City Council approved a long-awaited $61.8 million mixed-use development project for the Eastside’s Red Berry Estate on Thursday that includes a 300-unit mixed-income housing project and a new headquarters for hospitality company The RK Group.
Developed by a public-private partnership among the NRP Group, the San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facilities Corporation, and Casey Development, the project also provides for restoration of the Red Berry mansion and recreation amenities around Salado Creek.
“District 2 deserves a ‘Class A’ housing stock, and I think this project is it,” Councilman William “Cruz” Shaw said. “We’re talking about diversity and equity. District 2 has asked for this for years.”
The City purchased the 84-acre property at 856 Gembler Rd. for nearly $2.3 million in June 2012. Located less than two miles from the AT&T Center, the property includes an 11-acre man-made lake, a swath of undeveloped land, and a historic mansion that belonged to Virgil Edward “Red” Berry (1899-1969). Berry, a state representative and senator who ran successful gambling houses, won the land in a card game, according to legend.
“From 2012 to today we’ve been working on the redevelopment of the site,” Assistant City Manager Lori Houston said of the long-delayed project. “We had several stops and starts.”
In 2014, NRP Group teamed with Terramark Homes and Sugar Land-based Wallace-Bajjali Development Partners for a $150 million development project, which the Council approved in August 2014. The project collapsed after Wallace-Bajjali was accused of fraud and one of its executives, former Sugar Land Mayor and developer David Wallace, declared bankruptcy, according to media reports.
“The community identified this project as a catalytic opportunity in 2010, and we worked with the community to come up for a vision for that site,” Houston told the Rivard Report.
Based on community input, the redevelopment needed to include the restoration of the mansion, preservation of the grounds and pond, trail connectivity, housing, and commercial development.
Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran (D3) said it’s time the neglected property got a facelift, adding that bringing jobs and investment to the Eastside is a good example of supporting balanced growth initiatives in all parts of the city.
The NRP Group, which is involved in other developments such as a $165 million mixed-use project at Hemisfair Park and the new The Kennedy at Brooks apartment complex, and Casey Development will fund $51.3 million – about 83% – of the project. The City and the San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corporation, a nonprofit under contract to the City, will fund $10.5 million, or 17%. The project also will receive City and San Antonio Water System impact fee waivers in the amount of nearly $1.4 million.
“The City is still a partner in this project and there is still land ownership,” Houston said. “It’s not just all development going to the private developers. We are getting a half-mile extension to the Salado Creek hike and bike trail. The lake will be opened up for the community. These are public benefits that you can’t put a dollar value on. We hope to start today on the design and have something under construction in the fall.”
The RK Group, a local firm with national reach in the event and hospitality industry, will operate the mansion as an event venue and gain a 169,000-sq.-ft. office building for its headquarters. RK Group President and CEO Greg Kowalski expects to relocate 300-400 employees to the estate once construction is completed and hopes to add 100 new jobs.
“Everyone that currently works in our current headquarters on East Commerce will be in the Red Berry site, and we’ll also consolidate our other facilities around the city,” Kowalski said. “This will help us continue to grow and bring everybody together. So many people have worked on this for so many years. … I think we all hope this is a catalyst to continue with this development on the Eastside.”
Councilman John Courage (D9) was the only Council member to vote against the plan, calling the affordable housing unit component of the plan “disingenuous.” Councilman Rey Saldaña (D4) was absent due to travel and did not vote.
“We need to take a closer look at these housing projects and do something that’s truly affordable in a lot of these communities,” Courage said.
The completion of the AT&T Center in 2002 was expected to be a catalyst for development in the area, but “it hasn’t been,” he said. The AT&T Center is located 1.7 miles away from the estate.
“Whatever comes of this I hope it’s successful, but those in the community should benefit, not just walk around the trails and look at the beautiful mansion,” Courage said.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said there are affordable housing issues all over the country, and that this development is also about connecting people to opportunities, education, and transportation.
‘The reason why it’s taken so long [to redevelop] Red Berry is that we’ve tried to get to the point where we are right now,” Nirenberg said. “… We can be proud we’re making action happen in the Red Berry Estate.”
Houston said that rent for a 1-bedroom unit would cost around $815 a month and would be affordable for someone who makes $30,000 a year. She added the project would be “catalytic” for the surrounding vacant and underutilized properties along the nearby Interstate 10 corridor.
“This really is an opportunity to spur more development, and then you have around 50 acres surrounding the property,” Houston told the Rivard Report after the Council vote. “When you add 500 jobs to this area and over 300 housing units, there is going to be an economic impact, and there is going to be growth because there are dollars in that community.”
