What Happened to the Project Vicinia in San Antonio, Texas

Vicinia—Latin for “neighborhood”—was announced in 2019 as San Antonio’s first new urbanist community, a 97-acre mixed-use development on the city’s far West Side. The project was spearheaded by local developer Ed Cross (CEO of San Antonio Commercial Advisors) with partners Christian Archer and Michael Westheimer under the entity PMI 2016. The vision drew from downtown-style planning for suburbs, aiming to create a walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood blending housing, retail, offices, and public spaces.

The goal of Vicinia was to counteract years of unplanned sprawl by concentrating homes, shops, and civic amenities into one well-designed area. The master plan featured a central town square—planned as a public plaza for markets, events, and recreation—surrounded by mixed-income housing and commercial spaces. It promised a pedestrian-friendly layout with shaded streets, reflecting new urbanism’s focus on walkable blocks, diverse housing types, and easy access to transit.

Project Vision and Features

The proposed Vicinia plan included:

• Diverse housing – Single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and apartments for various income levels and age groups, including workforce and senior housing.
• Town square – A central plaza for community events, farmer’s markets, food trucks, and neighborhood gatherings.
• Mixed-use spaces – Ground-floor retail and office space integrated with residences, creating a compact, live-work-play environment.
• Transit connections – Bus and shuttle stops tied into San Antonio’s transit-oriented development (TOD) zoning and planned Advanced Rapid Transit lines.
• Open space and walkability – Parks, trails, and pedestrian-friendly design to encourage walking and biking.

Location

Vicinia is located at the intersection of West Military Drive and Potranco Road on San Antonio’s far West Side, less than a half-mile from Loop 410. The site is next to the NSA/CSS campus, formerly a Sony semiconductor plant, and close to SeaWorld and major highways. Developers saw the location as ideal for serving both the booming West Side population and the workforce at nearby employers.

At the 2019 groundbreaking, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff praised the plan for providing amenities “where people will live, work, and play.” District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said it would deliver housing, retail, and community spaces needed by local residents.

Development Timeline

The planned timeline for Vicinia unfolded as follows:

• 2017–2018 – PMI 2016 assembled the 97-acre site, buying 59 acres from VIA Metropolitan Transit and additional parcels from private owners.
• November 2019 – Groundbreaking ceremony with local officials, celebrating the start of construction preparation.
• 2020 – Completion of Ingram Road and West Military Drive extensions through the site, funded in part by the city’s 2017 bond program.
• 2021 – Outreach to potential builders; a townhome project was discussed for 2022 but never broke ground.
• 2022–2023 – COVID-19 pandemic slowed momentum; developers maintained a long-term, 10-year vision for the project.
• 2024–2025 – Roads and infrastructure in place, but no buildings started.

Delays and Challenges

Despite early excitement, Vicinia has faced major delays. By 2025, the site remains largely undeveloped—roads and utilities are complete, but no homes, retail, or offices have been built. Reasons for this slow progress include:

• Financing approach – Developers are funding the project privately, without bank loans, and are waiting for the right builders and market conditions.
• COVID-19 impacts – The pandemic initially disrupted markets, delaying commitments from builders.
• Nearby land dispute – Developers attempted to purchase adjacent land to address drainage issues; negotiations failed, requiring a redesign.
• Public infrastructure delays – Roadwork on West Military Drive ran behind schedule and over budget, affecting access and local traffic.

Current Status in 2025

As of mid-2025, Vicinia remains in the planning phase. The master plan is intact, infrastructure is ready, and the land is held by the original developer group. However, no vertical construction has started, and the project has yet to attract the “anchor” builders needed to launch housing or retail phases.

Local media have described it as “big plans, little progress,” reflecting the gap between the ambitious concept and the visible results on the ground.

Community Response

Public sentiment has been mixed:

• Optimism – Many local leaders and residents still support the concept, hoping it will bring housing diversity and retail options to the West Side.
• Frustration – The lack of visible progress and prolonged road construction have frustrated some nearby residents.
• Neutral waiting – Others see the slow pace as part of a deliberate, long-term development approach.

Despite delays, there has been no major organized opposition to the project.

Economic and Market Factors

The developers’ emphasis on mixed-income housing and walkable design aligns with San Antonio’s goals for sustainable growth. If completed, Vicinia could bring:

• Hundreds of construction and service jobs.
• Increased property tax revenues.
• A model for future TOD-based communities.

However, high interest rates, cautious builder investment, and the need for anchor tenants have slowed progress.

Future Outlook

The success of Vicinia will depend on:

• Securing builders for initial housing phases.
• Leveraging San Antonio’s new transit infrastructure, including the Advanced Rapid Transit lines.
• Capitalizing on demand for affordable, walkable neighborhoods.

Developers remain committed to their vision, but acknowledge it may take years before the neighborhood is fully realized. The public infrastructure is in place, so once the right partnerships are secured, Vicinia could still transform from an empty field into the vibrant community envisioned in 2019.
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