San Antonio's latest push for public safety materialized on the streets as the North St. Mary's Police Substation threw open its doors amidst much city fanfare. Funded by the 2017-2022 Bond Program, the new substation features a 24,000-square-foot facility complete with a Crisis Response Team office and a community conference room, FOX San Antonio reports.
Strategically positioned by the bustling St. Mary's Strip, an area known for its vibrant nightlife, the substation is designed to bring a heightened sense of safety to an ever-growing downtown community. Captain Justin Good, the commander over the St. Mary's substation, highlighted the impact of the new addition, “This is going to put a lot of uniforms in an area that’s rapidly growing,” in a statement obtained by KSAT. The novice facility will serve a broad swath of downtown, bringing diverse units under its roof, from patrol officers to Metro Health caseworkers.
As the first such substation to be built since the 1990s, the $22 million project at the corner of St. Mary’s and Locust symbolizes a major investment in urban safety. Rosemary Martinez, a local who has witnessed the evolution of her neighborhood, spoke to KSAT, reminiscing about the substation's site once being a lumber yard, and expressing optimism that this response time in emergencies would improve with the substation's proximity.
The presence of the substation has been met with hope, particularly from residents who have been raising concerns about crime along the St. Mary's Strip. Captain Justin Good has emphasized the department's ongoing efforts in that corridor, stating, “The problem has got a lot better over there.” Diana Trevino, who lives on the same street as the new facility, shared her sense of reassurance with KSAT, “I think I’m going to feel a lot safer knowing that they’re here on St. Mary’s,” she said.
