| South Presa, a historic district in the Southern sector of San Antonio, Texas, is characterized by few businesses, a declining service industry, and an absence of community resources. The residents of the neighborhood are slightly older, on average, than residents of San Antonio as a whole. At the same time, however, the area is home to a rapidly growing population of Hispanic immigrants and younger families.
Three highways enclose the neighborhood on the east, south, and west sides limiting the neighborhood's accessibility. A railroad bisects the neighborhood in the north. South Presa Street, the major thoroughfare, was originally the primary corridor to the Gulf coast city of Corpus Christi, one of the foremost resort destinations for the state and the closest port city for South Texas during the early 20th century. South Presa Street was a thriving economic corridor from the 1900s to the 1960s before it went through a period of economic and social decline in the mid- to late-1970s. Common to many historic districts across the country, South Presa Street is a mix of commercial and residential property. Many of the buildings in South Presa were constructed prior to the 1930s and 70% of the area's housing stock is over 50 years old.
Currently, the median income for the South Presa area is approximately $21,100, compared to $39,500 for Bexar County. More than 47% of South Presa residents live at or below the poverty line. Only 26.24% of residents over the age of 25 are high school graduates. Some 42% of residents do not participate in the labor force (including retirees and those who work at home). Following a recession in the late 1980s, the area experienced a contraction in population as some residents found it advantageous to leave the area. Although economic opportunities did not improve, many residents returned in the next decade. The rebound in the population highlights the necessity for economic development and educational opportunities, but resources for education and training are extremely limited within the neighborhood.
The University of the Incarnate Word is working with the Presa Community Center, Presa Real (a nonprofit community development corporation), and the San Antonio Independent School District to establish a multipurpose learning facility for the South Presa community. The facility is located on the grounds of the Presa Community Center, which has served South San Antonio for over 30 years.
|
