After arena vote, San Antonio officials look for cooperation on Spurs' community benefits agreement

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, center, speaks during a post-election press conference at City Hall. Credit: Michael Karlis

Although Bexar County voters narrowly approved tentative plans for a new downtown Spurs arena, there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the $75 million community benefits agreement offered by the team, city officials said Wednesday.

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, a vocal critic of the $1.3 billion publicly financed arena deal, said she looks forward to working with the NBA franchise and Managing Partner Peter J. Holt on bringing equitable and accessible development along with revitalization to the center city.

“We need to be bold in our vision and think about what it’s going to take to have a revitalized downtown that we all want and deserve,” Jones said at a Wednesday press conference. “That includes affordable housing. That includes commitment to labor … as well as making sure we have those good-paying jobs.”

Jones also said that she’ll work to transparently communicate a timeline, allow for “real public engagement” and due diligence on the project to “ensure this is reflective of the people’s resources.”

“We’ve got a wonderful opportunity,” Jones continued. “I think us moving forward together is the best way in which we can keep our commitment for a win-win opportunity for our city and for the Spurs.”

Jones made her comments during a press conference organized by District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito. Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai and District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur were also in attendance, along with Holt and Spurs General Counsel Bobby Perez.

Indeed, Kaur, one of the arena plan’s most vocal supporters, said she wants to create a joint city-county task force to analyze how to best use the community benefits cash offered by the Spurs.

“That community benefits agreement of $75 million could really impact some big priorities our community has already laid out,” Kaur said. “However, those have not been prescribed. There is still, like the mayor mentioned, a lot of room for real public engagement around how we want to see those benefits take place.”

Kaur said the money could be used to support affordable housing at Hemisfair along with neighborhoods surrounding the urban core.

After a close, hard-fought and occasionally ugly election, Holt said he looks forward to working with the mayor and other city and county officials on how best to serve the community.

“I think what today really shows is unity, and that’s what we’re going to focus on going forward — is doing big things via partnership,” Holt said. “Partnerships have always enabled the Spurs to be successful, and doing big things and bold things is what we’re all about. But that’s going to take a tremendous amount of collaboration.”

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After arena vote, San Antonio officials look for cooperation on Spurs’ community benefits agreement

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