The vote on a zoning change crucial for the development of the Acequia Trails, a proposed affordable housing complex for the chronically homeless in San Antonio, has been delayed, as reported by the San Antonio Report. Initially scheduled for a decision by the City Council yesterday, the matter has been pushed to March 7, following a joint request by local nonprofit SAMMinistries and Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran (D3).
Concerns have erupted among residents of the Hot Wells neighborhood, where the proposed 201-unit complex has been planned, feeling blindsided by the development after Bexar County Commissioners Court held off on nearly $4 million in funding last December. This sparks another chapter in the playbook of delays faced by Acequia Trails, which despite these setbacks, has secured approximately $11 million previously from the City's 2022 bond, the potential of the county funding remains up in the air, it's set to be decided on a March 12 court vote according to Robert Reyna of the county's Economic and Community Development Department, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, who represents the district and initiated the funding stall, has remained mum, his spokesperson declining to comment.
The contention appears to stem from the perceived concentration of subsidized housing in the South Side, spotlighted by residents and Hot Wells Neighborhood Association President Brady Alexander, who in an open letter to Viagran, requested a six-to-eight-week delay on the forthcoming vote to allow for a proper dialogue about the proposal. Not one to mince his words, Alexander, in a statement obtained by the San Antonio Report, voiced his concerns, "Let’s get the facts before we make a knee-jerk reaction," asserting the gravity of community sentiment and its role in shaping the character and soul of the neighborhood landscape.
Meanwhile, SAMMinistries plans to implement a model similar to its Hudson Apartments setup at Acequia Trails, offering mental health care and addiction counseling. They emphasize the importance of providing a permanent, supportive foundation for the chronically homeless. However, the project's timeline is uncertain, impacting broader plans for the area, including a park, human services, additional housing, and job opportunities
