Avenue

What Avenue does

Avenue (also known as Avenue CDC) is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1991 that operates a vertically integrated affordable housing and family asset-building platform serving low- to moderate-income households (under 80% of Area Median Income) in Houston's Greater Northside and Northline neighborhoods. The organization runs four interconnected business lines: affordable rental housing operations across its multi-family portfolio; affordable for-sale home development through Avenue Park and related projects; HUD-certified homeownership education and counseling delivered through its NeighborWorks America-affiliated HomeOwnership Center; and on-site resident/community services including food security, youth enrichment, foreclosure prevention counseling, and civic participation programming. Avenue operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Realty by Avenue, LLC (an NMLS-licensed brokerage, #1834683) and Avenue Development, LLC — to facilitate property transactions and development activity. Day-to-day operations run from Avenue Center, a 2021-completed headquarters at 3517 Irvington Boulevard that co-locates the HomeOwnership Center, Legacy Community Health, and YMCA Children's Academy. Major developments include Avenue Place, Avenue Terraces, Avenue Station, Avenue Villas, Fulton Gardens, Fulton + James, and Avenue Park.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit construct with five streams: recurring rental income from owned multi-family properties, one-time home sale proceeds from new construction (Avenue Park homes priced $234,000-$320,000), transaction fees from the in-house Realty by Avenue brokerage, $100-per-household self-paced online homebuyer education fees (eHome America) and grants/free live classes supported by sponsorships, and — most significantly — recurring grants and donations from foundations, banks, corporations, and government entities. Headcount is in the 11-50 band led by long-tenured CEO Mary Lawler (3+ decades). Marketing is community-led: events (Art on the Avenue, HomeFest, Build Up Bash), HUD-certified homebuyer classes (in-person, virtual, self-paced), resident referrals, and bank/neighborhood partnerships generate demand. Notable operational signals include $99 million in projects/programs supported over 10+ years, $18 million+ in cumulative NeighborWorks America investment over 20+ years, 1,000+ rental units developed since 1991, 133 single-family homes sold to date, 9,328 homebuyer education attendees (2012-2023), and a reported 90¢-on-the-$1 program-spend efficiency ratio.

Pricing for housing inventory is income-restricted and unit-priced; counseling and most homebuyer classes are free, funded by grants; Fulton + James rental homes target households at 30-80% AMI; Avenue Park for-sale homes target buyers at or below 80% AMI. Distribution channels include direct in-house sales via Realty by Avenue, third-party property management via Q10 Property Advisors, on-site resident services at multi-family properties, and partnership referrals to/from Legacy Community Health, YMCA, Houston Food Bank, Houston Public Library, and similar service providers.

Name

Avenue

Legal name

Avenue CDC

Website

https://avenuecdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avenue (Avenue CDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that develops and operates affordable housing, delivers HUD-certified homeownership education, and provides wraparound resident services for low- to moderate-income households in Houston's Greater Northside and Northline neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing & Community Development Services

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Residential Property Managers (531311), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing Property Management (BPAJAGAJ), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Homebuyer education counseling
• Community development services
• Foreclosure prevention counseling
• Affordable rental housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Affordable Housing Development & Sales: Avenue develops and sells affordable single-family homes to income-eligible buyers through Avenue Park and other developments. Revenue comes from home sales to qualifying purchasers.
2. Rental Housing Operations: Avenue owns and operates multi-family affordable rental properties across Houston. Revenue is generated through monthly rents from residents in these income-restricted communities.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Avenue relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as government and private grants to fund operations, programs, and housing development.
4. Realty Services: Realty by Avenue provides real estate services for home purchases, operating as a licensed real estate broker (NMLS#1834683) to facilitate transactions for their affordable housing developments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Avenue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development corporation that develops and operates affordable rental housing and for-sale homes, delivers HUD-certified homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention counseling, and provides on-site resident services and community development programs targeted at low-to-moderate income households in Houston's Greater Northside and Northline neighborhoods.

