AGENDA - San Antonio Housing Authority

TRANSFORMATION PLANEASTSIDE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION PLANPROPOSED PARTNERSHIPSPartners, such as ACCION Texas and theCity of San Antonio Business Retention andExpansion program (BRE), are enterprisesthat support the local creative economy andaim to build on human and social assetsindigenous to the Eastside Neighborhood.They can see the potential for a vibrantlocal economy and are compelled to investenergy and inspiration, as a means totransformation. They support economicactivities such as community festivals andbetter block projects that provide moreeyes on the street and aid safety in theneighborhood. Also, they contribute to therestoration of pride and the establishmentof an identity that honors its history whilecreating a community culture uniquely itsown. Currently ACCION has a presence inthe Eastside Choice Neighborhood. Effortsare underway to identify opportunities forBRE to target activities within the Choicefootprint.The Joint Base Command, formally Fort Sam, isundergoing a $1 billion expansion. Opportunitiesshould be created for hiring local residents.• ACCION provides loans to those who arehistorically underserved by commerciallenders, mostly non-caucasian andfemale populations.• BRE provides support in the form of incentivepackages that include tax abatementand grants. The program ensurescommunication is both responsive andongoing.Identify job opportunities with the JointBase Command/Ft. Sam. The Joint BaseCommand, formerly Ft. Sam Houston, sitsacross IH 35, north of the Eastside ChoiceNeighborhood. The Base Realignment andClosure (BRAC) brought about the consolidationof all military medical training, includingAir Force and Navy branches at Fort SamHouston. The Military Education and TrainingCampus (METC) on the campus was openedin 2011. The expansion in training hasrequired construction approaching $1 billion,and represents significant investment in SanAntonio and the State of Texas. A potentialemployment and economic generator, Ft.Sam figures prominently in the WheatleyNeighborhood Transformation Plan.Ft. Sam will emphasize the importance ofhiring local residents, thus creating opportunitiesfor Choice Neighborhood residents tofind a job.EntertainmentEntertainment for the area will build uponexisting assets and will also endeavor tocapture the unique talents and characteristicsin the area. While not entertainmentvenues in a formal sense, one of the desiredoutcomes for this place is to establish aseries of community gathering space, whichwill promote citizenship and activities thatare undertaken for mutual benefit and enjoyment.This endeavor will begin with smallactivities and events, such as movies in thepark, expanding the MLK March, openingthe school grounds to provide athleticevents, block parties, as well as music andart events. The neighborhood’s desire isto build community participation enoughto support a recurring event, such as FirstFriday in the King Williams area, that ischaracteristic of the culture in the Wheatleyneighborhood and invites the entire city.This venue would provide an opportunityfor local residents to showcase their crafts,art, dance, music, cuisine and much more.Discussions are also underway to duplicatea community meeting place like the GuadalupeStreet Coffee shop, a community developmentproject operated by Baptist ChildrenFamily Services (BCGS) Health and HumanServices. Located in the heart of SanAntonio’s Westside—where less than 3% ofhomes have a computer—the café supportsopportunities for local students, aimed at50