Nov. 18, 2024 – The San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees tonight approved the superintendent’s recommendation related to the unimproved property on Camaron Street, which is sought for a potential new baseball stadium for the Missions team. The superintendent’s recommendation was initiated after the Missions ownership approached the district with a request to purchase the Camaron Street land as a prospective stadium site.
“The board authorized the superintendent to formally notify all parties involved, including the city, the county, developer Weston Urban, and the San Antonio Missions’ ownership group, Designated Bidders, on the action taken tonight,” said SAISD Board President Christina Martinez.
The board also voted to impose a deadline for a response from these parties by Monday, Dec. 9, so that the board may consider their response at its Monday, Dec. 16 meeting.
“We would like to move this matter along quickly so that we can stay focused on our board goals and guardrails, which are in support of our students and their academic achievement,” Martinez said.
The board approved the following terms for the land negotiation:
• Appointment of the SAISD superintendent and an additional community representative to seats on the Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ).
• Fund new construction of a building for the Advanced Learning Academy (ALA).
Proposed baseball stadium interferes with plans for an ALA expansion at Kingbury St. and Flores St. that has been in planning since 2021.
• Provide necessary parking with safe passage to the Fox Tech campus.
Parking is necessary because the Quincy garage cannot accommodate all Fox Tech campus vehicles. Additionally, the area near the Fox Tech campus already is extremely congested and challenging for parents during drop-of and pick-up times.
• Provide $400,000 per year to compensate for the loss of interest that could have been earned by SAISD if SAISD was to have sold the property through a sealed bid process.
• Guarantee affordable housing in SAISD attendance zones.
Reducing affordable and appropriate housing for families in the urban core contributes to the reduction in the number of school-aged children and works against SAISD’s interests.
Background
Initially, the district had no intention to sell the Camaron Street property, which currently is used as essential parking for employees at the district’s central office and the Fox Tech campus. With Fox Tech’s expanding operations, the district is in need of additional land nearby, underscoring its commitment to the area and the ongoing growth of its educational facilities.
However, in the spirit of collaboration, the district’s administration and board considered the potential for a mutually beneficial solution. They explored a sale of the Camaron Street property in exchange for acquiring land and facilities closer to Fox Tech and the central office.
As part of this process, the district engaged in extensive due diligence and listened carefully to input from the community, including families and local stakeholders, who emphasized the importance of preserving affordable housing in the area.