SAN ANTONIO -- Steeped in rich history, the Alazan-Apache Courts is one of the first public housing complexes in the nation.
- The first units were built in 1940
- One of first public housing complexes
Many families and area residents have 80 years’ worth of stories to share.
"My family worked on the railroads. My family helped bring food into the market right here on the corner,” said west side activist Amelia Valdez.
Valdez is a constant voice on the west side who does not live at Alazan-Apache. She told Spectrum News she speaks for relatives and other residents fearful to speak up about the fear of losing the current home they live in.
Valdez expresses concern of planned developments by the San Antonio Housing Authority are moving at a rapid pace without significant community input.
"They're [SAHA is] not listening to the community," said Valdez.
In all fairness, the housing authority has held 17 public meetings discussing new developments and the great possibility that Alazan-Apache Courts will be ripped down. The San Antonio Housing Authority plans to inject a $500 million into affordable housing across the city.
It is a downside for some who call the 1940s era public housing projects home. SAHA concludes the decades-old cinder block buildings are in poor shape.
"My thoughts are they are going to come in here with a displacement plan that's pretty much going to displace folks in this community.” -- said activist Amelia Valdez."My thoughts are they are going to come in here with a displacement plan that's pretty much going to displace folks in this community.” -- said activist Amelia Valdez.
SAHA does not like the word “displacement”. By phone a spokesperson told Spectrum News’ John Salazar that's not the case. Moving forward, $486 million is earmarked for 14 new projects, which is 3,729 units total.
However, the demolition of the Alazan-Apache Courts means 501 units will go away and activists are not happy. Susanna Segura with Esperanza Peace & Justice Center breaks down some numbers.
“That’s 501 families. And by their estimates, that’s about 1,500 people. So that would be the largest displacement in San Antonio so far,” she said.
Valdez also heads the Historic Westside Resident Association.
“It’s sad. It’s sad. That we are not a part of it. Everything is going to move and we are going to move with it,” said Valdez.
To the south the complex sits an empty lot where housing authority officials plan to build a $19 million project with tax credits, 88 units total and 80 will be listed as affordable housing.
"We want to be able to see affordable housing, and people that can afford to live in housing. We don't want to see prices sky rocket. We don't want to see longtime residents priced out of their houses," said Segura.
According to SAHA, that will not happen. Officials say Alazan-Apache residents will have a place to live when the old complex becomes a thing of the past.
