Would you like to see the San Antonio of the future? I can show it to you today. Meet Southtown Aldea, a bold new development reshaping the edge of downtown San Antonio.
Just across the street from Hemisfair, at the intersection of Lavaca and César E. Chávez, Southtown Aldea is stepping into one of the most culturally rich corners of the city. Walkable, historic, and filled with texture and pride, Southtown and Lavaca have long been among San Antonio’s most sought-after neighborhoods. But for many, living here is just out of reach, especially with the rising cost of historic homes and limited housing options. This project changes that.
Led by Oxbow Development Group, the same team that transformed The Pearl, Southtown Aldea brings together thoughtful urban design, layered architecture, and a public plaza culture that has become a hallmark of Oxbow’s work. This isn’t just development. It’s placemaking.
Instead of imposing high-rises or gated compounds, Southtown Aldea will consist of three carefully scaled mid-rise buildings. One wraps a 600 space garage with active retail frontage. Another steps down from five stories to one as it approaches Lavaca, offering a gentle, respectful transition to the neighborhood. The third structure balances the site with a mix of restaurants, storefronts, and apartments clustered around shaded pedestrian courtyards.
There is no walling off of space. The interior is designed for people, not cars. Restaurant patios will spill into public plazas, storefronts will face gathering areas, and the entire project will remain open and connected, inviting locals and visitors to pass through, linger, and return.
Project Highlights
A 4.7 acre site developed by Oxbow Development Group, located at Lavaca, César E. Chávez, and South Alamo
Three mid-rise buildings including a 600 space structured parking garage wrapped in active retail and housing
Ground-floor restaurants and storefronts designed around a series of shaded pedestrian plazas
A design approach that carefully integrates with nearby homes, using scale transitions and regional materials
Project approved by the city with construction beginning in late 2025 and phased completion expected by 2028
Southtown Aldea isn’t just adding housing. It’s stitching together Lavaca, Southtown, Hemisfair, and the broader downtown, creating a walkable bridge between some of the city’s most dynamic and distinct districts. It’s the seam between the soul of Southtown and the civic energy of downtown, a place where residents and visitors will cross paths by design.
Citations
Project scope and developer details:
Oxbow Development Group – Southtown Aldea News Release (October 16, 2024)
Land acquisition and early project coverage:
San Antonio Report – Pearl developer plans new apartments for former SAISD site
Design features and public realm planning:
KSAT – Pearl developer eyeing Southtown space for soulful urban hub
Retail and residential details:
San Antonio Express-News – Pearl developer plans major Southtown projectTimeline and review process:
Yield PRO – Southdown Aldea project timeline and scope
Renderings and public review updates:
San Antonio Business Journal – Oxbow project clears design hurdle for Southtown site
Construction timeline and phasing:
Yield PRO – Southtown Aldea project timeline and scope
THE VOICE:
Lorenzo Gomez III
Lorenzo Gomez III is a community builder, author, and public speaker who draws from his personal and professional experiences to inspire others. A former director at Rackspace Technology, Gomez is a key player in the development of San Antonio’s downtown entrepreneurial ecosystem. During Gomez’s four years as chairman and CEO of Geekdom, San Antonio’s premier collaborative startup community, Geekdom companies raised more than $422M in funding and its startups have created 2,489 jobs. A trusted advisor to Graham Weston, co-founder of Rackspace Technology, Gomez helped shape Weston’s 80|20 Foundation, which invests in San Antonio’s future by issuing grants to public charities that attract, grow, and retain San Antonio’s future workforce and job-creating entrepreneurs. Gomez has authored four books: Cilantro Diaries, Tafolla Toro, The Rack We Built, and The Bully in Your Pocket. All four are Amazon best sellers and two are winners of the 2021 International Latino Book Awards. Lorenzo’s driving passion is his love for his hometown, San Antonio, Texas. His goal is to recreate for every San Antonian the opportunities the startup world has provided him in this city on the rise.