Introducing ADC’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan

As we enter a new chapter for the Avondale Development Corporation, I am proud to share the launch of our 2025–2027 Strategic Plan—a roadmap built with and for the residents of Avondale. This plan focuses on expanding housing opportunities, supporting small businesses, strengthening youth and family pathways, and ensuring Avondale continues to thrive as a healthy, vibrant community.

We are already seeing this vision come to life through major projects and community initiatives underway across the neighborhood.

One of the most significant is the Burnet Quarter, an $87 million mixed-use development that will bring 290 new apartments, including 58 affordable workforce units, and a 299-space parking garage to the Burnet Avenue corridor. What makes this project truly meaningful is its commitment to community benefit—support for the Avondale Youth Council, investment in workforce development, and months of open dialogue with residents through public presentations and information sessions. Burnet Quarter is a clear example of how thoughtful development can honor community voice while expanding opportunity.

Just a few blocks away, another important effort is unfolding at Gabriel’s Place, a long-loved gathering space that is now being reimagined through a partnership between ADC and 8K Development Company. The redevelopment includes 8,300 square feet of new commercial space and 18 new affordable rental units, with careful attention to preserving the site’s historic character. Thanks to support from our philanthropic and city partners, roof stabilization and pre-development work are already underway—setting the foundation for Gabriel’s Place to once again serve as a hub for wellness, entrepreneurship, and connection.

Our commitment to youth leadership continues to shine through programs like the Avondale Film Camp & Festival, which reached its largest year ever with 97 young participants. These students immersed themselves in scriptwriting, filming, editing, and storytelling—producing powerful short films rooted in their own experiences. The festival brought our community together in celebration of their creativity and talent, showcasing award-winning work and reminding us just how bright Avondale’s future is.

And that spirit of community was felt again at this year’s Avondale Day Festival & Feet in the Street 5K, where more than 300 residents came out for a day full of food, music, fitness activities, senior engagement, youth-led volunteerism, and family fun. From health demonstrations to sports clinics to neighborhood games, the festival reflected the joy, resilience, and togetherness that define Avondale.

As we begin implementing our Strategic Plan, these moments—major developments, creative achievements, and community celebrations—illustrate why this work matters. They are reminders that progress is not just measured in buildings or programs, but in the energy, pride, and leadership of the people who make Avondale home.

Thank you for your partnership, your voice, and your continued belief in our collective future.

— Russell Hairston