AACHD Strategic Plan
Our goals are centered on Housing Business Culture & History Infrastructure
Our Vision & Goals
We, the Black and African-American community of Austin, speak with a unified voice to assert our right to remain, return, and thrive in the African-American Cultural Heritage District. For generations, systemic injustices—from segregation to urban renewal—have displaced our families, dismantled our businesses, and eroded the cultural fabric that once flourished in this district. Through the development of the AACHD strategic plan, we commit to ensuring tangible actions that repair past harms and build a future of equity, prosperity, and cultural resilience.
These goals are not just aspirations—they are a mandate for accountability. We call on the City of Austin to partner with us to follow through on its formal apology to the Black and African-American community with action, recognizing that true repair and reconciliation requires sustained investment, policy change, and community-led decision-making. We stand together to ensure that this district remains a beacon of Black excellence, resilience, and belonging for generations to come.
Our Priorities
Rights to Remain & Return
Safeguard the African-American community’s rights in the district. This commitment includes preserving and creating affordable housing, combating displacement, and advancing an inclusive environment where all residents can learn about and celebrate their cultural heritage, and strengthen and rebuild generational ties.
Economic Empowerment
Actively support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs through targeted investments, access to resources, education, training, and policies that promote Black ownership in the district. Establish a sustainable foundation that is a generator of economic vitality and generational wealth within the district.
Cultural Preservation
Gather, preserve, and illuminate the district’s vibrant cultural identity and rich history of resilience through active storytelling, education, and the protection of cultural and physical landmarks, while nurturing this legacy through art and music, investing in Black artists creating inclusive spaces, and amplifying the voices and achievements of Austin’s Black communities past and present.
Health & Connectivity
Enhance physical and mental health and connectivity by investing in environmentally just improvements, infrastructure, accessible transportation, and aesthetic enhancements that promote the district’s identity. Create a district that is accessible, welcoming, and representative of its cultural heritage.
Focus Areas of the Strategic Plan
These focus areas guide the strategies and actions needed to ensure accountability, community ownership, and long-term impact.
About the Project
The AACHD Strategic Plan is a community-led effort to shape a more equitable future for Austin’s African American Cultural Heritage District. The plan will advance housing and anti-displacement strategies, support Black-owned businesses, preserve cultural and historic assets, and improve infrastructure – all grounded in the voices, priorities, and lived experiences of Black Austinites.
Acronyms & Terminology
AACHD
African American Cultural Heritage District
COA
City of Austin
Black Austinites
The Black and African American community in Austin, Texas
East Austinites
A resident of the area in Austin, Texas, located east of Interstate 35
Canopy Density
The proportion of the forest floor directly covered by the vertical projection of tree crowns