
ALAZAN COURTS MASTER PLAN
In 2022, Opportunity Home (formerly the San Antonio Housing Authority) committed to revitalizing the 501 units of public housing at the historic Alazan Courts. With the support of Able City and Alamo Architects, the process started with the Reimagine Alazan Master Plan, a community engagement and design effort to develop a vision to rehabilitate and develop the Alazan Courts complex to ensure that it can continue to serve Westside residents for generations to come.
At the outset of the project, Opportunity Home made the following commitments:
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Maintain alazan courts as public housing
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Retain at least 501 units
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No displacement from the neighborhood
Through the community led process, the masterplan identified the following goals.
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Improve streetscape and green spaces
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Preserve look and feel of the neighborhood
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Build more public housing
And the design had to navigate the following regulatory requirements and constraints:
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Upgrade To Modern Building Standards
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Improve Handicap Accessibility
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Increase Unit Sizes
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Respond To Shifting Floodplain
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Changing City-Wide And Neighborhood Housing Needs
Core Master Plan Design Principles:
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Remove buildings in the floodplain, develop green space and a new park along the creek.
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Increase percentage of one, three and four bedroom units, to respond to community housing needs. Decrease percentage of two bedroom units.
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Preserve and rehabilitate all of the street-facing existing buildings. Reconfigure buildings to accommodate larger unit dimensions.
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Replace existing buildings in the interior of the courts with new three story buildings, to add additional units while preserving green space.
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Create new green spaces with amenities for all ages within each block.
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Increase ADA accessible units and improve accessibility throughout the site.
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Reuse existing buildings along Brazos St. to create a new community center.
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The following images are part of the final masterplan that reflects the vision of the community.
Alazan Courts Site Plan

During the masterplan process, it was identified that new units would need to be constructed. With the support of the city of San Antonio first-ever housing bond, opportunity home started development of the first phase of construction, the Alazan Apache expansion, 88 newly constructed units located behind the Alazan community center and the block to the west.
Alazan Apache Expansion Site Plan

Streetscape

Streetscape - View of San Fernando St.
Courtyards

Courtyard - Violeta Place

Courtyard Aerial - Violeta Place
Rehabilitation Options
The design team worked on two options for rehabilitating Alazan Courts. The first design option focuses on restoring the homes to their 1920's original state, embracing their flat roofs and historic windows. The second option takes the existing pitched roofs and rehabilitates them. Both options were thoughtfully crafted to ensure the preservation of the homes' heritage while providing functional and comfortable living spaces.

Rehabilitation Option 1 - View of San Fernando St.
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Rehabilitation Option 1 - View of San Luis St. and S Smith St.
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Rehabilitation Option 1 - View of San Luis St. and S Smith St.
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Rehabilitation Option 2 - View of San Luis St. and Colorado St.
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