Connect Highstar Apartments, Landmark New Housing Development In Gulfton Neighborhood

HOUSTON, TX – On Thursday, May 15 at 10 a.m., Connect Community and Brinshore Development will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening and full occupancy of Connect Highstar Apartments—the first newly constructed housing in Houston’s Gulfton neighborhood in over 40 years.

Located at 6440 Hillcroft Street, the development offers 77 affordable housing units for families earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Units range from one to three bedrooms and include granite countertops, resilient flooring, tiled bathrooms, and in-unit washers and dryers.

The property features community dining space, a playground and picnic area, and a wide range of free support services focused on health, education, and community engagement. Nearby amenities include BakerRipley’s Sharpstown Campus, Legacy Health Clinic, Houston Public Library, parks, and public transit access.

In addition to high-quality housing, Connect Highstar includes nearly 9,000 square feet of commercial space managed by Connect Community. This includes Fabric Forge, Houston’s first textile lab and entrepreneurship center offering small-batch manufacturing, prototyping, and hands-on training. The space also houses micro-retail kiosks, enabling local makers and entrepreneurs to test and grow their businesses.

“Partnering with a respected organization like Connect Community was crucial to us” said Richard Sciortino, Co-founding Principal at Brinshore Development. “Our aim with this development was to foster greater inclusivity within this diverse community by providing quality housing options within reach of all, ensuring that residents and their families thrive for years to come.”

“This development is a catalyst,” said Anne Whitlock, Founding Director of Connect Community. “We hope it encourages further investment in the community—both in multi-family housing and affordable homeownership—so that families can continue to build wealth in Gulfton and Sharpstown.”

Project Financing and Partners

The $33.5 million development was funded through:

- $11.9 million in Hurricane Harvey CDBG-DR17 funds from the City of Houston

- $14.01 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity

- $4.08 million in permanent debt from Freddie Mac and Capital One

- $3 million from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture served as the Architect, and Camden Builders as General Contractor.