Thrive Vecindad
El Jardín de Nuestra Vecindad, or Thrive Vecindad, will transform long-vacant properties at 1600 and 1610 Buena Vista St. into a transitional supportive housing community designed to serve LGBTQ+ young adults.
The San Antonio Housing Trust (SAHT) is partnering with Thrive Youth Center, a San Antonio nonprofit that provides shelter, housing, and supportive services for LGBTQ+ youth, to develop housing for up to 25 young adults ages 18 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness. Future residents will have access to stable housing and individualized support as they work toward personal, educational, and employment goals.
LGBTQ+ young adults experience homelessness and housing instability at disproportionately high rates, often because of family rejection, discrimination, and systemic barriers. Thrive Vecindad will expand the limited supply of supportive housing designed to affirm LGBTQ+ young adults and could provide a model for similar efforts in other Texas communities.
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND GOALS
SAHT acquired the property in 2024 to preserve its two historic homes, expand affordable housing choices, and keep the land in community-centered use as nearby transit and public investments increase development interest in the area. SAHT released a Request for Information in the fall of 2025 to identify qualified social service providers interested in partnering to operate the transitional housing.
After a thorough review of the five responses based on organizational capacity, program alignment, and financial feasibility, SAHT selected Thrive Youth Center. Thrive Vecindad continues the site’s long history of serving the Westside, including its former use for neighborhood events and youth mentorship programs. This development will restore two historic homes and construct two new structures within the lot.
The award-winning site concept, developed by design and community engagement firm Able City, was shaped through several months of input from nearby residents, Westside organizations, Thrive staff, and young adults with lived experience. Their input helped create a plan that respects the character of the Historic Westside while giving residents spaces for privacy, connection, healing, and growth.
On-site amenities are planned to support connection, creativity, recreation and quiet reflection. Amenities will include a butterfly meadow with native plants, a community garden, flexible recreation and lounge areas, a shaded outdoor kitchen, and gathering spaces for shared meals, events, and everyday socializing. A quiet garden will provide a peaceful setting for reading, meditation, yoga, or time alone. Movable furniture and adaptable green spaces will allow residents and staff to shape these areas as needs evolve.
The site will also prioritize safety, accessibility, and connections to the surrounding Historic Westside neighborhood. Parking will be located toward the rear of the property to create a more welcoming, pedestrian-friendly frontage along Buena Vista and San Jacinto streets, while permeable paving will help manage stormwater runoff. An accessible entrance near Casita Lantana will welcome residents and visitors of varying mobility levels. Collectively, these features are intended to create a comfortable residential community where people can gather, recharge, and build a sense of belonging.
Together, SAHT and Thrive envision a place where young adults can build stability, strengthen community connections, and take their next steps toward independence.
Thrive Youth Center is raising funds through a $10 million capital campaign to support the project. To learn more or contribute, contact Executive Director Justin Holley at justin@thriveyouthcenter.org.
