SAN ANTONIO — Ricardo Rodríguez has put a ton of work into his home. He says he feels the pressures of gentrification, and the sign in his front yard communicates his resistance. 

“Mi barrio no se vende (my neighborhood is not for sale),” Rodríguez said, pointing to the sign. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rodriguez's neighborhood sits on a heat island, an urban area that experiences higher temperatures

  • Rodriguez is participating in a University of Texas - San Antonio pilot study led by Dr. Estaban López Ochoa, assistant professor of urban and regional planning, architecture and planning

  • López Ochoa says his team can collect data about the "feels like" temperatures in a location with sensors both inside and outside of the participating homes

  • The project is expected to be completed this fall, and Rodríguez says he just wants to ensure his home is safe for the generations to come

Rodríguez says people often offer to purchase his West San Antonio home. He directs them to the “mi barrio no se vende” sign.

“This home will be passed down from generation to generation,” Rodríguez said.

Rodríguez has hand crafted everything from the windows to the wooden shelves and kitchen island. 

“My home is old, but I thank God for it,” Rodríguez said. 

His barrio also sits on a heat island, an urban area that experiences higher temperatures. 

He has a sensor in his home that measures heat, air flow, wind speeds and humidity. 

It’s part of a University of Texas - San Antonio pilot study led by Dr. Estaban López Ochoa, assistant professor of urban and regional planning, architecture and planning. 

“We still have this dissonance of neighborhoods that have been disinvested for many years,” López Ochoa said. “It started with redlining areas and the results are, in 20 years down the road, you have neighborhoods that are completely in disrepair.” 

Last year, Lopez was part of a study that measured felt heat on San Antonio’s West Side. He found that temperatures above the pavement were as high as 154 degrees. That’s why the current program includes over 20 homeowners, including Rodriguez. 

“We need a way to really communicate the urgency of the matter. The fact that air quality and temperature are invisible really puts a halt into doing any action,” López Ochoa said. 

The participants gave feedback at a recent meeting talking about the heat and other health-related issues. 

López Ochoa says his team can collect data about the "feels like" temperatures in a location with sensors both inside and outside of the participating homes.

“We urge whoever is going to listen to this to really think about the policy to attack heat that should start with housing conditions first,” López Ochoa said. 

López Ochoa hopes this can help pinpoint the specific needs these homes require. 

The project is expected to be completed this fall, and Rodríguez says he just wants to ensure his home is safe for the generations to come. 

“I already have my foot out the door. My grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the future,” Rodríguez said.