On April 12, 2026, the UPC Congregation voted to change the Property Vision Team to the Property Development Commission.
YEAR ONE 2022-23
Education Introduction
During the first year, the Property Development Commission engaged with congregational members on the following topics in order that we might provide members with an education and understanding of our entire property looking from our past, in our present situation and into our future:
- Stories told from members of UPC memories
- UPC’s history from inception into the mid-1950s
- The University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) ordinances that govern the West Campus properties
- The value of UPC property
- External factors that impact UPC’s property – both from the City of Austin & private development
- UPC’s Parking and how to secure this into the future
- Visioning UPC’s future
- Model Designs by UT Architect Students
See the buttons below for more detailed information on these topics.
Additionally, we created an email where you can easily submit questions or thoughts as they occur to you, allowing you a way to interact with us that fits your schedule. UPCpropertyvisionteam@gmail.com
This is a special moment for UPC. We have an important opportunity to explore the possibilities of what we as a congregation in our ever-changing and quickly urbanizing neighborhood can do to serve the mission of UPC, our members and the community now and well into our future. We are embarking on a faith journey. It’s our time to come together to share, and to learn from one another as we listen for God’s voice in this remarkable time.
YEAR TWO 2023-24
Exploration Introduction
In November 2023, Session and the Congregation overwhelmingly supported the Property Development Commission (PDC) in moving forward with exploring property development of the entirety of UPC’s land from 22nd Street to 23rd Street along San Antonio Street.
In December 2023, the Property Development Commission hired Christopher Kennedy with Emmaus Projects as our property development consultant. A smaller group from the PDC was formed, the Kitchen Cabinet, to work through details prior to gathering with the whole of the PDC. The Kitchen Cabinet consists of Danny Dennis, Martha Ernst, Shelley Kilday, Julie Miller and Stephanie Morris.
Through the course of the next 15-18+ months, we will be looking to hire a brokerage firm that will provide us with current market information and represent UPC should we decide to move forward with development. Some of the things we will spend time assessing is our physical space needs, defining our mission and outreach, how we want to engage with our community and campus, securing our parking, how we want to deal with our aging facility and how to allow for financial security now and into our future. Plus a whole lot more!
The PDC will gather with the congregation and walk through all our work at varying points through this time, allowing for comments and questions. We will also be presenting “Educational Opportunities” for members to learn more about specific points of interest that we will consider and discern during this time.
Comments, thoughts and questions are always welcomed at UPCpropertyvisionteam@gmail.com.
UPC Property Prayer
Almighty God,
with Jesus Christ as cornerstone,
we would be builders of your kingdom.
In an unjust world, help us to be servants of your abundance.
In an isolating world, help us love our neighbors as ourselves.
In a fearful world, help us dream of a beautiful day yet to come,
with courage, with hope, one step at a time,
for the sake of your church, your creation, and your future.
Amen.
YEAR THREE 2024-25
Continued Exploration
In 2025, we will continue to explore the possibility of development – both redevelopment and new build – on UPC’s property. In the fall of 2024, UPC’s Session voted to approve JLL as the brokerage firm to represent UPC in this process. Additionally, the PDC approved the contract for our consultant, Christopher Kennedy, for the second phase of work, which will carry us through mid-2026.
As we move through this year’s work, we will begin by ascertaining the general square footage needs of the church and then apply cost values, supplied by our broker, to these numbers, allowing the congregation an initial start to UPC’s financial goals for potential development. The financial work will be refined over the course of the year as we look at the various income/expense possibilities. We will also explore and decide what UPC’s parking philosophy is for our future. We will identify our aligned missions and look at how we can offer a positive impact to our community. There will be many other considerations to ponder and work through this year and the Property Development Commission is excited to engage, to share and to explore this work with you! As always, your thoughts and comments are encouraged and welcomed at UPCpropertyvisionteam@gmail.com.