Dear Neighbors:
Our city has targeted our area to be bought out through Eminent Domain (meaning they will buy out over 114 homes at the city’s market value).
Why? To build a holding pond (meaning a giant pretty hole)!
Why? To save other homes from the danger of flooding in the city’s 100-Year Flood Plan!
Streets affected: Menefee Blvd; Darby Blvd; SW 19th St; Menarby Ct; SW 21st St; Barclay St; and Kirk Pl.
Your house is in this hole!
The U.S. Department of Defense decided to close Kelly AFB in 1995 and closed Kelly in 2001. Our families who have lived in this area for generations are getting the short end of the stick from our San Antonio city representatives. We lost the benefit from proximity to Kelly Air Force Base. When Kelly closed, our city did not take any effort to backfill those jobs or assist family-owned businesses to continue or grow back into our neighborhood, so our infrastructure started to collapse.
Our section of San Antonio is the poorest in the city, with a poverty level of 36%—a substantially higher rate than the state average of 14%. This neighborhood’s median real estate is less than $130,000. It is less expensive than 87% of Texas & 91% of all national neighborhoods.
In Jan 2022, our mayor and other leaders proudly announced a new initiative called ESTAR West. It is aimed to coordinate new services for small businesses and to help connect them with existing ones on the West Side. We have been ignored.
In Jul 2018, the city started the study of which areas to buy out homes for the 100-year flood plan called Concepcion Creek Drainage Project (Public Works Department). This study was completed in Jul 2023. Since 1995, our city knew Kelly AFB base would close, yet the city never considered revitalizing our area. Instead, the city decided to throw our neighborhood away—much easier to remove than revitalize!
Our city picked our area due to the following:
TX DOT created flooding situations when they created US 90 General Hudnell Drive and the General McMullen interchange. Just looking at various maps without info, it looks like these highways have contributed to flooding north of US 90 and west of General Hudnell.
The city selected our area due to low house values. Approximately 33 lots have no houses. The city drew the Eminent Domain line on one side of Darby, so they would not need to buy out the Darby Square 75 Apts for $7 million.
The U.S. Department of Defense closed Kelly AFB in 2001. The Federal Government continues to build up US 90 General Hudnell Drive and the General McMullen interchange with no regard to creating flooding in their wake. Our city decided to stimulate other westside communities and ignore our area. So our infrastructure started to collapse. Even the Dollar store closed!
This neighborhood’s median real estate price is less than $129,683.
Key Issues:
• Low income (still researching)
• High crime (our area is listed C-, D being the highest crime)
• We probably are seen as a low voting area
Our City of San Antonio has spent much money and resources in other westside communities. They consider our area throw-away trash. They will give “market value” to our homeowners, knowing that many will not be able to afford what we bought “yesterday.”
People in our area do not put up much resistance to City of San Antonio changes.
SAN ANTONIO CONSIDERS OUR AREA A THROW AWAY.
WE ARE THE EASIEST PATH FOR GOVERNMENT TO GET WHAT THEY WANT!
WHAT CAN WE DO?
I have written to the Office of Environmental Justice (EJ) for help. While I wait for a response from EJ, I will continue to research the San Antonio Public Works Department. As I gather more information, I will pass it on to you.
Presently, you can help by passing this information to others. The more folks we can get this information to, the more pressure we can apply to the city to review other options. Plus, when the city has a voting date to fund the 100-Year Flood plan, more folks will vote against it!
For more information & pictures of the Concepcion Creek Project go to this website: https://publicinput.com/Customer/File/Full/427ce27e-1dae-4431-acef-f1a49f3f3c47
Contact:
Patricia McWilliams | (210) 207-1332 | patricia.mcwilliams@sanantonio.gov
To receive Concepcion Creek Phase 1 Detention Pond(s) updates and details on future public meetings, feedback, or questions about this project, go to this website: https://saspeakup.com/concepcioncreek (fill out the last page)
Environmental Justice:
Phone: (214)-665-2749
E-mail: environmental-justice@epa.gov
TX Rep: Silvia Zavala | zavala.silvia@epa.gov | (214)-665-2749
WHILE WE MAY NOT KNOW EACH OTHER, WE ARE A COMMUNITY!
WE NEED TO STAND TALL AND STRONG!
WE DO COUNT, AND WE WILL BE HEARD!
WE CAN ASK ALL SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO JOIN OUR CRY!
TO OUR NEIGHBORS:
If you oppose the Conception Creek Drainage Project, please go to the link below and voice your opinion.
The link below is to Joaquin Castro, Congressman of the 20th District of Texas. He requested funding of 10 million dollars for Phase I of the project in 2024. The funding would be used to support the City of San Antonio’s efforts to mitigate the effects of 100-year floods in our area/city to prevent the loss of lives and property.
GO TO:
Castro.house.gov
Click on: Share your opinion on legislation
We are suggesting these words to say or ask:
We were never asked to be involved in the process.
History of flooding on your street.
Other solutions instead of displacements of 150 families.
Where do you stand on this project?
Will you displace 150 families?
We need to save our neighborhood and our homes.
Thank you so much for your participation!
NACCP (Neighbors Against Conception Creek Drainage Project)
