After many years of planning, unanimous approval by the San Antonio City Council means the new VIDA masterplan is moving forward to bring critical new housing to San Antonio’s SouthSide in the shadow of Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMU-SA). “The achievement is a significant milestone” for the university, “as plans for development in the area have been in the works for over a decade,” said RVi Planning, a regional design firm that is partnering with SouthStar to bring VIDA to market.
The location of this new 600-acre master planned community in the Texas A&M-San Antonio Area Regional Center just adjacent to the TAMU-SA campus puts it within “one of San Antonio’s emerging activity centers,” where it will be a “major catalyst for growth on the south side of the city,” said SA Tomorrow. The university is one of two “major economic assets” located on the SouthSide, along with the Toyota manufacturing plant.
Toyota’s recent announcement of a $391 million injection to expand its San Antonio truck factory is "the biggest capital infusion at the facility since the production line rumbled to life in 2006,” said the San Antonio Express-News. In addition, production of the Sequoia SUV is being moved from Indiana to San Antonio in 2022. “Toyota is poised now for further job growth and thus a new level of economic impact in San Antonio,” said The Rivard Report.
That’s just the tip of the employment growth iceberg on the SouthSide. Navistar, the nation’s fourth largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, chassis, and diesel engines, is building a $250 million plant here, with another 600 jobs; a new cybersecurity-focused Project Tech facility is coming to Port San Antonio; and automotive parts supplier Aisin AW is building a $400 million plant in nearby Cibolo, with 900 new jobs. Earlier this year, a new 1.5 million square foot TJ Maxx Distribution Center opened on the SouthSide, “adding more than 1,000 jobs to the city and making a promise to improve land” in the area,” said KSAT.
Yet, suitable housing in the area has remained sparse, outside of a few bright spots like SouthStar Communities’ Mission del Lago. This SouthSide masterplan offers a variety of new homes from award-winning builder, Lennar, from the $140s, plus amenities including the picturesque 18-hole Alamo Golf Trail golf course, a clubhouse, pools, playgrounds and parks, and the TEC “Recognized” Julian G. Gallardo Elementary School.
Mission del Lago is the fastest-growing neighborhood in South San Antonio with more than 1,000 residents and a plan for sustained growth that will embrace thousands more—good news considering that, “Less than 1% of area (Toyota) workers currently call the center home,” according to RVi Planning.
VIDA will address the area’s housing shortage and support both the local workforce and explosive growth of the university with more than 5,700 residential units, including affordable single-family homes and townhomes, plus apartments and student housing, in its 600 acres. Texas A&M’s San Antonio campus currently has around 4,500 students but is expected to serve 25,000 by the year 2025. It will also offer retail and an expansive trail system connecting the community to the TAMU-SA campus, shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and healthcare services. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2020 with Phase 1 homes and retail anticipated to be completed in 2021.
“Walkability and connectivity are spearheading the design, offering residents internal connections as well as regional connections to Texas A&M University-San Antonio, future commercial districts, and eventually to San Antonio’s Mission Trail,” said RVi Planning. “The overall vision includes a community core, open space, plus a town center which will introduce new office space, shopping, dining, and event space to the area providing residents, students, university personnel, and area workers an easily accessible entertainment destination.”
About SouthStar Communities
VIDA is SouthStar Communities' sixth active development in Texas. The company invests, develops properties, and provides services including acquisition, entitlements, planning and development, project management, design oversight, marketing, branding strategy, and asset management. The company has developed some of the most successful and renowned communities in the country from Texas to Florida.
SouthStar Communities is also dedicated to supporting the military. The company has partnered with non-profit Operation FINALLY HOME to provide free lots and homes for wounded and disabled veterans. To date, 11 properties have been built for American heroes in SouthStar neighborhoods across Texas.
For more information, visit the VIDA community site below.