Thank you Rocio. This looks like a great opportunity of city infill development, especially within 410. I’m leaning towards Councilman Courage’s position, as $815 a month for a 1-bedroom seems to be not very affordable.
If the outlook for the projected development continues, that would be great for the school district’s tax intake.
I like the idea of a “Woodlawn Lake East” with environmentally sound multistory housing and businesses, and a green and responsibly dense and lush development along Salado Creek. Looking forward to this, and to VIA also filling this area in (OK, if not a full cent to them, can we settle on a 3/4 cent dedication?)!
Once again, a mention of the AT&T Center and what DID NOT happen after it was built. I would like to know who, exactly, thought that building a sports arena (in any part of town, not just the East Side) would spark “catalytic growth”. I’ve wondered for years why anyone thought that would happen. It isn’t like a sports arena adds a ton of well-paying jobs, nor do residents of other parts of the city say, “Hey! I want to live by the arena!”
Anyway. Hopefully this will actually be a catalyst for growth and renewal on the East Side.
Several questions arose as I read this article. Firstcwas did the city lose any money from the failed Baijalli partnership?
The next is what the definition of “community input” for this to happen. How many in the community and were they citizens or special interest groups or individuals who stand to benefit, such as Kowalski.
Thirdly, a nearby stadium is NEVER the catalyst for residential development. If anyrhing, it is the death knell fo such. No one wants to fight game or event night traffic to leave or return home. No one wants glaring parking lot lights shining through the window.
Will this truly enhance the eastside financially, developmentally and economically? THAT is the question.
After the City purchased the estate, numerous public meetings were held, both on site and at other venues. The meetings were well attended by people who live in the nearest neighborhoods and people interested in business development in the area. Many of our concerns have been addressed with this plan and those of us who have been following along since the beginning are still providing suggestions.
Several questions arose as I read this article. First was did the city lose any money from the failed Baijalli partnership?
The next is what the definition of “community input” for this to happen. How many in the community and were they citizens or special interest groups or individuals who stand to benefit, such as Kowalski.
Thirdly, a nearby stadium is NEVER the catalyst for residential development. If anything, it is the death knell fo such. No one wants to fight game or event night traffic to leave or return home. No one wants glaring parking lot lights shining through the window.
Will this truly enhance the eastside financially, developmentally and economically? THAT is the question.
I would like to know what Mr. Courage meant in claiming that the affordable housing claim is “disingenuous.” Details, please. This aspect of the initiative will become “the elephant in the room” when everything is said and done. Now is the time to talk about this, not after all the development has occurred and the corporations walk off with all the money and aren’t around to explain the absence of affordability in the project.
I need to know on what Mr. Courage bases his conclusion of his “disingenuous” claim. Affordability will be The Elephant in the Room in this project and now is the time to talk about it, bolster it with not only projections, but irrefutable projections and data before all the corporate and private sector folks leave town and are no longer available to discuss this.
BS BS BS. More free money to well heeled well connected fat cat developers. $850 for 1 bedroom apt. is not affordable housing. It’s not even housing. There are no affordable houses for families to buy. A family would be better off buying an older house in a marginal area, buy a gun or 2 to protect themselves from the thugs drug dealers gangsters. In 10 years that family will have some equity. That same family in apt in 10 years wont have equity $- zero. Those monthly rents go to the fat cat developers. BS BS BS.
Want to revive the east side or any (blighted) side? Go to the schools and give principals and teachers the power to discipline the kids in school. Lay down the law and punish when it is violated!!! Tell Administrators, counselors, and teachers to live by the following and teach emphatically to ALL students strongly regardless of race or socio economic situation : Teach these 4 principles. (Minimum requirements)
1. Graduate from high school.
2. Get a full time job.
3, Do not get married until age 21.
4. Do not have children out of wedlock, even
better; do not get pregnant until after being married for
at least 1 year.
(VERY IMPORTANT! – PRINCIPALS, ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS AND TEACHERS MUST FOLLOW THE 4 PRINCIPLES TOO- AFTER ALL, THEY ARE THE EXAMPLES)
Certified peer reviewed studies have shown that by following these 4 principles that young adults have a less than 2% chance of being in poverty and a 72% chance to climb into the middle class in less than 10 years regardless of what socio-economic category they started in.
Just imagine if city leaders, schools and teachers lived like this and taught these 4 principles !
These are the comments on this page? Serious consideration need to be made for development of this project without the lapse of judgement given to by any of the respondents within this article. Growth is an important aspect of community and with that growth is the necessity for affordable housing. There has been an abscence around the country for affordable housing as these projects are considered and development begins which have cost those municipalities the opportunity to pull in and provide a community that considers EVERYONE from the community including those less privileged. Let’s all make this a new destination for all to enjoy and support.