Dynamic. Energetic. Thriving.

These are all words that come to mind when encountering Brooks – formerly known as Brooks City-Base until 2017 – one of the San Antonio area’s most desirable places to live, said Connie Gonzalez, Brooks director of strategy and community relations.

A mixed-use development founded on the former site of Brooks Air Force Base, it has experienced resounding success in economic development over the past few years.

And, because Brooks Development Authority is a public-private entity, it allows Brooks to be more flexible in deal structures, and business prospects can have direct dealings with them, added Gonzalez.

“The Brooks area … is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in San Antonio,” Gonzalez said. “Brooks aims to serve as an economic development engine for this region, (and) our mission is to support the employment, housing and transportation needs of our community.”

Many people are attracted to Brooks because of the development happening there and the wide availability of options, Gonzalez added. Major employers are bringing jobs to the area, and lately new restaurant and retail possibilities have been opening nearly every month – with new market-rate housing options available.

Visitors and residents can find amenities like Mission Trail Baptist Hospital – which opened in 2011 as an environmentally friendly LEED Gold-certified facility dedicated to 24-hour, state-of-the-art care and demonstrating a profound commitment to the South San Antonio community it serves – and Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering, a renowned STEM charter school first founded in 2006.

Brooks residents are zoned to San Antonio Independent School District or East Center Independent School District.

“We have seen a significant increase in population in this area, specifically on the Brooks campus, over the past five years,” Gonzalez said.

According to information from the development, more than 3,200 people live on the 1,300 rolling acres of Brooks.

“We currently have four apartment communities on campus and a neighborhood with single-family and semi-detached rental homes,” Gonzalez said. “We are working on additional single-family for sale and rental options to meet community demand for quality housing options.”

Communities include the award-winning Aviator at Brooks, repurposed from Army barracks into urban-inspired studios, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments; the modern, upscale Kennedy at Brooks, with its 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, resort-style pool, fitness center and outdoor lounge areas; multi-family development The Landings at Brooks, with 1- and 2-bedroom deluxe, industrial-chic apartments with open floor plans, streamlined appliances, resort-style pool, fitness facility, and proximity to the Greenline Park; prime apartment community the Anderson at Brooks, with 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, 9-foot ceilings, custom cabinetry and faux wood-plank flooring; and 1950s/1960s 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom homes and duplexes at Heritage Oaks at Brooks with spacious layouts, playgrounds, picnic areas with grills and a remote access gate.

Gonzalez noted that Brooks neighborhoods appeal to various demographics.

“There are a wide variety of people that live on campus, from millennials to young families to empty nesters,” Gonzalez said. “Some people grew up on the Southside and want to stay close. Others, like me, are getting the opportunity to fall in love with San Antonio all over again by experiencing this area for the first time.”

She added that Brooks has a lot to see and do.

“Brooks is in the center of it all on the growing Southside and you can do it all here – live, work, learn, play and stay. We have market-rate apartment complexes, three schools on campus and a wide variety of employers,” Gonzalez said.

Residents have many retail and restaurant options nearby, and are less than a 10-minute drive from downtown San Antonio.

“We also have a 43-acre linear park, the Greenline, that runs through the center of campus providing opportunities to run, bike, fish and just enjoy the outdoors – which has been especially valuable during (COVID-19),” she said.
Brooks also hosts free events on the Greenline, drawing the community close, and the Brooks Transit Center opened in late 2019, making it easier to get to and from Brooks from anywhere in the city.

And Brooks is also close to historic missions, Gonzalez added, with plenty of public art on its campus and in the surrounding area, and many events that take place on site, ranging from outdoor movie nights to live music.

In 2021, the trail at Greenline Park will connect directly to the Mission Reach, a move many locals are excited about.

“The Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa at Brooks is the only full-service hotel south of downtown San Antonio until you reach Corpus Christi or McAllen,” Gonzalez said. “In addition to an unbeatable happy hour, the hotel is home to the only salt cave in San Antonio, (which is) unlike anything you’ve ever seen – so it is worth checking out for at least a 30-minute halotherapy session.”

Ultimately, Gonzalez said, Brooks is on the rise – and really, this is only the beginning.

“Brooks is a place for believers and early adopters,” she said. “We know this area will only continue to grow and become more popular, so if you like being part of the action Brooks is definitely the place to be,” she said.

For more information about Brooks, visit LiveBrooks.com or follow Brooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Article originally published here: Brooks: One of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in San Antonio