Southtown Aldea, now in pre-construction phase, is a residential development sited at the northern edge of the popular Southtown arts district; also adjacent to historic Downtown San Antonio and Hemisfair and its new Civic Park. The one-of-a-kind development is made up of three midrise buildings arranged around plazas and courtyards, situated between a wide boulevard and the shaded historic streets of neighboring Lavaca. Its rich architectural expression is drawn from the eclectic local vernacular, in a composed harmony of historicist and contemporary design. In material quality and experiential delight, the development is designed to become both a unique enclave for a residential community, and an attractive addition to a desirable downtown neighborhood.

The Aurora Apartment building is situated on a gentle rise in midtown San Antonio, overlooking the broad lawn of Crockett Park. Constructed in the 1920s as a luxury high-rise hotel, the property was converted to senior apartments in the 1980s. For affordable housing developer Fairstead, we led a thorough renovation of the building. The renovation utilizes historic tax credits and low-income housing tax credits, along with local bonds. The property now lists affordable housing units.

“As with every multifamily project, we sought opportunities to build a truly worthwhile addition into the neighborhood. We set out to create a desirable new downtown address, while acknowledging surrounding heritage.” Billy Lawrence, AIA