Project Oso Adds 243-Acre Megasite to Brooks

Strategic partnership positions major South San Antonio property for future development

SAN ANTONIO — A massive 243-acre property in South San Antonio is being positioned for future large-scale economic development under a new initiative known as Project Oso.

The San Antonio River Authority Board of Directors approved the conveyance of approximately 243 acres to Brooks Development Authority on Sept. 8, marking a major step in a partnership between Brooks, the River Authority and Bexar County.

The goal is to transform the property into a shovel-ready megasite capable of attracting major employers, investment and new jobs to South San Antonio.

Located just south of Loop 410 and approximately 1.7 miles from the original Brooks campus, the property stands out because of its size and access to existing and planned infrastructure. The site is near major employers, rail and regional transportation infrastructure, as well as the planned South Texas Parkway.

The project also represents another chapter in the transformation of Brooks, which began with the redevelopment of the former Brooks Air Force Base nearly 25 years ago.

Brooks’ economic development efforts have increasingly expanded beyond the boundaries of the original campus, with Project Oso providing an opportunity to apply that development model to another major piece of South San Antonio.

“This property represents an opportunity to think strategically about the long-term economic future of South San Antonio,” San Antonio River Authority General Manager Derek Boese said.

Boese said the property previously supported completion of the Mission Reach and is positioned to be used during construction of the Westside Creeks Ecosystem Restoration project.

“The River Authority is proud to work alongside Brooks and Bexar County to position this land for responsible development while supporting growth and economic opportunity for the region,” Boese said.

Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai has also supported Project Oso as part of a broader effort to ensure the region has enough strategically located land and infrastructure to compete for major economic development projects.

“Preparing strategically located land for future investment gives our community another tool to compete for major employers, create quality jobs and expand economic opportunity,” Sakai said.

With ownership transitioning to Brooks, the organization plans to work with Bexar County, the River Authority and other stakeholders to evaluate infrastructure requirements, prepare the site for development and identify potential projects that align with the region’s long-term economic goals.

“Project Oso is an important milestone in the evolution of Brooks and in how we think about our responsibility to the region,” Brooks President and CEO Leo Gomez said.

“We have demonstrated what intentional, strategic development can accomplish at Brooks. Our opportunity now is to take what we have learned beyond our original boundaries and help lead and influence the next generation of community and economic development across South San Antonio,” Gomez added.

Project Oso comes as South San Antonio continues to attract significant new investment.

Brooks recently announced plans for IEM to establish a major manufacturing operation at Brooks. The project is expected to represent approximately $200 million in capital investment and create 3,000 new jobs.

Brooks, Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority will continue working with public and private partners to prepare the Project Oso property for development and pursue projects capable of bringing additional jobs and long-term investment to South San Antonio.