$1.34 Billion Invested, More Than 300 Acres Remain to Develop
What began as a decommissioned military base has evolved into a national model for urban redevelopment. Brooks has transformed its 1,308-acre campus into a bustling hub of development, innovation, and community life, with more than 300 acres remaining for future development. This remarkable progress was celebrated at the bi-annual State of Brooks address, hosted by the South Texas Business Partnership, where leaders reflected on achievements and looked ahead at what the future holds.
Since Brooks Development Authority took control in 2001, the Brooks region has seen a surge in economic activity, with more than $1.34 billion invested on campus. Highlights from the Brooks Economic Impact Report, provided by TXP, Inc., include:
- Economic Growth: The Brooks regional area has seen a 36 percent increase in household income, outpacing the city’s 32 percent increase over the same period.
- Business Hub: Brooks is now home to more than 50 businesses, including six international companies and two U.S. Headquarters, making it a hub of economic activity. These businesses span various industries, contributing to the diversity and resilience of the local economy.
- Job Creation: Brooks currently supports more than 3,000 jobs on campus, with projections indicating more than 4,400 jobs in the near future, making it one of the largest employment centers in the region.
- Residential Expansion: Brooks has ten residential options encompassing multi- and single-family developments. With additional single-family and multi-family housing currently under construction, projections estimate Brooks will have more than 7,500 residents over the next five years.
- Community Impact: The high school graduation rate in the Brooks area has increased by 10 percent, while both the unemployment rate and poverty rate have declined by four percent and two percent, respectively, over the same period.
Brooks’ redevelopment has catalyzed further growth beyond the boundaries of campus, highlighted by the development of the nearby 600-acre VIDA community, led by Southstar Communities, and the expansion of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, both of which are enhancing educational, residential, and commercial opportunities in the area. Other significant projects underway, including a 2,000-acre master-planned community being developed by VersaTerra and the upcoming Arboretum San Antonio, are driving investment and contributing to the broader transformation of South San Antonio.
As Brooks approaches its next development phase, the focus will be on maximizing the potential of the remaining 300 acres. Plans include attracting new businesses, expanding residential opportunities, and investing in infrastructure supporting long-term growth.
Key Moments in Brooks’ Transformation
2001
- Brooks Air Force Base is added to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list, promoting the City of San Antonio to establish the Brooks Development Authority to oversee the base’s transition and redevelopment
2002
- Brooks Air Force Base is officially conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority, becoming “Brooks City Base” – a unique partnership between the Air Force, the City of San Antonio, the State of Texas, and the Brooks Development Authority
2011
- Air Force operations cease on September 15, ending 94 years of military activity
- Mission Trail Baptist Hospital opens 220,000-square foot facility, bringing access to health and emergency room care to the Southside
2012
- The first market-rate residential option, The Landings Apartments, opens, marking the beginning of residential expansion on campus
2017
- The $2.8 million restoration of Hangar 9, the oldest wooden aircraft hangar of its kind, is completed, transforming the 1918 building into an event space
- The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine opens in renovated buildings from the former School of Aerospace Medicine and welcomes its first class
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Brooks Hotel & Spa opens, becomes the first full-service hotel and conference center south of downtown San Antonio
2018
- Japan-based Nissei America Inc. opens a $21 million manufacturing facility on campus
- The Greenline opens, adding 43 acres of green space with trails and recreational amenities
2019
- Brooks VIA Transit Center begins services, connecting to the rest of San Antonio
- Czech Republic-based OKIN Business Process Services invests $22 million and opens new U.S. headquarters on campus
2021
- Food service provider Cuisine Solutions opens a $200 million facility, becoming the third international company on campus
- The Greenline is extended to connect directly to the San Antonio River Mission Reach, improving access to city-wide recreational trails
2022
- Brooks announces that it has surpassed $1 billion in revenue
- The Paw Park at the Greenline, the first dog park, opens to the public
2023
- Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, the region’s only hospital, completed a $1.9 million, 1,600 square-foot expansion to its NICU to meet the high demand for preemie care on the south side and surrounding area.
- Brooks Gives Back announces its largest giving of $200,000 to nonprofits: Any Baby Can, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio, Child Advocates San Antonio, Presa Community Center, Ride Connect Texas, Meals on Wheels, and Vibrant Works. Since its inception in 2019, Brooks Gives Back has gifted over $450,000
- HOLT Renewables and Forth Energy unveiled an innovative 1.036 megawatt (MW) solar power system on the parking structure at Bakerly Ranch at Brooks. The city’s largest solar structure provides enough power to charge more than 133,000,000 smartphones annually.
- Brooks purchases about 160 acres, formerly the Republic Oaks Golf Course, for the future Arboretum San Antonio; Bexar County Commissioners Court allocates $7,300,000 to purchase land, master planning, and infrastructure for the future Arboretum.
2024
- WatersEdge I, the first Class A office space in Southeast San Antonio, is completed.
- Mission Solar Energy celebrates its 10th anniversary by announcing a 1- 1 gigawatt (1GW) expansion plan. The company will add to its 300MW production capacity immediately, with plans to reach 1GW annually in 2024
- Arboretum San Antonio begins the master planning process
- Soli Organic opens at Brooks. Spanning over 140,000 square feet, the facility features cutting-edge automation, industry-leading lighting, and precision organic fertigation to bring high-quality organic salad greens and herbs to even more local retailers and consumers in the region
- Nearly $700 million in development is underway across the 1,308-acre campus
Information source: Brooks.
