That long-scrutinized patch of land on San Antonio’s South Side is finally seeing action. City crews have started clearing a large swath near South Flores Street and Roosevelt Avenue, a few blocks from Stinson Municipal Airport, as work moves forward on a long-planned San Antonio Police Department substation. Neighbors say the once-wooded lot has been a magnet for trespassing and vandalism, and the push for a dedicated District 3 substation has been on local bond wish lists for years. Now, residents can actually see it taking shape.
Local TV cameras have already caught the early stages. KENS5 photographed heavy equipment rolling across the site, and earlier reporting put the property at roughly 18 acres. Nearby businesses told reporters they have battled vandalism and theft tied to encampments on the lot, with employees at a nearby auto center detailing those problems to KSAT.
What the new substation will include
Design documents and the contractor describe a roughly 26,900-square-foot building set on the 18-acre parcel, with room left for future expansion. Nunnelly, the contractor listed on project materials, says the facility will house Patrol, the SAFFE community-policing unit and the Crisis Response Team under one roof.
The city’s project page shows a roughly $19 million allocation from the voter-approved 2022 bond program, and local reporting notes the substation footprint could “require up to 7 acres,” according to PublicInput.
Officials and neighbors say it will improve safety
District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran is pitching the project as both a crime deterrent and a neighborhood anchor. In a city news release, Viagran said the substation “will enhance public safety for the southern region of San Antonio and provide a welcoming space for residents to engage with local law enforcement.” The City of San Antonio cited strong community support for the bond-funded project.
Business owners around the site have told reporters they are hoping a permanent police presence will finally cut down on theft and trespass right outside their doors, concerns KSAT documented in earlier coverage.
Timeline and next steps
The city’s project page lists a public groundbreaking set for Monday and invites residents to a 10 a.m. ceremony, with the schedule shown on PublicInput. The City Council authorized a construction contract in December 2025, and officials expect the substation to be completed in 2027. The City of San Antonio notes the facility is part of the 2022 bond program and is intended to bring in additional patrol and support staff to relieve pressure on existing units.
Once finished, the station will be a highly visible change on the South Side and another step in a years-long effort to modernize SAPD’s substation footprint. A council vote that cleared the project was previously detailed, and the fresh on-the-ground activity now moves the plan from paper to construction site reality.
