AUSTIN—Three of the country’s oldest public house projects stand in East Austin. Each were built at the height of segregation, opening to residents in 1939.

Part of Santa Rita Courts, which was originally dedicated to low income Hispanic families, is already on the National Register of Historic Places. Chalmer’s Courts, which was designated for Caucasian families at the time, is not on the register. Thursday, the Austin City Council will consider advocating to add Rosewood Courts to the list. Rosewood was built to house African-American families.

The Housing Authority of the City of Austin, or HACA, owns and operates the three apartment complexes. The agency is independent of the City of Austin and manages 18 housing properties in the city.

Aging Infrastructure

Sylvia Blanco said all three of the 1939-era properties need improvement, but Rosewood has the greatest need.

"Washer [and] dryer connections are not able to be added because of space constraints,.” she said. “Electrical panels just cannot handle the load."

Rosewood Apartments have no central heat or air conditioning. Residents must buy their own window air conditioner.

"This property does not have central air conditioning. it does not have central heating,” Blanco said. “You and I both know how hot and dangerous potentially it can be in the summer months."

Blanco said antiquated plumbing practices are unsafe and impractical. The toilet for most apartments is on the second floor; the sewer line punctures the concrete floor just above the kitchen stove.

8,000 Families Waiting

HACA wants to keep a fourth of the buildings, but it would revamp the rest of the property. Plans that began with community input in 2012 would add 101 units to Rosewood Courts--from the current 124 units to 225--to take pressure off a public housing waiting list that's 8,000 names long.

“Increasing the number of affordable units here within Rosewood Courts would be a benefit to the community,” Blanco said.

Blanco says they'd also create an area to pay homage to the property's history.

Remembering the Past

A rich history predates the 77-year-old apartment buildings. It is the former home of Emancipation Park.

"There is no visual representation of Emancipation Park, which was land that was owned by African-Americans to celebrate Juneteenth," Blanco said.

Historic Designation

District 1 Council Member Ora Houston is leading the effort to add Rosewood Courts to the National Register of Historic Places.

Last year, the Texas Historical Commission and Texas Park Service rejected a similar citizen-led effort submitted by Fred McGhee.

“[Historic zoning] would make it much more expensive; it would delay the process significantly,” Blanco said. "This is not a museum; this is a property where 124 families live. They are raising their children, they are living--they are trying to do the best they can--and they deserve better."

Time Warner Cable News made several attempts to talk with Ora Houston about her City Council resolution. She declined our request for an interview.

"Council Member Houston has a choice in whether or not she wants to speak about this issue," Chief of Staff Beverly Wilson said by phone Wednesday.

It is very rare for elected leaders to start an effort seeking historic designation for a property. Austin City Council is set to discuss the plan Thursday. Co-sponsors include Sabino Renteria of District 3, Leslie Pool of District 7 and Kathie Tovo of District 9.