San Antonio Receives Grant to Better Connect East Side and Downtown

Date: March 18, 2024

Historic Grant Received

The City of San Antonio is celebrating a significant step toward urban development as it receives a federal grant worth nearly $3 million. This funding is intended to better connect the vibrant, yet often overlooked, east side of the city with the bustling downtown area.

Addressing Key Issues

San Antonio’s East Side, characterized by its rich culture and history, is a predominantly black community that has faced years of isolation and neglect. “The eastside has suffered from lack of access, lack of connectivity, and lack of commerce,” highlighted District Two Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez. The grant aims to rectify these issues, much to the relief of local advocates.

Bridging the Gap

James Nortey, CEO of San Antonio for Growth on the East Side (SAGE), emphasized the need to change the misconceptions about this vibrant part of the city. The federal grant will finance a thorough design and planning study to solve the physical and societal challenges posed by Interstate 37, the highway that currently separates the Eastside from crucial community centers, schools, workplaces, and basic services.

Building a More Inclusive City

The grant represents a game-changing opportunity to introduce more people to the rich cultural life of San Antonio’s East Side. Nortey speaks of his dream for all residents to experience the East Side’s vibrant social scene: “This is an opportunity, an invitation for both folks who aren’t familiar downtown to come and check out where we eat, where we live, where we play, where we work and worship”.

Councilman McKee-Rodriguez envisions the grant bridging not just physical gaps, but also social ones – uniting the community as a whole. “This is going to be a huge signal, while also providing that tangible walkability and connection,” said McKee-Rodriguez.

Paving the Way for Growth and Unity

In bringing his thoughts to a close, Nortey declared, “Downtown, maybe the heart of San Antonio, with the east side is its soul.” And like a body unifying heart and soul, this grant seeks to connect these two vital components of San Antonio, enhancing the city’s overall health and prosperity.