Advocacy Alert: North SA Chamber Opposes Proposed Storm Water Fee Changes

North Chamber logo 4c stackedThe City of San Antonio (CoSA) Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) proposed a project to “migrate the existing Storm Water Utility Fee from one based upon land use and parcel size to one based upon impervious cover,” and completed a study to determine revenues needed to be recovered by the fee over the next five years. TCI has communicated the proposed changes in rate methodology to various stakeholders including governmental agencies, chambers of commerce, professional and other organizations, as well as school districts. Learn more about the Storm Water Utility Fee

As the process has progressed, the North SA Chamber, as a stakeholder, has determined the proposed Storm Water Fee changes will penalize property owners for building activity that occurred before the adoption of the proposed methodology and rates. The Storm Water Fee restructuring will affect both residential and commercial customers.

The North SA Chamber board of directors met Tuesday, July 22, 2014 and voted in opposition of the proposed Storm Water Fee as it is currently presented. We have seen example commercial Storm Water Fee calculations using the proposed methodology showing in most cases, increases of several hundred percent, and in some cases, increases of more than 1000% or even 2000%. This is unreasonable. Click here to read the letter your North SA Chamber sent to city staff and officials

The Storm Water Fee restructuring will result in increases in commercial fees that will be burdensome to absorb by public schools, colleges, universities and existing businesses with large campuses including corporate headquarters, manufacturing facilities, hotels/resorts, attractions, multi-family housing, commercial office complexes, auto dealerships, retail establishments and others. Additionally, the new methodology and rates would be unattractive to an existing business considering expansion or a new business considering relocation within the city limits of San Antonio, thus will result in a negative impact on business retention, expansion and recruitment.

North SA Chamber Position:
The North SA Chamber is opposed to an increase in Storm Water Fees to any individual user of more than 10% in any given fiscal year. The North SA Chamber respectfully requests that the proposed Storm Water Fee restructuring not be adopted in the 2015 CoSA budget, and that the process be permitted to continue further until the City, stakeholders and the public can address issues including the definition of impervious cover, methodology, rate structure and appeals. Click here to obtain the Advocacy Alert flyer

Call to Action:

  • Contact the Mayor and your City Council Representative.
  • Tell them September 2014 is too early to adopt the flawed, proposed Storm Water Fee restructuring.
  • Tell them you are opposed to the Storm Water Fee proposed methodology and rates.
  • Ask them to continue to revise the proposed Storm Water Fee methodology and rates with stakeholder and public input.

City Elected Officials Contact Information:

Mayor Ivy R. Taylor
210.207.7060
Mayor.IvyTaylor@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Diego Bernal, District 1
210.207.7279
district1@sanantonio.gov

Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, District 3
210.207.7064
district3@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Rey Saldana, District 4
210.207.7281
district4@sanantonio.gov

Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, District 5
210.207.7043
Shirley.Gonzales@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Ray Lopez, District 6
210.207.7065
district6@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Cris Medina, District 7
210.207.7044
district7@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Ron Nirenberg, District 8
210.207.7086
district8@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Joe Krier, District 9
210.207.7325
district9@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Mike Gallagher, District 10
210.207.7276
district10@sanantonio.gov

City of San Antonio Mayor & City Council

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283

Physical Address
City Hall, 4th Floor
100 Military Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205

Advocacy Alert SWF Flyer

Crimson Real Estate Fund and USAA Real Estate Company Announce Build-To-Suit For TGS

usaa logocrimsonCrimson Real Estate Fund, L.P. (CREF), and its co-investment partner, USAA Real Estate Company, have acquired eight acres of land in west Houston to build a new headquarters for TGS-Nopec Geophysical Company (TGS). At approximately 97,500 rentable square feet, the 3-story office building and 408 surface parking spaces will be built on Clay Road, near Beltway 8.

The proposed building will be TGS’ North American headquarters. This new facility is designed to meet TGS requirements and will allow for future growth. The Project will be leased in its entirety to TGS.

