The Opportunity Home San Antonio (Opportunity Home) is establishing a partnership with nationally-recognized master developer Catellus Development Corporation to complete the redevelopment of the former Victoria Courts sites near the downtown area, following a unanimous approval from the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 5, 2019.
The Victoria Commons neighborhood is south of Hemisfair Park, with E. Cesar Chavez Blvd as the northern boundary, Labor Street to the west, and I-37 to the east.
In 2003, Opportunity Home received $18.7 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOPE VI Program to demolish all 660 public housing units at Victoria Courts on 36 acres and lead a major revitalization project. The housing plan called for a mix of public housing, affordable and market rate units and offers both rental and homeownership opportunities.
Through the revitalization effort, Opportunity Home completed Refugio Place Apartments, Artisan Park Townhomes Phase IIA, Hemisview Village and Leigh Street Homes. Opportunity Home is expected to begin construction on 100 Labor, a mixed-income, mixed-use, 220-unit multi-family development in fall 2020.
Catellus will assist Opportunity Home in completing a conceptual master plan for 11.5 acres, including Artisan Park Townhomes Phase IIB, which will be sold at market rate, and reclaim stormwater detention ponds constructed in the first redevelopment phase for additional mixed-income rental housing.
Other opportunities for development will be considered, including Opportunity Home’s former administration building, a 1940s-era vacant office building located at 400 Labor, adjacent to the city-owned park.