San Antonio Approves $46 Million for Eastside Senior Center Complex
- San Antonio city leaders approved $46 million on Thursday, September 3, to fund a massive new senior center complex and adjacent aquatics center on the city's east side.
- The $46 million will be drawn from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, according to city reporting.
- The new 36,000-square-foot senior center will be more than twice the size of the district's current facility, located about a mile and a half away at 1751 S.
San Antonio city leaders approved $46 million on Thursday, September 3, to fund a massive new senior center complex and adjacent aquatics center on the city’s east side. District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez called the project a first-of-its-kind undertaking designed to replace a severely cramped existing facility and expand community amenities near Copernicus Park.
Funding and Financing Details for District 2
The $46 million will be drawn from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, according to city reporting. TIRZ bonds rely on future property tax revenue increments generated inside the zone’s boundaries, meaning the debt is repaid as property values rise rather than through general city taxes. Councilman McKee-Rodriguez noted that the financing structure was modeled directly on the funding plan proposed for Project Marvel, San Antonio’s planned downtown sports and entertainment district. The Inner City TIRZ spans a 2.5-square-mile area, which overlaps three council districts and has previously funded projects like the Hays Street Bridge and the Eastside Sports Complex.
Why the Current Senior Center Falls Sized Short
The new 36,000-square-foot senior center will be more than twice the size of the district’s current facility, located about a mile and a half away at 1751 S. That existing District 2 Senior Center covers 15,886 square feet while serving roughly 150 visitors a day. Advisory board members have previously flagged severe room congestion and a shortage of ADA-compliant parking spaces at the current site.
We’ve been asking for it for quite a long time,
said 76-year-old resident Thelma Todd, who helped envision the new facility. It was very exciting to finally have a chance to help.
Todd noted that the new location will make it easier for more residents to catch a free lift to the center.
Master Plan and Future Construction Timeline
The senior building is only one component of a broader master plan for the 12 acres adjacent to Copernicus Park that the city acquired from the San Antonio Independent School District in 2024 for $850,000. The complex will feature an all-new aquatics center, nearby housing, revamped outdoor trails, and sports fields. Janice Stanton, a volunteer at the center, emphasized the need for active spaces, stating, At our age, we need to move around.
Design work is currently underway. Construction on the new senior center is scheduled to begin in winter 2028, with construction on the adjacent aquatic center slated to start a year later, according to city leadership.
