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Council consents to Jones Avenue municipal management district to enable riverfront redevelopment
Summary
Council consented to creation and land inclusion for the Jones Avenue Municipal Management District, a state‑authorized MMD covering roughly 0.59 acres to support infrastructure for a developer’s planned mixed‑use project; staff and outside counsel explained MMD powers (assessments and tax‑exempt bonds) and dissolution paths.
The council voted to consent to creation of the Jones Avenue Municipal Management District (MMD), a special district created by the Texas Legislature in 2023 to support commercial redevelopment. Staff explained the district would cover about 0.59 acres of property in the River North area formerly owned by CPS Energy and now owned by McCombs Enterprises; the MMD may levy special assessments and issue tax‑exempt bonds to finance infrastructure and services complementary to city functions.
Attorney Paul Harrell, who said he helped draft the enabling legislation, told council MMDs are commonly used to allow property owners to tax themselves to fund public‑quality improvements and that municipalities must consent to the district and appoint initial directors; voter approval of any bond propositions would be limited to property owners within the district. Developer representative John Wiegand described plans to activate the riverfront, connect the site to the Pearl and the San Antonio Museum of Art, and invest in about $300 million of development over time, with an expectation of substantial sales‑tax and other economic returns to the city.
Council members highlighted accessibility, pedestrian connections and inclusion of public space and public art. Staff and council discussed how MMD projects could interact with the city's TIR/TIF (tax increment reinvestment) or reimbursement programs; staff said the MMD taxes itself and does not affect the city’s current bond capacity, though reimbursement arrangements could be considered later if projects are included in a TIR plan. After public remarks and council discussion, the council consented to the MMD and approved staff‑recommended initial appointments.
