair of OCHA's Board of Commissioners. "The Board and I are incredibly proud of Mark and the OCHA team for reaching this milestone, and we’re excited for the opportunity to bring that vision to life and deliver meaningful, lasting results for residents and the broader community.”

The eight-year, multi-phase project will start as engagement with current residents. The first new units are expected to be available for occupancy starting in 2029.

Since 2023, OCHA and its partners have worked closely with the community to strategically develop a plan to revitalize Westwood Exchange. The plan was informed by meetings and feedback sessions with residents, community members and local businesses.

Oklahoma City is one of four cities nationwide receiving a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant this year. The other recipients include Gainesville, Florida, Fayetteville, North Carolina and New Bern, North Carolina.

From the Chicago Housing Authority's press release:

Chicago Housing Authority youth unveiled a new large-scale community mural they created this summer on the rear exterior wall of the Hyde Park Art Center. The youth, ages 18-24, worked alongside acclaimed mural artist Dorian Sylvain, collaborating to design and paint the mural that will remain on display for the next three months.

The project marks the second collaboration between CHA and Hyde Park Art Center, providing young residents with hands-on artistic experience while fostering teamwork, creative expression, and meaningful connections with the Hyde Park community.

The initiative is part of CHA's Summer 2026 Youth Employment Program, which has provided more than 2,300 young residents with paid summer jobs, exposing participants to career pathways, educational opportunities, and experiences that help prevent summer learning loss.

The colorful mural pays tribute to the immigrant community and spells out the word “Solidarity.”

Artist Josiane Johnson said she was impressed by the people she met and what they were able to accomplish since June 24.

“I definitely feel very proud of being able to complete something on such a large scale,” Johnson said. “My biggest dream in life is to create something beautiful with a message for people to see, and now, I almost have to think of something new. It was such a beautiful process. I feel grateful for the CHA.”

Artist Randy Garvin said: “Before this, I never saw myself doing a mural, and I never would have called myself an artist. But coming here every day and giving my all really helped me define what an artist is to me. I have some amazing people next to me and the whole group made it so much better. That’s why we have this word ‘Solidarity.’”

Garvin also learned how to operate a platform lift.

“At first, I was like, ‘Wow, how is that going to hold three people on here,’ but then you learn that you have to back it up and turn it to the correct corners,” he said. “With this little sidewalk, there was only so much space you could you use but I’m glad I learned that skill.

“Working on this project has taught me a lot about life, more than I expected to learn, and I forever thank CHA for providing me with this opportunity.”

Sylvain gave high praise to the Hyde Park Art Center and CHA.

“CHA has really provided us with some quality young people who are curious, anxious to learn and show up ready to go,” she said. “One of the things we established last year doing the mural is we did not want to limit the participants to young people who felt they were trying to pursue an art career or young people who felt they had to have art skills. We were interested in people who were interested in learning. We got a great variety of young people who applied, were accepted, and started.”

CHA Program Specialist Joanna Adjei said: “One of the things that we look for in partners is our young people being able to feel safe. Dorian and the Hyde Park Art Center make our young people feel so valued. We are going to continue to grow our partnership and provide these opportunities to our young people.”