Feds Shed 240 Acres Near San Marcos Airport

The federal government is lightening its real estate load in Central Texas, handing off more than 240 acres of underused land near the San Marcos Regional Airport to local entities.

The U.S. General Services Administration said it transferred two former Department of Labor properties east of the airport to Texas State University and the city of San Marcos, moving the sites out of federal ownership as part of a broader push to reduce excess property holdings, according to federal and local officials, MySa.com reported.

GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst framed the move as part of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting agenda in a statement, calling it “a victory for the American taxpayer.”

The land breaks down into two tracts. One spans more than 195 acres and includes a cluster of buildings near William Pettis Road east of the San Marcos Regional Airport, while the other covers roughly 45 acres of undeveloped land. Earlier this year, Texas State University took title to about 75 acres from the northern portion of the larger tract, including the existing facilities.

The city of San Marcos later acquired the balance of the property, nearly 170 acres in total, for $1.7 million through a negotiated sale. GSA said the transaction was completed in coordination with local and federal partners and followed all required disposal rules, formally removing the land from the federal inventory.

Texas State plans to keep using its portion of the site for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center, known as ALERRT, a nationally recognized program that trains law enforcement officers and first responders and supports research on active shooter response. The outlet reported that the expansion is expected to allow the university to serve more agencies from around the country, according to a statement from Texas State President Kelly Damphousse.

San Marcos city officials said the land will be used to support future expansion of the regional airport, a growing property as the Austin-San Antonio corridor continues to densify.

City Manager Stephanie Reyes pointed to economic development and land use compatibility around the airport, calling it “an important step in supporting the long-term needs of the entire San Marcos community.”

— Eric Weilbacher