East Austin has scored a haven for creatives and nonprofits. The Center for Social Innovation, a new community for nonprofits and social ventures, will open at the highly anticipated Springdale General development at 1023 Springdale Rd.

When the center debuts in spring 2018, it will offer 10,000 square feet of coworking space and an additional 50,000 square feet for private offices and meeting rooms. The concept is backed by Notely, a local company that helps fund and incubate social ventures and nonprofits.

"The Center for Social Innovation is really the result of a community needs assessment," says Matt McDonnell, partner at Notely, in a release. "We kept hearing over and over that office space was a major pain point. Other common refrains included the lack of affordable meeting space, and a concern that there were too few opportunities for collaboration. We realized that we could solve each of these challenges by creating The Center for Social Innovation."

A main focal point is affordability. Coworking access ranges form $315-$450 per month. Leasing for private space starts at $19.50 per square foot. Compared to the citywide average of around $30 per square foot, that's quite a deal.

The Center for Social Innovation will be designed by acclaimed Austin architect Michael Hsu, who is working on the rest of the Springdale General campus. The developers, Central Austin Management Group, and Hsu previously teamed up for Canopy, a similar concept on Springdale Road that houses Big Medium, Modern Rocks Gallery, Sa-Ten, and more.

Springdale General comprises 15 buildings and 165,000 square feet of space that can be used as offices, studios, galleries, retail fronts, and even distribution centers. Rental prices start at $12.50-$17.50 per square foot.

"I really think that in 10 years what we'll have is an entrepreneurial area, or district, that's centered in East Austin as a hub for socially-minded businesses in every stage of development," says Notely co-founder Dan Graham. "I really believe that with its booming tech industry, growing population, and the giving nature of its residents, Austin is a well-positioned city to leverage its capital, wealth of nonprofits, and the entrepreneurial nature of the city to become a global leader in the field of social innovation."

Leases are currently up for grabs at The Center for Social Innovation and other spaces in Springdale General. Caffé Medici has already signed on as a tenant and will be opening a new roasting facility, and its sixth location. There will be several other restaurants, and a potential bar, onsite.