Texas A&M–San Antonio: Land Assembly, Southside Strategy, and Higher Ed Land Law
By Trey Wilson, Real Estate and Water Law Attorney | San Antonio, TX
The creation of the Texas A&M–San Antonio campus on the city’s South Side more than an investment in higher education—it was also long game land use strategy, politics, and strategic development. And like all bold land deals in Texas, it came with plenty of legal weight behind the scenes.
This post explores how the A&M campus came to be, the real estate law that enabled it, and the controversies that continue to surround it—from infrastructure funding and water policy to the fate of surrounding neighborhoods.
Origins of the Land that is now the Campus
The Texas A&M University – San Antonio campus site was built on land that once was conveyed by Spanish and Mexican land grants and traversed by several branches of El Camino Real de Tierra Afuera del Oriente (also known as El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail). The first inhabitants of the area were Native Americans, who, at the time of discovery by Spanish explorers, were Coahuiltecans. The earliest grant for this site was made to Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo in 1720, followed by a grant made to Mission San Francisco de La Espada, founded in 1731 following its transfer from East Texas.
Eventually, interspersed within these mission lands were many private Spanish and Mexican land grants made to soldiers and citizens of Béxar. Vaqueros drove thousands of cattle from the mission and private ranch herds eastward to Louisiana in support of the American Revolution and Bernardo de Gálvez’s battles against the British along the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi river.
In 1808, Juan Ignacio Pérez (1761-1830) received a large five-league Spanish land grant on both sides of the Medina River. In 1781, he married Clemencia Hernández and became involved with ranching. He purchased the old comandancia, later known as the Spanish Governor’s Palace, from the Menchaca family. Along with his military and political success following the Battle of Medina (1813) on the lands now comprising the campus, he was also a leading cattleman of the region. Smaller Mexican grants were eventually made to José de los Ángeles (ángel) Navarro (1784-1836), brother of José Antonio Navarro, Alcalde of San Antonio de Béxar and land commissioner, and José Antonio de la Garza (b.1776), one of the largest landowners in San Antonio. A large portion of campus is situated on the Spanish land grant to Fernando Rodríguez, son-in-law of Juan Ignacio Pérez. (2015)
Land Assembly and the Promise of Public Education
TexasA&M–San Antonio was born from a state legislative push and regional lobbying to expand four-year public higher education south of downtown. But to create a physical campus, hundreds of acres had to be assembled—most of it through land donations, coordinated by the Texas A&M University System and City of San Antonio officials. Legal issues included:
- Conveyances with restrictive covenants requiring educational use
- Environmental due diligence and indemnity agreements
- Annexation and zoning coordination with the city’s planning department
Much of the land was provided by Verano Land Group LLC, under agreements that also envisioned a master-planned residential and mixed-use community surrounding the campus. That vision, however, encountered delays and lawsuits—particularly around bond issuance, tax increment financing, and infrastructure guarantees.
Infrastructure and the Ground Game
Before any classes could begin, utilities had to be extended, roads had to be paved, and drainage systems had to be installed. CPS Energy and SAWS worked closely with A&M engineers and city officials to design systems for long-term growth, including:
- Waterline upgrades tied to Edwards Aquifer permit compliance
- Stormwater detention ponds and green infrastructure
- Rights-of-way for future transit corridor expansion
The area’s location in a sensitive aquifer recharge zone meant the Edwards Aquifer Authority and TCEQ had to approve multiple phases of development. That required stormwater quality BMPs and low-impact development features—leading to some design and timing conflicts with developers.
Legal Controversy: The Verano Disputes
In the years following campus establishment, litigation erupted between Verano and the city over the terms of development agreements, alleged funding shortfalls, and missed infrastructure benchmarks. The disputes involved:
- Tax increment reinvestment zone administration and reimbursements
- Bond timing and authorization under Texas Government Code
- Conflict between public land obligations and private development incentives
The result was a slowdown in surrounding development and concerns over whether the broader Southside revitalization strategy was faltering. In the meantime, A&M–San Antonio continued to grow—but largely as a standalone anchor surrounded by undeveloped tracts.
Landowner Impacts and Local Legal Tensions
Nearby landowners have reported mixed impacts. Some have seen appraisal increases and opportunities for long-term sales or development. Others have struggled with access limitations, regulatory uncertainty, and shifts in school district boundaries.
Legal discussions surround the following:
- Valuation protests before the Bexar Appraisal District
- Disputes over deed restrictions and subdivision plat interpretations
- Frustration over perceived inequality in incentive eligibility
School district boundary concerns also surfaced, particularly over funding formulas and student assignment zones involving Harlandale ISD and South San Antonio ISD.
The Role of Water in Campus Planning
Water law played a key role in site approval and development phasing. SAWS required conservation compliance and recharge protection measures. Some infrastructure was funded with grants and state loans under TWDB supervision. Developers in the area also faced:
- Limitations on impervious cover ratios under regional rules
- Special setbacks and easements near drainage and recharge zones
- Legal questions about long-term access to reclaimed water supplies
Lessons from the Southside
The Texas A&M–San Antonio campus illustrates the convergence of land law, political agreements, and infrastructure realities. For lawyers and developers, it’s a reminder that large-scale public development is never just about the buildings—it’s about everything under and around them.
📍 Based in San Antonio, I help clients across Texas resolve real estate, water, and development disputes involving public and private stakeholders.
🔗 www.sanantoniorealestatelawyer.com
🔎 You’re looking for the best real estate lawyer in San Antonio to assist, I’m ready to help.
About the Author
Trey Wilson is a veteran Texas real estate and water law attorney. He represents landowners, developers, and public institutions in complex property law matters across the state.
