The ceremony marked more than the start of construction. For many in attendance, it represented the visible transformation of a long-troubled site into an opportunity for families to remain in or establish roots in a community experiencing renewed investment and growth.
Located at 5107 Browncroft Street, Crescent Palms will offer 29 three-story townhomes designed to expand access to attainable homeownership while reinforcing neighborhood stability. Construction began in December 2025, with the first framed home expected this spring and full completion anticipated in 2027.
Each residence will offer 1,850 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, and two-and-a-half bathrooms, along with community features such as a secured entrance, improved lighting, and shared green space for residents and their pets. The development’s mixed-income structure will ensure opportunity remains accessible as the area evolves. More than half of the homes will be reserved for families earning at or below 120 percent of the Area Median Income, with additional homes set aside for households at deeper affordability levels. Some homes will be available at market rate.
Crescent Palms is located near Palm Center and a range of neighborhood assets, including light rail access, healthcare providers, schools, libraries, grocery stores, and major universities — amenities that help support long-term quality of life for future homeowners.
Houston City Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz (District D) reflected on the significance of the project during the event, noting the contrast between the site’s past use (a motel formerly occupied the property) and its future role in the community.
“When I think about what was here before, it was not a pretty sight. Now this will be beautiful and welcoming for the people who truly need these homes,” she said.
Evans-Shabazz emphasized the importance of maintaining inclusive growth as investment continues across District D, adding, “Affordable does not mean less than. It means accessible. It means responsible. It means families can be rooted in the neighborhoods they love.” She underscored that principle succinctly: “Growth without inclusion is not progress.”
The development is a collaborative effort among public, nonprofit, and private partners. HCHFC provided $900,000 in equity capital, and HBDi contributed the land and long-term stewardship of the site. Amplify Credit Union supplied $8 million in construction financing, and CABE Construction is the general contractor.
As Crescent Palms moves from groundbreaking to vertical construction, the project stands as one of several initiatives advancing across OST/South Union — a sign of coordinated investment and a shared commitment to ensuring revitalization includes pathways to homeownership for the families who call the community home.
HCHFC and HBDi staff in front of the Crescent Palms Townhomes construction site.