Hunt Development Group and Lincoln Property Company have been chosen as master developers for a major redevelopment project on San Antonio’s East Side. The 400-acre site, which includes land around the Frost Bank Center and Freeman Coliseum, will undergo a 15-year transformation that is expected to include 3.6 million square feet of housing, retail, entertainment, hotel, and green space.
The selection came after Bexar County’s Coliseum Advisory Board issued a request for proposals this summer. Hunt and Lincoln were the only respondents. Their plan seeks to create a destination area connected to the Willow Springs Golf Course while supporting ongoing rodeo operations at Freeman Coliseum. This effort aims to drive reinvestment in an area that has historically seen less development.
Funding for the project was recently approved by Bexar County voters, who agreed to allocate $311 million from county hotel occupancy and rental car taxes toward the redevelopment. Voters also supported using $500 million in visitor tax revenue for a new Spurs arena and upgrades to the Frost Bank Center, where the Spurs currently play.
To help finance infrastructure and operational costs, the developers are proposing both a tax increment reinvestment zone and a municipal management district; both measures require county approval. Additional funding could come from parking revenues and ground leases.
Freeman Coliseum Executive Director Derrick Howard described the board’s decision as “an opportunity to finally look at this from a holistic perspective.” He said the plan represents a shift toward community-focused development that county leaders have advocated for years.
The next phase involves several months of community engagement and detailed master planning. The design draws inspiration from established mixed-use entertainment districts such as Fort Worth Stockyards, Dickies Arena, and Dallas’ American Airlines Center.
Overland Partners will lead design efforts with Joeris General Contractors, Metro Development Group, and EBF Development & Design Studio also contributing.
