A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
Groundbreaking development mines solutions to San Antonio housing crisis
City leaders broke ground on San Antonio's newest affordable housing development on October 12.
It’s no big news that the nation is currently in the grips of an affordability crisis. Many folks need only look at their meager balance after they pay their mortgage or rent. San Antonio, a city once heralded as one of the most reasonably priced municipalities in the state, is no different, with almost 45% of renter households paying more than 30 percent of their income.
Still, a bold joint initiative by the City of San Antonio and Lincoln Avenue Communities offers hope. On October 12, stakeholders broke ground on Leon Creek Flats, a Southwest Side development bringing 308 economical homes to area families.
Supported by the city’s 2022 Affordable Housing Bond, Leon Creek Flats will cater to a large swathe of the Alamo City’s population. The tract will utilize more than $2.5 million in housing funding to create 261 homes for families earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Medium Income (AMI). An additional 47 homes will be set aside for those earning at or below 30 percent AMI.
The development will also offer a holistic approach aimed at creating community. Services include free after-school education programs for at least 15 hours a week.
"By increasing affordable housing options and prioritizing families who need deeper affordability, we are creating thriving communities,” said District Four Councilmember Dr. Adriana Rocha-Garcia via a release. “It's an honor to celebrate opportunities for current and future residents of District 4."
Though the project is underway, cash-strapped San Antonians will have to wait until 2025 until the project is complete. In the meantime, the city is actively pursuing a variety of affordability enterprises outlined in the 10-year Strategic Housing Implementation Plan.
"Housing affordability has remained a key initiative for our city that started with the formation of the Housing Task Force," Mayor Ron Nirenberg stated during the ceremony. "Communities like [Leon Creek Flats] represent the collective efforts to produce housing affordability for San Antonio renters."
