AUSTIN, Texas — It was a groundbreaking day for a historically Black community in North Austin. City leaders announced plans Friday to turn a once abandoned plot of land in St. John's neighborhood into a multi-use space with affordable housing and services.

It is a big move for affordable housing, with gentrification a major issue in Austin and throughout Texas. While this project has been in the works for many years, the St. John community has been in need of support since it was first purchased by freed slaves more than a century ago. 

No one can tell you the history of the St. John neighborhood like Thelma Williams. 

"It was difficult. We had to haul water; we had no running water, no electricity," Williams said. 

Around here, the 80-year-old community activist is known as "Grandma Wisdom," — and for good reason. She's spent her life educating youth and the community about the history of systemic racism affecting the neighborhood. 

"I want my grandkids, my great-grandkids, to know the sacrifices that were made so that they can be the best of the best," she said. 

Williams' home tells its own history. The one-story house and front yard is basically an outdoor art gallery, playground and museum.

"This swings is more than 30-years old," she said. 

Williams lives on the same plot of land that her parents raised her on. The original foundation of her childhood home, which is about the size of a studio apartment, has been turned into a colorful stage. 

"That was the way the houses were built then. You didn't have a bunch of room," she said. 

She bought the property from her mom and dad for $10 in the 1980s and built the home she lives in today. Now, Williams is one of the few remaining original Black residents of St. John's that still lives there. 

"They don't want to live in a struggling, poor community anymore," she said.

Emancipated slaves bought 300 acres of land in 1894 and founded the St. John neighborhood. In 1931, Reverend Black sold his plots to Black sharecroppers. Williams' grandfather is one of those people. 

His house is a few blocks down the street from Williams, and it still has its original exterior. When Williams was building up her home in the '80s, Black families were moving out, and Latino immigrants moved in. With redlining, segregation, lack of funding from the government and gentrification, most people have left, and the neighborhood never fully flourished. 

But, an abandoned parking lot might change all that. On Friday morning, a group of city leaders, nonprofit organizers and residents came together at St. John Park to unveil plans to build hundreds of affordable homes. They also will build retail and nonprofit space at an old Home Depot the city purchased about 13 years ago. 

It was initially going to be a courthouse, but Austin Councilman Greg Casar said the community wanted something to help St. John thrive. 

"To me, it really is a symbol of us going from a history of neglect to a future of respect," Casar said. 

The project proposal also states: "The project will also require Right to Stay and Right to Return policies, which allow working-class families currently living in the gentrifying neighborhood to find permanently affordable places to stay, and also allow displaced families with historic ties to the neighborhood to be preferred for affordable units."

Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey Travillion said it's important to build communities and not just housing, and while this is progress, there's not enough.

"One project absolutely does not heal all of the ills created by public policy and public officials, but it is a first step," Travillion said. 

St. John residents and leaders behind this project also say this isn't just a win for St. John. 

"I think if we can get this done here, it's something we can get done in many parts of the city," Casar said. 

Williams said that she finally feels hopeful for the first time since campaigning for this project years ago. 

"Believe it or not, I didn't think it was possible until Greg became councilmen," she said. 

So when she's telling her grandkids the story of St. John's, maybe it will have a happy ending. Austin City Council voted to move forward with the developer for the St. John project Thursday, but it's still in the preliminary stages.

Construction is expected to begin in 2022.