The San Antonio Eastside Choice Neighborhood celebrates the opening of senior community.
McCormack Baron Salazar joins the San Antonio Housing Authority to celebrate the grand opening of Wheatley Park Senior Living community - the second phase of the Wheatley Choice Neighborhoods Initiative
McCormack Baron Salazar and the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) celebrated a milestone in Eastside revitalization efforts with the grand opening of the Wheatley Park Senior Living Community, the second phase of the Wheatley Choice Neighborhood Initiative. This marks a significant development for public housing and neighborhood revitalization in San Antonio. The Wheatley Choice Neighborhood Initiative was designed to convert San Antonio’s former distressed Wheatley Courts public housing neighborhood into a mixed-income, innovative and sustainable community. State, county and city leaders gathered with residents, SAHA leadership and McCormack Baron Salazar at the property on Saturday, April 7, to commemorate the grand opening with a press conference, ribbon cutting and exclusive tour of the new community, led by SAHA President and CEO David Nisivoccia.
The Wheatley Park Senior Living community is part of a $30 million Choice Grant awarded to SAHA by the U.S. Department of Urban Development (HUD) as part of their Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, promoting the transformation of distressed areas with concentrated poverty levels into sustainable, accessible, mixed-income neighborhoods. The senior community is the second of three main redevelopment phases that SAHA intends to fund with the grant: East Meadows I, completed in 2016; Wheatley Parks Senior Living, just completed; and East Meadows II, estimated for completion in 2019.
“San Antonio Housing Authority strives to provide an innovative and fresh approach to public housing, and the Wheatley Choice Neighborhood Initiative demonstrates the positive impact these developments have in our community,” said Nisivoccia. “We believe in providing residents with high-quality, energy-efficient residences and offering programs and support for their family and life goals.”
A $15.5 million project, the Wheatley Park Senior Living mixed-income community spans 112,962 square feet and 1.2 acres, offering 80 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities include a medical clinic, laundry rooms on every floor, a hair salon, Wi-Fi, modern designs, granite countertops, energy-efficient appliances and building features, close proximity to schools, health care services, public transportation and local businesses. To keep residents active and engaged, a community room, library and theater, a fitness center and a billiards center are also available.
“When we were planning the Choice Neighborhood, the seniors in Wheatley Court made it clear that they wanted to stay a part of the broader community,” explained Tony Salazar, President of West Coast Operations for McCormack Baron Salazar. “This building is intentionally at the center of the new development, because the seniors are the heart of the community, and is purposely designed to help them stay active, healthy and connected.”
Green spaces were designed and built on the exterior of Wheatley Park Senior Living and throughout East Meadows. Residents will have access to a variety of SAHA programs that improve the quality of space and life. Urban Strategies, Inc. is assisting returning residents from Wheatley Court with case management and making the transition to Wheatley Park Senior Living.
“What a great feeling to be here celebrating the Wheatley Senior Park Living community, which was just a dream a few years ago,” said Morris A. Stribling, DPM, SAHA Board of Commissioners chairman. “A great deal of planning went into both the East Meadows neighborhood and the Wheatley Park Senior Living. Each of these is a shining pillar of the work SAHA and our partners are doing to revitalize the Eastside of San Antonio. It’s just the beginning and as we build momentum, we will have many more milestones to look forward to.”
San Antonio Housing Authority’s Eastside redevelopment efforts will now be focused on Phase III of the Initiative, East Meadows II. With completion expected in 2019, East Meadows II will include 117 family units, offering the energy-efficient and high-quality features that have become the standard for SAHA communities.
For more information about Wheatley Park Senior Living or to apply to be a resident, visit http://www.wheatleyparkseniorliving.com/.