The City Council’s Housing Committee unanimously voted Wednesday to endorse efforts to obtain housing tax credits for apartment communities planned for the East and Westside.
The Committee approved a resolution supporting the San Antonio Housing Authority’s application for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) for 9% credits for the development of the East Meadows Phase II multi-family project.
East Meadows is in a Choice Neighborhood, where a federal grant is helping to transform the former Wheatley Courts housing project into a high-quality, mixed-income community.
Phase II, along North Walters Street, will consist of 117 rental units, 94 of which will be classified as affordable. The development cost is estimated at $23 million.
The Housing Authority will host a grand opening for the initial phase of East Meadows on Oct. 14. Authority officials have said East Meadows has potential to become a model for transformative redevelopment.
The Committee approved a resolution of no objection for Chateau de Vitré, at 700 W. Commerce St. The developer, 210 Development Group, will seek non-competitive 4% housing tax credits with TDHCA.
The developer and City leaders have envisioned Chateau de Vitré, a mixed-use development, as a key element in revitalizing the the near-Westside and better connecting the neighborhood with the main downtown sector.
The site was once home to the former Toudouze Market, a family-owned market and grocery wholesaler. When all construction is finished, the Maureaux Building, which dates back to the 1920s, will have been partially demolished and rebuilt to retain and restore the southern and eastern facades based on the original design.
The $45 million prohject, which does not involve any City financing, will include 242 residential rental units, 206 of them pegged as affordable. The development includes 5,000 sq. ft. of ground-level retail space, and is to be built over a two-story parking structure.
There was little discussion on either of these agenda items, save for questions about whether the respective Council members – Alan Warrick (D2) and Shirley Gonzales of (D5) – supported the projects. City staffers confirmed that they do.
Committee member and Councilman Ron Nirenberg (D8) asked why the Chateau de Vitré development required a resolution of no objection and the East Meadows Phase II project needed only a resolution of support.
Bridgett White, interim Planning and Community Development director, replied it all comes down to state requirements.
“With the 9% (application), you can do a resolution of support or no objection,” said White. “But with 4% you can only do resolution of no objection.” City Council will consider both resolutions at a future meeting.
The Committee also unanimously endorsed authorizing issuing up to $22 million in housing revenue bonds to develop Acme Road Apartments.
The apartment complex would involve 324 units of low-income housing on 18 acres west of South Acme Road near Prosperity Drive.
The San Antonio Housing Trust Finance Corporation would issue the bonds, which would mature over 40 years at an interest rate not to exceed 7%. The development budget is $44 million.
City staffers said Councilman Ray Lopez (D6) supports the Acme Road apartment project in his district. Otherwise, there was little discussion on the matter. Council will consider action on the project in a future meeting.
Top image: The Wheatley Choice Neighborhood development. Photo by Scott Ball.
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