Brooks Community on San Antonio's South Side Set to Add Inaugural Affordable and Senior Housing Projects

The landscape of housing on San Antonio's South Side is poised for a significant shift with the introduction of its first affordable and senior housing projects at the growing Brooks community—a reinvention of the former Brooks Air Force Base. According to a report by the San Antonio Report, the San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corp. green-lit the construction of two complexes slated for residents earning below the median income. Sageland Flats, with 338 apartments, and Cedar Ridge Terrace, offering 239 units for low-income seniors, expanding housing options for a broader spectrum of the city's populace.

Carving out a niche in an the market initially uncertain, over the decade, Brooks has attracted considerable residential development including multiple apartment complexes and single-family home neighborhoods. "We’ve gotten to a point where we’ve established that market-rate works in this corner — in fact, not only for multifamily but for single-family," Leo Gomez, CEO of the Brooks Development Authority, told the San Antonio Report. Now, the development is pivoting to encompass more economically diverse housing opportunities. Both projects are expected to break ground this summer and be ready for occupancy in 2026.

Encompassing future residents of varied income levels, Sageland Flats and Cedar Ridge Terrace are designed as income-restricted units, targeting individuals and families earning between 30% to 70% of the area median income. Such structure makes these projects a crucial component for cost-burdened individuals in need of more affordable options. The rent will scale with income, ranging between $498 and $1,841 at Sageland Flats and $438 to $1,330 at Cedar Ridge Terrace, according to the San Antonio Report.

The focus on inclusion and accessibility is evident in the master planning of Cedar Ridge Terrace, designed with senior residents in mind, which will be within walking proximity to Brooks's amenities like Hangar 9 event space, VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Brooks Transit Center, and the Greenline park. "I’m delighted. I’m looking forward to it coming," exclaimed Gomez, highlighting the importance of proximity for families wanting to keep elder relatives close in a vibrant and amenity-rich environment, shared with the San Antonio Report.

Demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development and job creation, Brooks recently welcomed a new addition on the agriculture front: a produce farm operated by Virginia-based Soli Organic. Additionally, milestones in commercial real estate have been reached with the completion of the WatersEdge office buildings, though the search for tenants continues. The growth narrative extends to the residential sector, too, with the Los Cielos single-family rental homes and Southlake townhome developments making steady, albeit slower-than-expected progress in the sales and leasing markets.