The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
When my military family settled in San Antonio’s Eastwood Village on Jarbet Drive, I was about 10 years old. We had lived in other parts of the city, but this move felt permanent because it was the first home we owned.
The location was close to several military bases such as Fort Sam Houston, Brooks Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base. The children in our family attended nearby schools such as W.W. White Elementary, Riley Middle School, Portwood Jr. High School and Sam Houston High School. Riley later became Martin Luther King Academy and Portwood became S. J. Davis Middle School to reflect the demographic changes.
Due to the strong presence of military retirees and active personnel, the community was made up of residents of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Some of those families or their relatives still live in the area. I moved back into the neighborhood with my family after my parents passed. The neighbors and their children were still familiar, so it was a comfortable move.
This area has been home to many notable figures, such as former Mayor Ivy Taylor, District 120 Texas State Representative Karyne Jones, NASA astronaut Bernard Harris, Jr., Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Reggie Doss, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Gary Green and County Commissioner Tommy Calvert Jr. (Pct. 4) to name just a few.
As Morgan Taplin mentioned in her story in 2022, her aunt Linda Jackson helped organize Eastwood Village’s neighborhood association. I later joined that neighborhood association after noticing a sign about a meeting one evening. I attended to find out what was happening in the area and became so involved that I eventually served as treasurer, vice president and president.
Throughout my tenure, the association grew and Eastwood Village got first place in National Night Out representation. Political events were held at our meetings, and elected officials became aware of our influential electoral power. Our influence with City Council representatives brought about improvements to drainage, streets, sidewalks, senior services and business investments.
The area is steadily growing with new businesses such as Planet Fitness, Goodwill, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Big Lou’s Pizza and essential services such as Child Advocates San Antonio, ChildSafe and Schaefer Library. Improvements have been made to the Wheatley Sports Complex to attract more events, and the newest development that will greatly benefit our community is the University Health Wheatley Center.
But there is speculation that one of our area’s biggest attractions, our five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, may soon be changing venue. So the fight continues.
There are opportunities for continued growth despite the threat of gentrification. The older generation is hopeful that the current generation will be courageous enough to fight for the neighborhood to bring about positive change. With the community’s help and influence, we will do everything possible to make the East Side the future of San Antonio.
