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UTSA's neighborhood question: Making space for students

by Brian New / KENS 5

kens5.com

Posted on March 9, 2010 at 5:42 PM

Updated Tuesday, Mar 9 at 5:51 PM

With growth and success often come problems, and neighbors say that's the case at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

UTSA is one of the fastest growing universities in the country.

Enrollment has skyrocketed in recent years, up more than 1500 students in just two years.

But neighbors say this has taken a toll on their property values.

The nearby neighborhood was designed for homeowners like Mike Gomez. 

"We were literally one of the first ones on the block," he said. But what his block has turned into is a neighborhood full of UTSA students, along with their unkept yards, litter problems and extra cars on the streets.

"We got people here with nine cars and one house.  It's just insane," Gomez said. "My home value doesn't go up because of it."

Gomez says he expected some of this because of his choice to live so close to campus, but he didn't expect it to ever get this bad.

"I didn't really expect the fights, the police, the gunshots that are probably never reported," he said. "I think something needs to be done."

But the question is what? Morgan Matson has started a group called 8HOA -- the "eight" stands for District 8.

"I think the answer is to work creatively and aggressively with city council and UTSA and with stakesholders in the area to develop a win/win situation," he said.

His group is a big supporters of UTSA, but he says as the school grows, there needs to be a community discussion on where all these new students are going to live.

Gomez says he hopes there's an answer, because he's not ready to move -- at least not yet.

"I'm waiting for the football team. Maybe we'll get some value out of that," Gomez said.

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