Product overview

Avenue is a nonprofit affordable housing and community development organization (501(c)(3)) that operates as a multi-service housing platform rather than a single product. The organization provides affordable rental housing through multiple apartment communities, paired with comprehensive on-site resident services. Its Homeownership Center (a NeighborWorks America affiliate) delivers HUD-certified homebuyer education, one-on-one counseling, and foreclosure prevention services. Avenue develops single-family homes for sale (Avenue Park) and rent (Fulton + James), manages in-house realty services, and operates community development initiatives including food security programs, youth enrichment, and health equity work. The portfolio also includes signature annual events (HomeFest, Art on the Avenue, Build Up Bash) that serve as fundraising vehicles. All services are free or low-cost, targeting low-to-moderate income Houstonians, with the physical hub at Avenue Center housing multiple partner services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Rental Homes
• Avenue Park
• Fulton + James
• Realty by Avenue
• NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center
• First-Time Homebuyers Education Class
• Homebuyer Counseling
• Homeowner Workshops
• Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
• Resident Services
• Food Security Programs
• Kids Club & Camp Avenue
• Community Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 445 households became homeowners through PNC partnership support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BoxPrefabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024BoxPrefab partnered with Avenue to construct modular homes for the Fulton + James development. Each section of the homes was pre-constructed in BoxPrefab's warehouse, trucked in and put in place by cranes.
• Q10 Property AdvisorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQ10 Property Advisors manages all of Avenue's rental portfolio, including the Fulton + James homes. They handle property management, tenant relations, and leasing for Avenue's rental properties.
• Cole Klein BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCole Klein Builders is the builder for Avenue Park single-family homes development. They constructed 17 homes in the 46-home development in the Greater Northside/Northline area.
• Legacy Community HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy Community Health operates a health clinic at Avenue Center, providing primary, behavioral, and maternal health services to residents and community members. This partnership brings essential healthcare access to the Near Northside.
• YMCA Children's AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Children's Academy provides early childhood education for ages 6 months to five years at Avenue Center, serving working families in the community.
• Houston Food Bank / Second Servings of HoustonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide food distribution and nutrition programs for residents in Avenue's multi-family communities, helping address food insecurity.
• Houston Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to provide educational resources, computer training, and literacy programs for residents.
• Children's Museum of HoustonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides kit-based programs including math, science, and cultural activities for youth in Avenue's resident programs, with free family passes.
• Books Between KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides books for children in Avenue's multi-family communities to support literacy and educational outcomes.
• Common ThreadsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cooking and nutrition education programs for families in Avenue's communities.
• With Helping HandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides meal programs and food assistance for resident youth and families.
• RDLR ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner that has participated in events and corporate partnerships with Avenue.
• TellepsenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner that has participated in events benefiting Avenue.
• Houston In ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvenue partners with Houston In Action to increase equitable voter participation across Greater Houston. Avenue participates in the Latinx Voter Engagement Table and the Grow the Circle Voter Engagement Campaign, building civic power and inclusive democracy for neighborhoods.
• Memorial HermanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through TACHI (Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative). Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation collaborates with Avenue on health equity initiatives in the Greater Northside.
• M.D. Anderson YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through TACHI initiative, working alongside Avenue on community health and wellness programs.
• Wesley Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through TACHI initiative for health equity work in Greater Northside, providing community services and health programming.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffordable housing nonprofit partner with shared mission goals in Houston.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• The NHP Foundation: Nonprofit affordable housing owner/operator focused on multifamily rental and service-enriched housing. Comparable resident services plus housing model to Avenue's multi-family operations, though primarily serving Northeast/Mid-Atlantic markets.

Direct peers

• LISC Houston: Local Initiatives Support Corporation's Houston office provides capital, grants, and technical assistance to community developers. Operates overlapping affordable housing and community development programs with comparable target population and funding partners.
• BakerRipley (formerly Neighborhood Centers Inc.): Houston-based community development nonprofit combining affordable housing with immigrant services, education, and financial capability. Similar integrated social-services-plus-housing model serving the same target demographic in Greater Houston.
• Habitat for Humanity Houston: Houston-based nonprofit that builds affordable single-family homes for low-income buyers, closely mirroring Avenue's Avenue Park for-sale development model. Operates with similar volunteer-driven, HUD-aligned construction and homebuyer education approach in overlapping Houston submarkets.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Houston: NeighborWorks-affiliated nonprofit delivering HUD-certified homebuyer education, foreclosure counseling, and affordable housing development in Houston. Directly competes with Avenue's HomeOwnership Center for counseling clients and grant funding.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator combining rental housing with resident services. Comparable in mission to Avenue's affordable rental operations, though operating at significantly larger scale across multiple states.
• Houston Housing Authority: Government entity administering public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and affordable housing programs for Houston. As a major local funder/regulator of affordable housing, it shapes the operating environment in which Avenue develops and serves residents.
• NeighborWorks America: National network funder of which Avenue is an affiliate. Provides grants, training, and capital to 250+ local housing nonprofits; sets many operational standards Avenue follows as a network member.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and CDFI deploying capital and policy advocacy for affordable rental and for-sale housing. Operates at greater scale than Avenue with overlapping LIHTC and community development focus.

Others

• Grounded Solutions Network: National membership organization promoting community land trusts and shared-equity homeownership models. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler shaping shared-equity practices Avenue could adopt for Avenue Park and future for-sale developments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/avenuecdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avenue