San Antonio’s Southside has been one of the fastest-growing areas of the city. Driven by a rise in manufacturing, education, and soon healthcare, growth on the Southside is increasing demand for more housing options.
With varied single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and apartments, VIDA San Antonio is bringing new housing solutions to address the growth.
Southside growth fueled by manufacturing, education
Between 2010 and 2023, the Southside population increased by 16 percent—over 52,000 people. The growth has been driven by employment opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
Photo credit: Toyota Manufacturing Texas
The Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant that opened in 2006 has since grown to employ over 3,700 people, while its on-site suppliers employ an additional 5,600. Other companies have followed suit. International (formerly Navistar), a commercial vehicle manufacturer, opened a plant in 2022 that employs over 600 people.
Photo Credit: JCB
JCB, a UK-based construction equipment manufacturer, announced earlier this year that it would double the size of its planned factory on the Southside from 500,000 to 1 million square feet — making it their largest of 22 facilities located around the world. The JCB factory was originally expected to employ over 1,500 people, but that projection will likely increase since the project’s scope has expanded.
Advances in technology in manufacturing have brought improved training and higher wages for employees. Today’s manufacturing requires more engineers and an expanded need for technology-skilled labor and specialized labor. Employers on the Southside are welcoming talent from across the city and country, and are training local residents to new jobs with better pay and benefits. Manufacturers are working with nearby Palo Alto College and Texas A&M-San Antonio to frame coursework that leads to good-paying jobs.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio has become the fastest-growing campus in the Texas A&M system. Now with over 8,200 students, and employing 800, a recent study showed that the university’s economic impact nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023.
A new key employer to Southside will be University Health. With two new University Health facilities being built at VIDA and expected to open starting this fall, the Southside is also set to see an influx of doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers. University Health projects that the 165-bed hospital alone (opening 2027) will employ 1,000. The VIDA Clinic (opening fall of 2025) will feature a health clinic, mental health services, and the new Institute for Public Health.
Rapid growth drives the need for housing options
Aerial view of VIDA San Antonio including University Health, A&M-San Antonio, and Toyota Manufacturing-San Antonio
An abundance of varied housing near job centers has benefits not just for individuals who work in the area, but for entire communities. Shorter commutes can lead to better work-life balance, job satisfaction, and lower stress levels. The more opportunities for people to live near work, the more time they can spend close to home, helping make the Southside’s growth more sustainable in the long term.
With single-family homes available at varying sizes and price points, as well as townhomes, duplexes, and apartments, VIDA is playing a major role in providing housing options to meet the various needs, budgets, and lifestyles of people who live and work on the Southside.
Housing options range in price from the low $200,000s to over $500,000, varying in size and finishes. All are connected to the community’s trail system and several parks. Single-family home and townhome residents will be able to enjoy the community pool and clubhouse opening this year. Apartments are available across varying price points as well to accommodate workforce and students.
Los Arcos at VIDA, the community’s first apartment complex, is also the first funded in part by San Antonio’s 2022 Affordable Housing Bond. Los Arcos offers over 300 units available to residents making at or below 70 percent of the average median income. Market-rate housing is anticipated to start construction this year.
Stay tuned to the Community News page, or follow @LiveVidaSA on Instagram, Facebook, and X to learn more about the exciting developments happening at VIDA and on the Southside.