Victoria Plaza Rehabilitation Delivers Safer, Healthier and More Sustainable Homes for San Antonio Seniors
Opportunity Home San Antonio has completed major renovations at Victoria Plaza Apartments, earning the Level 3 Energy Retrofit Certification from Build San Antonio Green (BSAG) — the highest distinction in BSAG’s retrofit program.
Announced in late September, the certification recognizes a 60 percent improvement in energy performance and marks the official closeout of the City of San Antonio Housing Bond project at Victoria Plaza.
Home to 185 elderly and disabled residents and located south of Hemisfair, Victoria Plaza stands as one of the city’s key housing bond investments under the Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP). Opportunity Home received $2.5 million toward rehabilitation efforts, which supported improvements such as roof replacement; solar panel installation; gutter and downspout replacement; concrete repair and power washing; and two 10,000-gallon rainwater cisterns to conserve water and reduce utility costs.
Originally built in 1959, the community has been carefully modernized over several phases to replace aging infrastructure, strengthen safety systems and improve residents’ comfort. Renovations have included comprehensive fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems throughout all common areas and dwelling units; new kitchen cabinets, appliances, fixtures and finishes; upgraded electrical and plumbing systems; first-ever central heating and cooling in every unit; new energy-rated windows; and accessibility improvements across the site. The property also features an on-site health clinic, created in partnership with the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), that connects residents to mental and behavioral health resources within their own community.
“Victoria Plaza has served generations of San Antonians, and this transformation ensures it will continue to do so with safety, comfort, dignity and sustainability at its core,” said Hector Martinez, senior director of construction services and sustainability at Opportunity Home. “Every upgrade — from solar panels to accessibility features — reflects our commitment to creating homes that are safe, efficient and supportive of residents’ well-being.”
As part of the project’s success, Opportunity Home earned a $28,876.54 solar incentive rebate from CPS Energy for the solar and efficiency upgrades completed at Victoria Plaza. The property will be recognized at Build San Antonio Green’s SPARC Party on Dec. 4, highlighting the organization’s broader commitment to sustainable, community-focused development.
City leaders recognize Victoria Plaza as a model for how thoughtful rehabilitation can protect affordability and improve living conditions for those who need it most.
“Victoria Plaza ensures that some of our more vulnerable residents can remain safely and comfortably in their homes — with healthier indoor environments and modern systems that support aging safely,” said Veronica Garcia, director of the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department for the City of San Antonio. “Thanks to the support from the Affordable Housing Bond, the work done at Victoria Plaza serves as a powerful example of the lasting impacts our city and its partners can make when we preserve deeply affordable homes.”
For residents, the improvements mean steady indoor temperatures, better air quality and a living space they can depend on year-round. The upgrades also make daily life easier for seniors and individuals with disabilities, supporting comfort, independence and long-term housing stability.
Victoria Plaza is one of several Opportunity Home communities supported through the City’s Housing Bond Program — a portfolio of investments totaling more than $16 million dedicated to preserving and expanding affordable housing citywide. Other supported communities, such as Woodhill Apartments, Cottage Creek and Pecan Hill, are also moving through their respective rehabilitation and construction phases.