San Antonio council delays support vote for 78-unit Encino Río Loft affordable housing application

The San Antonio City Council on Feb. 13 postponed a decision on whether to provide a council resolution supporting Encino Río Loft, a proposed 78-unit affordable housing development that sought a competitive 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credit from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Council members moved to delay the item to the council—s Feb. 20 meeting after multiple members and a public commenter said the developer had not engaged sufficiently with neighbors and that the city should review how it prioritizes applications in areas where several projects compete for limited tax-credit awards.

Why it matters: A council resolution of support can strengthen an applicant's competitiveness for the state—s 9 percent tax credits. Council members and staff said those letters carry weight in the awarding process, and council discussion focused on balancing the city's stated housing priorities with ensuring meaningful neighborhood engagement.

Public comment and concerns Jack Finger, who identified himself as a resident, criticized the list of consent items that included numerous housing proposals and singled out the Encino Río Loft project as located in District 10. He told the council the community had not been adequately notified and urged members to reconsider providing a council resolution of support.

Council debate Council members from multiple districts echoed those concerns. Councilmember Pela9z said she routinely asks developers to meet with neighbors and that, in this case, her office had not received sufficient advance notice. Councilmember Villagre1n and Councilmember Castillo both emphasized the importance of community outreach and said the city should review internal policy for prioritizing competing applications.

Staff briefing and project details A representative from the Department of Building Services told the council the Encino Río Loft proposal would include 78 units and that the project structure would include units targeted at roughly 30 percent and 50 percent of area median income, with the remainder at 60 percent. Staff also said zoning for the site had already been approved and that the city does not always require developers to hold a public meeting before filing for tax-credit support, though staff encourages such outreach.

Policy background Staff and council members referred to a city rubric the council adopted in 2021 with administrative updates in 2023 that the city uses to score and prioritize projects seeking local support. Council members said they would like to review whether the rubric and the city's process adequately prioritize community engagement and distribution of projects across neighborhoods.

Outcome Rather than vote on the resolution of support, the council voted to postpone action on item 13 to the Feb. 20 council meeting to allow more time for community engagement or additional information from the applicant and staff.

Next steps Council members directed staff and members of the housing committee to work on clarifying how the rubric is applied and to bring recommendations for improving community participation in advance of future tax-credit submittals.