On August 28, 2013, San Antonio’s Westside celebrated the groundbreaking of the third and final phase of the San Juan Redevelopment Plan, the San Antonio Housing Authority’s (SAHA) newest mixed-income community, located at 2002 S. Zarzamora.
San Juan Homes, on the Westside of San Antonio, was originally constructed in 1951 with additional construction in 1967. This 252-unit final phase will complete the San Juan Master Plan, for a total of 539 new units for the entire redevelopment, home of the former public housing site. This third phase of San Juan will feature 63 public housing units, 31 project-based voucher units, and 158 affordable tax credit units.
City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales joined SAHA Board Chairman Ramiro Cavazos, SAHA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez, HUD Field Office Director Richard Lopez, NRP Group LLC Sr. VP of Development Dan Markson, area residents, and other community leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking.
“The San Juan Phase III project exemplifies what local and federal government can do to improve the quality of life in our city and particularly in District 5. The SAHA project includes all the elements that children, teens and adults will enjoy, feel safe, and value the tranquility of a neighborhood,” said District 5 City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales. “This project is architecturally inspiring and every family member will be proud to call it ‘my home.’”
“SAHA, together with our development partner NRP, area residents, and elected officials, have been actively pursuing funding for this final phase,” said SAHA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “We’re delighted to have secured the $31 million in funding needed to move forward with redeveloping this family community on our City’s growing Westside.”
Total funding for San Juan Phase III is $31,688,440. Funding sources included HUD, City of San Antonio HOME funds, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, tax exempt bonds, (SAHA) Replacement Housing Factor Funds and conventional lending from US Bank.
SAHA’s development partner for San Juan is The NRP Group LLC, who along with Alamo Architects helped design this new community creating connectivity among all three phases and the potential for economic development in the area. The new design includes walking trails and a park with plaza space which may be enjoyed by both residents and the neighborhood at large.
“Quality, affordable residential developments like San Juan are a critical part of strengthening our communities,” said Dan Markson, Sr. Vice President of Development for The NRP Group LLC. “The final phase of San Juan will continue to spur additional economic investment in San Antonio’s Westside.”
The community will be built to meet Build San Antonio Green (BSAG) Level II, which includes energy efficiency, water conservation, site requirements and health requirements (Indoor Air Quality). Along with the BSAG certification, the development is required to have units tested and verified through an Energy Star rater, which will result in the units being 25% above the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2009 and compliant with Energy Star v.3 requirements.
Resident and community meetings were held to obtain input for site planning, unit designs, amenities and resident services. SAHA also worked closely with the SAISD, regarding the relocation plan, to minimize the impact of approximately 178 students living in the remaining public housing portion of San Juan Homes. The relocated families will have the first option to return to the development upon construction completion, planned for December 2014.
Dignitaries celebrate the groundbreaking of the $31.7M final phase of the San Juan development on San Antonio’s Westside. Pictured left to right: Dr. Richard Gambitta, SAHA Vice-Chair Board of Commissioners; Albert Uresti, Bexar County Tax Assessor; Deborah Guerrero, Vice President of Development, The NRP Group; Shirley Gonzales, District 5 City Councilwoman; Lourdes Castro Ramirez, SAHA CEO & President; Dan Markson, Sr. Vice President of Development, The NRP Group; Ramiro Cavazos, SAHA Chairman Board of Commissioners; Richard Lopez, HUD; Margaret Sandoval, HUD; David Casso, SAHA Project Manager; Jeff Dornbos, NRP Project Manager; Irby Hightower, Principal, Alamo San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA).
SAHA provides housing assistance to over 70,000 children, adults and seniors through its Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Mixed-Income housing programs. The Agency employs more than 500 individuals, with an annual operating budget of $172 million, and real estate assets valued at over $500 million. SAHA’s affordable housing programs include 71 public housing properties, more than 13,000 vouchers in the Housing Choice and Special Voucher Programs, and 45 properties in a Mixed-Income portfolio. The Agency empowers and equips families to improve their quality of life and to achieve economic stability through the Agency’s commitment of funding and allocated resources, and with the direct involvement of our local partners.
The NRP Group LLC: Developer, Builder and Management Company
The NRP Group is a full-service developer, general contractor, and property manager providing a broad range of services. From start to finish, every development The NRP Group works on is carefully contemplated and executed to maximize investment return, cost efficiency, productivity and satisfaction. The NRP Group has been recognized as:
- NAHB Multifamily Development Firm of the Year 2012 and 2009, and a finalist in 2011
- Named Number One Affordable Housing Developer by Affordable Housing Finance Magazine (’06, ’07, ’08, ’11 and ’12)
- Top 50 Multifamily Builders by Multifamily Executive Magazine (2005-2012)
The NRP Group LLC has offices in San Antonio, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona; Raleigh, North Carolina, devoting significant resources to providing high-quality, affordable housing to residents. For more information, visit www.nrpgroup.com