A new phase in Houston’s housing landscape begins as the Houston Area Urban League and Park Street Homes officially break ground on Legacy Oaks at Bland Street, a carefully designed residential community designed to expand access to homeownership and revitalizing the historic Acres Homes neighborhood.

As affordability continues to challenge working families, Legacy Oaks stands as a strategic and community-centered solution. The development will introduce 23 single-family homes on a five-acre infill site, providing high-quality, affordable housing that reflects the character and scale of the surrounding neighborhood.

This milestone project demonstrates how nonprofit organizations, private developers, and community leaders can collaborate to create pathways to ownership while restoring underutilized land in urban communities.

A Different Approach to Urban Development

Legacy Oaks is not just another housing development. It is a model for restorative development, focused on building within existing neighborhoods rather than expanding outward. Through prioritizing infill development, Park Street Homes is helping cities like Houston maximize land use, preserve community identity, and increase access to homeownership opportunities.

Through Park Street Homes partnership with the Houston Area Urban League, the project restores community trust and engagement, while delivering development expertise and an expandable approach to building attainable housing.

How Park Street Homes Is Addressing the Housing Gap

Park Street Homes continues to lead with a model that focuses on real solutions for working families:

• Strategic Partnerships That Deliver Results – Collaborating with nonprofits, municipalities, and investors to unlock land and create housing opportunities in urban neighborhoods

• Homes Designed for Real Life – Offering thoughtfully planned residences that balance livability, quality, and affordability

• Design Without Compromise – Building homes that are durable, attractive, and consistent in quality across all price points

• A Scalable Model for Impact – Developing a repeatable framework that can be implemented in cities nationwide

The Urgency Behind Expanding Homeownership

Homeownership remains one of the most effective pathways to building long-term wealth, yet access continues to decline for many working families, particularly in urban communities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the national homeownership rate is approximately 65 percent, but that number drops significantly in underserved communities and among first-time buyers. At the same time, rising home prices and interest rates have pushed affordability to some of the lowest levels seen in decades.

Housing affordability remains a growing concern nationwide. Recent data from the National

Association of Realtors shows that less than 30 percent of households can afford a median-priced home, compared to over 50 percent just a few years ago. Additionally, the United States faces a housing shortage estimated at more than 3 million homes, further limiting access for working families.

The economic impact is significant. Studies show that even a 1 percent increase in homeownership rates can generate billions in economic activity, including job creation, local spending, and increased property tax revenue. Homeownership is also closely tied to stronger communities, with higher ownership rates linked to increased neighborhood stability, improved educational outcomes, and lower crime rates.

Developments like Legacy Oaks directly address these challenges by creating attainable, for-sale housing in established neighborhoods. By expanding access to homeownership, the project supports economic mobility, strengthens communities, and helps close the wealth gap inmeaningful and measurable ways.

Legacy Oaks History and Community Impact

The foundation of Legacy Oaks is rooted in a powerful act of community stewardship. The donation of 4.9 acres by the Cameron Iron Workers and Charity Social Club reflects a long-standing mission centered on service, uplift, and collective progress. For generations, the organization has served as a pillar of cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and community support within Acres Homes and the broader Houston area.

This contribution aligns seamlessly with the Houston Area Urban League’s commitment to advancing economic self-reliance, equity, and opportunity. By entrusting HAUL with this land, the Cameron Iron Workers and Charity Social Club transformed a legacy asset into a forward-looking development focused on affordability, stability, and upward mobility.

Legacy Oaks is not simply a housing development. It is a strategic investment in generational wealth-building, community revitalization, and inclusive growth. Through access to quality housing and community-centered resources, the initiative ensures that Acres Homes residents benefit directly from neighborhood progress.

This partnership stands as a model for how legacy organizations and mission-driven institutions can collaborate to honor the past while building a more equitable future.

“Legacy Oaks at Bland Street represents the kind of intentional investment our communities deserve. This development is about more than building homes; it’s about creating pathways to generational wealth, strengthening neighborhoods, and ensuring that long-time residents have access to the opportunities taking shape around them. At the Houston Area Urban League, we understand that homeownership is one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility. Legacy Oaks is a meaningful step toward closing the wealth gap by making quality, affordable housing accessible to working families right here in Acres Homes.”

— Judson Robinson, President & CEO, Houston Area Urban League

A Mission Rooted in Community

Park Street Homes was founded on the belief that affordability and quality should go hand in hand. With a focus on restoring opportunity in underserved communities, the company continues to build a national platform centered on equitable development and long-term impact.

“Park Street Homes was founded on the belief that homeownership should be accessible to more families, particularly in the urban communities that have historically been underserved. Through partnerships with organizations like the Houston Area Urban League, cities, and mission-aligned investors, we are building a national platform focused on restoring neighborhoods and expanding opportunity through homeownership.”

About the Houston Area Urban League

Founded in 1968, the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) is a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to empowering African Americans and underserved communities to achieve economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights. As an affiliate of the National Urban League, HAUL provides direct services and advocacy across Greater Houston through programs focused on workforce development, education and youth services, financial empowerment, housing, small business support, and health equity. Through strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations, government agencies, faith-based institutions, and community organizations, HAUL delivers impactful, results-driven programs designed to strengthen families, build sustainable careers, and promote economic mobility.

About Park Street Homes

Park Street Homes is a mission-driven homebuilder focused on delivering affordable and entry-level housing in America’s urban core. By working at the intersection of nonprofits, cities, and private capital, the company creates high-quality housing that expands access to homeownership while revitalizing communities.

For media inquiries, or to schedule an interview with Kevan and Ayesha Shelton are available for both in-person and Zoom interviews—please contact Innovating Marketing Group at info@innovatingmarketinggroup.com or call 346-980-9062.