St. Elizabeth Place Restored and Reimagined

Expanding Housing in the Heart of Fifth Ward

July 29, 2025 -- Houston, Texas -- The City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCD), along with community leaders and partners, recently gathered in Houston's historic Fifth Ward to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of St. Elizabeth Place Apartments, a transformative adaptive reuse project that is now home to 85 high-quality apartment units. The project reflects the City's continued commitment to expanding affordable housing while honoring the neighborhood's rich cultural fabric.

Located at 4514 Lyons Avenue, the development preserved key historic features, including the limestone and brick exterior and original terrazzo flooring, while converting the property into a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments designed to meet today's housing needs. Originally opened in 1947, St. Elizabeth Hospital served as a vital institution created to reduce racial inequalities and provide access to critical healthcare and services for Houston's Black community. This thoughtful rehabilitation honors that legacy by continuing to serve the community through expanded housing.

The City of Houston invested $17,796,800.40 in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to support the project. The restored building now offers mixed-income housing opportunities, including units for households earning as low as 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

“This development reflects our shared belief that housing can be both beautifully designed and deeply rooted in purpose,” said Mike Nichols, Director of the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department. “St. Elizabeth Place demonstrates how strategic public investment can revitalize neighborhoods while preserving what makes them special.”

The project was made possible through a collaborative partnership between the City of Houston, the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, Cloudbreak Communities, the Texas General Land Office, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Beyond bricks and mortar, the project represents a deep investment in the long-term fabric of the Fifth Ward community. Nestled along the Lyons Avenue Corridor, an area rich in culture and legacy, the new apartment community is expected to serve as a neighborhood anchor for years to come.

“For those of us who’ve lived in the Fifth Ward our whole lives, seeing this building come back to life means everything,” said Mrs. Bertha Dorian, a lifelong resident and community advocate. “It honors our history and gives hope for the future.”

The opening of St. Elizabeth Place reinforces the City’s commitment to expanding Houston’s affordable housing landscape, ensuring that legacy neighborhoods like Fifth Ward are not only preserved, but uplifted through thoughtful design, meaningful partnerships, and increased access to quality housing.

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The City of Houston Housing and Community Development (HCD) department makes long-term investments to improve the lives of Houston residents by creating opportunities for every Houstonian to have a home they can afford in a community where they can thrive. Our department will invest approximately $450 million in federal, state, and local funds this fiscal year to construct and maintain affordable homes, reduce barriers to homeownership, support the work of social service providers, build public amenities, and facilitate disaster recovery efforts. Learn more about programs and resources for Houstonians at http://houstontx.gov/housing.