Patrinely Group, LLC, the development management affiliate of CREF, will develop the building. Crimson Services, LLC, also a related entity to CREF, will provide on-site property management. Jon Silberman of NAI Houston represented the tenant and Dennis Tarro of Crimson Services, LLC represented the landlord in the transaction.

Crimson Real Estate Fund, a real estate opportunity fund, is managed by Crimson Real Estate Advisors, L.P., based in Houston.  USAA Real Estate Company is the largest single investor in CREF and also co-invests alongside CREF, which serves as the sponsor/operating partner. CREF, in addition to funding BTS office and multifamily developments around the country, acquires and repositions real estate opportunities in key growth markets across the United States.

About Crimson Real Estate Advisors, LP
Crimson and its affiliates have acquired and developed assets valued in excess of $3 billion over the past 25 years. For more information, visit www.crimsonrealestateadvisors.com.

About USAA Real Estate Company
USAA Real Estate Company, with approximately $12 billion in assets under management, provides co-investment, acquisition, build-to-suit and development services for corporate and institutional investors.  The USAA portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail and hotel properties as well as investments in real estate operating companies. USAA Real Estate Company is a subsidiary of USAA, a leading financial services company, serving military families since 1922. For more information, visit www.usrealco.com.

About Patrinely Group, LLC
Patrinely Group, an affiliate of Crimson Real Estate Fund, is as a national real estate development firm specializing in commercial office and residential projects throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.patrinelygroup.com

About Crimson Services, LLC
Crimson Services, LLC provides property management and leasing services to real estate owners and users. Crimson currently manages approximately 3 million square feet of Class A office space throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.crimsonservicesllc.com

Crimson Real Estate Fund and USAA Real Estate Company Acquire Urban Infill Land in Manhattan

Crimson Real Estate Fund, L.P. (CREF), and its co-investment partner, USAA Real Estate Company, have acquired an urban infill multifamily development site in New York.  Patrinely Group, an affiliate of CREF, will co-develop the property along with DHA Capital LLC, a New York-based real estate development firm.

The 0.634 acre site is located at 546 W. 44th Street on Manhattan’s west side. The proposed project will have 298 units of market rate (80 percent) and affordable (20 percent) housing in addition to a full complement of amenities. The two-building project is slated to begin construction in the first quarter of 2014.

Crimson Real Estate Fund, a real estate opportunity fund, is managed by Crimson Real Estate Advisors, L.P., based in Houston.  USAA Real Estate Company is the largest single investor in CREF and also co-invests alongside CREF, which serves as the sponsor/operating partner. CREF acquires and repositions real estate opportunities in key growth markets across the United States.

“We are pleased to be entering the market with a well-located site with USAA and working with DHA Capital, whose principal Dan Hollander is experienced in developing Class A multifamily properties in Manhattan,” said Dean Patrinely, managing principal of Crimson Real Estate Advisors.

About Crimson Real Estate Advisors, LP
Crimson and its affiliates have acquired and developed assets valued in excess of $3 billion over the past 25 years. For more information, visit www.crimsonrealestateadvisors.com.

About USAA Real Estate Company
USAA Real Estate Company, with approximately $12 billion in assets under management, provides co-investment, acquisition, build-to-suit and development services for corporate and institutional investors.  The USAA portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail and hotel properties as well as investments in real estate operating companies. USAA Real Estate Company is a subsidiary of USAA, a leading financial services company, serving military families since 1922. For more information, visit www.usrealco.com.

About Patrinely Group, LLC
Patrinely Group, an affiliate of Crimson Real Estate Fund, is as a national real estate development firm specializing in commercial office and residential projects throughout the United States. Finding innovative solutions for our clients has been at the heart of the Patrinely Group experience for 30 years.

About DHA Capital
DHA Capital LLC is a New York-based real estate development and investment firm.  DHA focuses on the development of high-quality urban infill real estate projects. The firm offers its partners and clients a long history of hands-on real estate experience covering multiple asset types.  DHA Principals have successfully developed $2.5 billion in residential mixed-use development and have a combined 30-year track record of successful projects.