St. Edward’s Acquiring South Congress Property as Part of New Campus Master Plan

St. Edward’s University is purchasing the site of the former El Gallo restaurant on the corner of South Congress Avenue and La Vista, directly opposite the main campus entrance.

This week, St. Edward’s University President George E. Martin announced the anticipated purchase to students, faculty and staff members at the fall President’s meeting, during which he also unveiled the university’s Strategic Plan 2022. Central to the strategic plan is a campus master plan and a set of strategic priorities that will guide future development in four key areas: Holy Cross Community, Student Experience, Austin Connections and Institutional Transformation.

“Since 1999, we have implemented a series of ambitious strategic plans that have led to unprecedented growth and national recognition for St. Edward’s. These successes have resulted in outstanding educational opportunities and outcomes for our students,” Martin said. “The new property is a valuable asset that can help us accommodate future growth and connect to the city that grew up around us.”

The university has completed work on a new campus master plan, which will guide the anticipated growth and evolution of St. Edward’s over the next 10 to 20 years.

Given the university’s continued need for additional student housing on or adjacent to campus, the redevelopment and revitalization of the property will likely include residential development with commercial space. In addition to meeting future growth demands, the university believes the new property will be a source of revenue for many years to come. St. Edward’s is seeking to partner with a developer on the future project to allow for flexible financing arrangements.

El Gallo, a family-run Tex-Mex restaurant, shut its doors on Jan. 29 after 60 years of business. The university expects to finalize the purchase of the property within the next 30 days.

About St. Edward’s University

St. Edward’s University is a private, liberal arts university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 4,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including MBA programs and a master’s degree in counseling. With a network of partner universities around the world, St. Edward’s is a diverse community with educational opportunities designed to inspire students to cultivate a global perspective. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 15 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report and ranks in the top 20 Best Regional Universities in the Western Region. For more information on St. Edward’s, visit stedwards.edu/about.