Bishop Stacy F. Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, has announced a Request for Proposals for the development of land owned by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society on behalf of The Episcopal Church in Austin, TX.

Bishop Sauls announced that the redevelopment is Block 87: The Trinity Block, a city block at 7th and Trinity Streets in downtown Austin. The city block is the last privately owned, undeveloped city block in downtown Austin, which has been named the fastest growing city in the United States. Currently a parking lot, it has the potential for over 600,000 developable square feet.

The lot was purchased in 2009 by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society as a potential site for the Archives of The Episcopal Church.   

Plans call for the development of the land with a partner for office, residential, and retail uses along with a new Archives of The Episcopal Church. “The Archives are currently located at the Seminary of the Southwest in space the collection has long since outgrown,” Bishop Sauls said.

“The Episcopal Church has been part of Texas and of Austin since its beginning,” Bishop Sauls continued, “We are particularly excited to be part of Austin’s development for the common good of this community for many reasons, including the fact that our next General Convention, our highest governing body, will meet in Austin in July 2018.  We are committed to this development being a benefit to all segments of the community and something of which that Austin will be proud.” 

“We are thrilled that the Episcopal Church has made plans to develop property in Austin for a permanent home for the Church’s Archives,” commented Bishop C. Andrew Doyle of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. “This will insure a secure location for these historic documents in a setting that will welcome scholars to both build and access the Church’s history for generations to come.”

Details are located here   

The Episcopal Church will be represented by the Rev. Canon Lang Lowrey III, asset manager, and real estate brokers Clinton Sayers II and Paul Byars with Sayers and Associates. Canon Lowery said, “We welcome proposals from those in the development community who appreciate that the path to The Episcopal Church’s Archives must come out of this transaction.”

He added, “This property sits at the crux of three distinct districts: Austin’s creative scene with the Red River District and East Austin, it’s burgeoning medical district to the north and the tech and hospitality anchors downtown already provides. We believe that the Trinity Block promises the largest development opportunity in downtown. And given that there are so many different uses that could do well at this location- from the large, modern floor plan in office buildings to micro-units for residences, we are excited to work with prospective partners to develop this site.” 

For more information contact Bishop Sauls.