SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino speaks during a November board meeting on the land-sale deal between the district and real estate developer Weston Urban. Credit: Michael Karlis

During a Monday meeting, San Antonio Independent School District’s trustees took no action on a proposed land sale that would allow a $160 million minor-league baseball stadium to be built in the district.

SAISD’s board was expected to discuss the transaction but quickly moved into a closed-door executive session to confer with district attorneys. The board will next meet at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 to share new information about the proposal, spokeswoman Laura Short told the Current via email.

Short didn’t respond to questions about whether SAISD will make a final decision at hat meeting. An agenda for the gathering hasn’t been posted as of press time.

Last month, SAISD approved a list of demands before it allows the San Antonio Missions’ ownership group and real estate developer Weston Urban to acquire a 2.3-acre parcel from the district. That land is currently used as a parking lot for Fox Tech High School students and staff.

Weston Urban and Missions owner Designated Bidders LLC want the land to build a new 4,500-seat stadium. However, as conditions of the sale, SAISD is demanding $45 million to build a new campus, $400,000 in annual compensation and that 1,250 affordable housing units be developed inside the district.

The district gave Designated Bidders and Weston Urban until Dec. 9 to make a “realistic counteroffer.” SAISD’s Short didn’t respond to the Current’s questions about whether the two entities made a counteroffer, only saying that the district has “been in conversation with the city and county.”

The potential land sale is keeping tenants of the nearby Soap Factory Apartments up late at night.

The low-cost apartment complex, owned by Weston Urban, will likely be demolished if the land sale goes through. Weston Urban plans to develop luxury condominiums near the ballpark as part of its master plan.

Initially, tenants who vacated the Soap Factory before September 2025 were promised a $2,500 relocation stipend to be paid by the city and Weston Urban. However, last week city officials told the Current that money won’t be disbursed if the district’s land sale doesn’t go through.

That detail wasn’t made clear to local media outlets and Soap Factory tenants also said they were unaware of the condition. Some who have already vacated the complex said they’re depending on the stipend to cover moving costs and rental deposits.

The Dec. 16 trustee meeting will take place at SAISD headquarters, 514 W. Quincy St.

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This article appears in Nov 28-29, 2024.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...