SAN ANTONIO — A new baseball stadium is being planned for the Missions downtown. On Thursday we learned that the Missions’ move could potentially lead to people moving away.
On the outskirts of downtown you will find Robert “Rocky” Lopez.
“We love San Antonio. We love being downtown,” Lopez said.
Lopez said there have been many changes since moving into the building over a decade ago.
“All these things have changed around us. We had no idea all these things were going to happen. So we are very lucky to be in this place,” Lopez said.
While growth in downtown San Antonio is seen as something of an expectation, some are wondering if they have been informed and if it will impact them.
That is why you heard this question recently in a presentation to the City Council.
“Is there an opportunity to waive application or bond fees for people who are being evicted?” said Fifth District Councilwoman Teri Castillo.
“Yes, ma’am, definitely for anyone who moves into one of our properties,” said Randy Smith of Weston Urban.
Smith is co-founder and CEO of Weston Urban. He is also involved in planning the potential relocation of Mission Stadium to downtown San Antonio.
If the plans are approved, there will be four phases of construction, one of which will impact residents of the Soap Factory Apartments, owned by Weston Urban.
“We are here to talk about how we as individuals can be fiscally responsible stewards of public funds and public lands and ensure that the displacement of San Antonio residents is curbed,” said Councilwoman Castillo.
If residents are affected in phase one, they will be offered relocation to additional units at the Soap Factory.
Once they are in phase two of construction, they will be able to move to either a new Soap Factory apartment or the Continental Block Development in West Commerce. Residents of the Soap Factory Apartments spoke out about the developments Thursday evening.
“I’m pretty sure most people who live here for at least a month or a few months would like to move away.”
“There’s plenty of space at Hemisfair. Why can’t they build it over there? People live here, you know?”
Smith provided us with the following statement clarifying when residents were notified and how they are being helped:
Yesterday, the City Council took a step in a long process regarding a proposed site for the future of the San Antonio Missions. Today, we reached out to residents at our Soap Factory with information from that meeting. While we work to assist residents with their future plans if needed, there will be no need to relocate residents for a year or more, and most residents will not have to consider relocation for several years.
