The San Antonio Housing Trust is looking to acquire nearly 6 acres of vacant buildings and land in a bid to get ahead of gentrification in the Cattleman Square area.
Specifically, the nonprofit is eyeing the National Grocer Company building, the Rich Book Building, the Heimann Building and vacant land behind the Scobey industrial complex, the San Antonio Express News reported.
The purchase is part of the organization’s effort to address housing affordability concerns and counteract gentrification by planning for future affordable housing — and to do so in a way that involves the community.
“Our community needs to know that they’re being heard, and that there are public entities out there that really do help, and we’re going to put our money where our mouth is and use the experience and resources that we have to make sure this community process is done right,” Housing Trust director Pete Alanis told the outlet.
The trust intends to engage residents through surveys, meetings and outreach events to develop plans aligning with community needs.
The backdrop of this venture is a neighborhood caught in transition. Across the highway, downtown San Antonio is bustling with development — luxury apartments, hotels and an expanding University of Texas at San Antonio campus. However, the growth spurt threatens affordability, with projects like the demolition and planned redevelopment of the affordable Soap Factory Apartments drawing criticism for displacing tenants.
In addition to the collection of Cattleman Square properties, the housing trust recently purchased land totalling 1.5 acres at 811 West Houston Street, almost 20 acres near Texas A&M University-San Antonio and 8.6 acres at Midcrown Drive and Eisenhauer Road near Windcrest.
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These acquisitions feed into the broader strategy of land banking to preserve options for future affordable housing developments.
The trust is also collaborating with local homelessness nonprofit Corazón Ministries on a new facility serving homeless people. The Westside Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone has already agreed to provide $375,000 in total to the partners for the project.
— Andrew Terrell