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Commission favors conversion of extended-stay motel to 117 affordable studio units despite neighborhood opposition
Summary
The Zoning Commission recommended approval of a change from an extended-stay motel to an MF-50 multifamily designation to permit 117 studio units targeted as affordable housing; commissioners were divided over parking, industrial adjacency and noise from nearby airport.
The commission voted to forward a rezoning recommendation permitting conversion of an extended-stay motel on San Pedro Avenue into multifamily housing under MF-50, with the applicant aiming to renovate existing rooms into 117 studio units and contract with the San Antonio Housing Trust.
The applicant’s representative (identified in the record as Armary Weiss, representing Good Homes) described the project as a one-for-one adaptive reuse of an under‑occupied extended-stay hotel into long-term studio units targeted at low- and moderate-income households. The applicant said the units would largely be for single-person occupancy and estimated a range of affordability targets (a mix of units at 30%, 60% and 80% area median income), and described partnerships with housing trust entities to support tenant placement.
Residents and neighborhood associations urged denial, saying the site sits within an industrialized pocket next to the 281 corridor and the airport, with high levels of truck traffic and limited neighborhood amenities; commenters cited crime, lack of grocery access and concerns about parking shortages. Commissioners questioned the adequacy of on-site parking, potential conflicts with surrounding industrial uses, and whether the property is appropriate for long-term residential use given noise and traffic patterns.
Supporters said the conversion would create deeply affordable housing in a location with transit access and local employment centers; staff recommended approval subject to standard conditions. Commissioner Daniel Calem moved for approval and Commissioner Watson seconded. The motion carried; several commissioners spoke both for and against the item during a lengthy debate.
Why it matters: The decision responds to a recognized shortage of affordable units in San Antonio by repurposing an existing building, but it also raised policy questions about locating residential housing adjacent to industrial land and an active airport contour.
Next steps: The item will advance to city council. Staff and the applicant will need to resolve technical details regarding parking and any required development variances during permitting and building-plan review.
