The Austin City Council gave final approval on Thursday for the rezoning of the former Rosedale School campus at 2117 W. 49th St. The 4.62‑acre parcel will shift from single‑family to multifamily zoning, with a 75‑foot height limit, according to city documents released after the meeting.
Supermajority required
Because a group of neighbors filed a valid petition against the rezoning, the ordinance required a supermajority vote to pass. Council members voted in favor on all three readings, satisfying the higher threshold.
Impact‑fee amendment
District 7 Council Member Mike Siegel introduced an amendment that the council adopted. The amendment directs the city manager to explore using street impact fees to fund traffic‑safety improvements tied to the development, including work at the intersection of 49th Street and Burnet Road.
What the zoning permits
The new zoning clears the way for OHT Partners’ proposed 435‑unit plan, though it does not approve any specific project. Siegel noted that any smaller, “missing‑middle” development would also need the same zoning because of the city’s site‑area rules.
Council members’ comments
Siegel explained that the council delayed the case to give Austin ISD and neighbors more time to negotiate. He said the parties were close to a settlement after a day‑long mediation, but the deal fell apart and talks have ended.
“I’m disappointed that even though today we’re going to approve zoning for the former Rosedale School, that will not lead to housing being built,” Siegel said.
Rosedale resident Daniel Ray, a defendant in AISD’s lawsuit, told council that neighbors had offered to meet the district halfway and still plan to fight in court.
“We’re confident in our legal position and are prepared to carry the fight to the next stage,” Ray said.
Background
In 2025, Austin ISD agreed to sell the closed campus to developer OHT Partners for $26 million as the district works to close a budget shortfall. The city’s Zoning and Platting Commission had recommended the rezoning 9‑2 in March.
The neighborhood group Play Fair With Rosedale has proposed a smaller “missing‑middle” alternative of about 150‑225 units, arguing it would better fit the community’s scale.
Legal hurdle remains
The sale still depends on AISD winning its lawsuit against Rosedale‑area homeowners over a 1938 deed restriction. The case remains unresolved in Travis County District Court, with no trial date set, according to the district’s project website.
What’s next
With the rezoning in place, the city will move forward on the impact‑fee study while the legal dispute continues. Residents and developers alike will be watching the court’s decision, which will determine whether the property can be transferred and whether any housing will ultimately be built on the former school site.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
