Saurban
  • Home
  • News
  • Local
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: Opposition to new downtown SA Missions stadium proposal
Share
SaurbanSaurban
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Local
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Local
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Saurban © 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Saurban > Blog > News > Opposition to new downtown SA Missions stadium proposal
News

Opposition to new downtown SA Missions stadium proposal

San Antonio Urban Editorial Team
Last updated: 2024/08/30 at 3:11 AM
San Antonio Urban Editorial Team Published August 30, 2024
Share
Opposition to new downtown SA Missions stadium proposal

Welcome to the Game: San Antonio Missions Baseball Stadium Controversy

SAN ANTONIO – Some San Antonians are calling “foul ball” on a plan to bring a new minor league baseball stadium to downtown.

The City of San Antonio laid out a joint plan with Bexar County and the San Antonio Missions on Aug. 14 to fund a $160 million ballpark along San Pedro Creek. The plan relies heavily on surrounding development creating new tax revenue that can pay off the costs of construction.

The city says the team will not get the funding it needs until development is ready to start.

While supporters like Mayor Ron Nirenberg say it’s a fair deal with a group of local owners, a ball team’s worth of opponents came to a public hearing Thursday afternoon to object to the funding method, a lack of public input on the plan so far, and residents’ displacement from a low-cost apartment complex.

“This project is all about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer,” local activist Graciela Sanchez told council members.

Randy Smith and Graham Weston, the co-founders of downtown developer Weston Urban, are also part of the Missions’ ownership group, Designated Bidders. Smith is both the CEO of Weston Urban and a member of the Missions’ board of directors.

The stadium funding plan is based around Weston Urban performing at least two phases of development around the proposed ballpark. In all, four phases with about $1 billion of taxable value are planned through 2031.

The stadium itself is expected to be ready for opening day in April 2028.

The project would take place inside the Houston Street Tax Increment Refinancing Zone (TIRZ), which allows a portion of local tax revenue to be set aside and invested back into local projects.

While the money isn’t technically coming out of the city or county budgets, critics of the project say it is public tax dollars.

SOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS WOULD BE FORCED OUT

Thursday’s biggest concern was for residents of the Soap Factory Apartments, which a Weston Urban-linked entity, And I Cannot Lye, acquired in 2023.

Made up of three clusters of buildings at the intersection of North San Rosa Street and West Martin Street, the Soap Factory has 381 units, according to multiple real estate sites. Though it is technically all market-rate housing — Smith says it’s actually priced above the market as a whole — the apartments are cheap for downtown.

The Soap Factory’s website lists rent for studio apartments as low as $682, one-bedrooms starting at $765 and a two-bedroom starting at $1,245.

Meanwhile, the average rent for downtown is $1,590, according to the website Rent Cafe.

However, the development map shows the complex is in the middle of the first, second, and fourth planned development phases.

Luis Alvarado told council members he had been homeless before he moved into the Soap Factory in November. He suspects many of the current residents will end up homeless, too, if they’re forced out.

“And I would be one of them,” Alvarado said. “I know for a fact that I would not be able to get somewhere else, and I would end up in the street yet again.”

A displacement plan included in Thursday’s presentation calls for allowing residents pushed out by the first development phase in late 2025 to move into other units at the Soap Factory.

When the second development phase begins in 2027, the next batch of displaced residents would also have the option to move to another portion of the Soap Factory or to another Weston Urban property a half mile to the south, the Continental Block Development.

Smith and city officials say Weston Urban would also help residents find other properties that work for them if they prefer.

“(The) bottom line is our plan over the next five to seven years is to treat our residents the way we would like to be treated,” Smith said.

Though the displacement plan mentions the two building clusters affected in the first two phases of development, it does not mention the third, which is in the footprint of the final development phase.

Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.

Contents
Welcome to the Game: San Antonio Missions Baseball Stadium ControversySOAP FACTORY RESIDENTS WOULD BE FORCED OUT

You Might Also Like

SA survivor speaks on change as Texas Council on Family Violence reveals 2023 DV stats

Dominican Republic to deport 10K Haitians/week, claiming ‘excess’ immigrants

ACLU lawsuit reveals DWI scandal in Albuquerque police

Don’t Expect Cooler Weather in San Antonio This October

Coach commends Tim Walz’s son for safeguarding fellow students post-shooting.

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
San Antonio Urban Editorial Team August 30, 2024 August 30, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Moore admits ‘honest mistake’ in failing to correct application for Bronze Star Moore admits ‘honest mistake’ in failing to correct application for Bronze Star
Next Article 54-year-old man missing in east Bexar County located, reunited with family 54-year-old man missing in east Bexar County located, reunited with family
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow US

Find US on Socials
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow

Subscribe to our newslettern

Get Newest Articles Instantly!

- Advertisement -
Ad image
Popular News
Seguin business hosting free mental health fair this Saturday
Seguin business hosting free mental health fair this Saturday
Trump to attend Black journalists’ convention in Chicago
Trump to attend Black journalists’ convention in Chicago
Tech Raptor: Pioneering AI Solutions for a Digital Future
Tech Raptor: Pioneering AI Solutions for a Digital Future

Follow Us on Socials

We use social media to react to breaking news, update supporters and share information

Twitter Youtube Telegram Linkedin
Saurban

Discover the stories that make San Antonio unique, with in-depth coverage and timely updates on local news and events..

Subscribe to our newsletter

You can be the first to find out the latest news and tips

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: Opposition to new downtown SA Missions stadium proposal
Share
Saurban © 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?