VIDA Housing District
The VIDA Housing District is a 499-unit multi-generational, pedestrian friendly development planned by the San Antonio Housing Trust. Located along Zarzamora Street in Council District 4, the project site is within the SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan’s Texas A&M University – San Antonio / Toyota Regional Center, a rapidly growing hub for employment and housing options. The Development’s location supports connectivity to community resources while contributing to broader neighborhood revitalization efforts.
SAHT has partnered with Pennrose to execute the project. With more than 40 years of experience, Pennrose has extensive experience partnering with public entities to redevelop neighborhood assets at a variety of scales using innovative financing structures. Pennrose has developed more than 265 housing projects and has more than 130 properties under management throughout 16 states and the District of Columbia, the vast majority of which are income-restricted affordable housing.
The Judy at Vida
In 2025, SAHT submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, the Judy at VIDA was conceived of as a 90-unit phase with a focus on adults over 55. Unfortunately, the submission was unsuccessful.
In 2026, SAHT repositioned the Judy at VIDA to provide 68-unit of deeply affordable housing focused on serving youth and young adults (ages 18-24) who are facing housing challenges. The property will include 24 efficiency units, 25 one-bedroom units, and 19 two-bedroom units. The project is planned as a supportive housing community with on-site services tailored to resident needs, with a focus on housing stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term success.
Affordability Mix
| 30% AMI | 50% AMI | 60% AMI | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency Unit | 5 | 14 | 5 | 24 |
| 1-bedroom | 5 | 15 | 5 | 25 |
| 2-bedroom | 4 | 11 | 4 | 19 |
| Total | 14 | 40 | 14 | 68 |
Supportive Services will be managed by SAMMinistries, which has been providing services in San Antonio for homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness since 1983. SAMMinistries currently assists 5,000 persons per year in accessing social services and are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. Residents will hold traditional leases and can live at the property as long as they like. And services will be voluntary, trauma-informed, grounded in Housing First principles, and provided at no cost to residents. Services at the Judy will include:
- Individualized case management and goal planning.
- Education support, including high school completion, GED, and post-secondary enrollment assistance;
- Workforce readiness support, resume development, and job placement referrals.
- Financial literacy and budgeting education (minimum twice monthly);
- Weekly life skills classes focused on independent living.
- Assistance accessing public benefits and documentation.
- Behavioral and physical health referrals.
- Peer support groups and community-building activities.
Current Timeline:
SAHT and Pennrose has submitted applications in the 2026 cycle of the 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit program as well as to the City of San Antonio Housing Bond. If Judy at VIDA project is successful in both awards, we anticipate starting construction in early 2027.
Universal Design
The San Antonio Housing Trust is committed to universal design, a design strategy to ensure that new apartment homes in San Antonio are designed for people of all ages, body types and abilities. The San Antonio Housing Trust recently adopting the SAHT Multi-Family Universal Design Standards across all of our partner projects.
Community Engagement
The San Antonio Housing Trust is a leader in universal design, a design strategy to ensure that new housing is designed for people of all ages, body types and abilities. 100% of units at the Judy at VIDA will be designed to meet our universal design unit standard. Learn more about SAHT Multi-Family Universal Design Standards .
As the property was being repositioned with the new uses, SAHT and Pennrose staff engaged a second community workshop on January 15, 2026.
Future Phases
The Judy at VIDA is part of a larger master planned community that is being designed by the San Antonio Housing Trust to create an inclusive, multi-generational, walkable neighborhood. The larger development will contain 499 units of housing dispersed across varied building typologies from the 4-story building in phase 1, to phases 2 and 3 which will include 3-story garden style apartments and 2-story “missing middle” scale apartment buildings that will house 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units.
The future masterplan, design by Lake Flato Architects Blacksmith Collaborative and WGI Engineering, is anchored by a treelined pedestrian-focused street that connects residents to two large public green spaces and smaller neighborhood-scaled green spaces. Phases 2 and 3 are anticipated to have a community pool and splash pad that would be accessible to Judy at VIDA residents.
