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Council approves sale of former Fire Station 24, directs proceeds to District 2 parks project
Summary
The San Antonio City Council approved sale of the former Fire Station No. 24 site at 1940 Austin Highway to Trox Family Investments LLC for $152,000 and, by amendment, directed the proceeds to a District 2 parks project amid debate about precedent for earmarking surplus‑property revenue.
Mayor Pro Tem Jalen McKee Rodriguez led the council Jan. 29 in approving an ordinance declaring surplus and authorizing the sale of the former Fire Station No. 24 site at 1940 Austin Highway to Trox Family Investments LLC for $152,000. The council first approved an amendment to the item that allocates all proceeds from the sale to a to‑be‑determined District 2 parks project; the amendment passed and the main motion carried as amended.
Why it matters: City policy has historically deposited revenue from property sales into the general fund. Several council members warned that allowing district‑specific earmarks could create a precedent that would complicate citywide budgeting and equity goals; others said a one‑time exception is justified to address District 2's need for green space.
What happened: The city clerk read the caption for Item 8, describing the parcel as a 0.517‑acre (22,500 sq. ft.) site at NCB 12172. The mayor pro tem moved to amend the approval so that the full proceeds would be allocated to a District 2 parks project. Council members asked staff about legal and budgeting implications. City staff said proceeds from surplus property typically flow to the general fund, noting the city budget currently anticipates $250,000 in revenue from property sales this year and that last year the city recorded $725,000 from similar sales; staff also said the city spent about $65,000 to demolish the station prior to sale. After discussion—and repeated calls to address the broader policy—council voted, passing the amendment and then the main motion as amended. The transcript records the outcomes but does not include roll‑call tallies.
Points of debate: Council members raised three central concerns: legal precedent from earmarking sale proceeds, the equity of distributing limited resources across districts, and whether demolition and other transaction costs should be covered before proceeds are allocated to district projects. City staff recommended a fuller policy conversation with the full council (suggesting a B‑session or planning committee discussion) but did not object to the exception for this parcel.
Details and next steps: The ordinance authorizes sale to Trox Family Investments LLC for $152,000 with proposed deposit to the general fund; the council amendment redirects those funds to a District 2 parks project. The council asked staff to bring a policy discussion on surplus‑property proceeds and related process to an upcoming B‑session in February and to ensure transaction costs are accounted for when implementing the District 2 project.
Action record: The transcript records the amendment passing and the main motion carrying; no vote tallies or individual vote attributions appear in the transcript. The sale includes the following specifics: site at 1940 Austin Highway, 0.517 acre, 22,500 sq. ft., NCB 12172; sale price $152,000; demolition cost noted at roughly $65,000.
