Jaguar Journal is a monthly series in which A&M-San Antonio faculty share their expertise to help explain the science, trends, and issues behind today’s headlines.
South San Antonio is entering a new era of opportunity. Once characterized by agricultural land, industrial activity and limited investment, the region is experiencing a transformation fueled by residential development, expanding infrastructure and major institutions, most notably Texas A&M University–San Antonio.
For long-term residents, the changes promise greater access to education, employment, healthcare and neighborhood amenities. The changes also present an opportunity to build a stronger, more prosperous community while preserving the cultural identity that makes the South Side distinctive.
Dr. Joseph Simpson, associate professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology and Communication, believes understanding this transformation begins with distinguishing economic development from gentrification.
“I would make a distinction between gentrification and development,” Simpson said, explaining that gentrification traditionally involves established working-class neighborhoods and business districts being displaced by wealthier residents and investors.
Much of the growth surrounding A&M–San Antonio, however, is occurring on previously undeveloped land rather than replacing established neighborhoods.
“Since the University has been on the scene, we’ve seen more development, especially residential development,” Simpson said. “That trend is only going to continue as A&M–San Antonio helps reshape the region's economic and educational landscape. Its presence attracts students, faculty and employees while creating demand for housing, businesses and services.”
The University's influence also extends beyond physical development. By preparing graduates for professional careers and connecting academic expertise with community needs, A&M–San Antonio can help ensure that local residents participate in the region's expanding opportunities.
Simpson sees that responsibility as central to the University's mission.
“We're not only a site for professional development within the community,” he said. “We're training people to enter the professional world in the community.”
The University's influence could become even more significant as additional investment follows its expanding footprint.
“I think the city will start looking south because of the University, especially as our profile increases,” Simpson said.
University Health’s Vida Clinic, which opened in January, and the neighboring Palo Alto Hospital, scheduled to open next year, represent another potentially transformative investment, promising improved healthcare access, professional employment and opportunities for collaboration.
One such collaboration, among A&M-San Antonio, the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and University Health, will bring College of Medicine students and faculty into the new Public Health and Education Building for medical education and training.
Beyond healthcare, the hospital is expected to attract medical professionals, support services and additional commercial development, strengthening the area's economic foundation.
“Having a new, state-of-the-art hospital facility for this community is very powerful, especially for a community that has historically experienced disparities in healthcare access and outcomes,” Simpson said.
He also anticipates greater demand for neighborhood amenities, including grocery stores, restaurants and retail establishments, especially as Vida and other residential developments take shape.
As these services emerge, residents could benefit from improved convenience, new employment opportunities and a more vibrant local economy.
“I think there are positives from development,” Simpson said, pointing to potential improvements in health, public safety and community resources.
Despite these opportunities, Simpson emphasizes that successful development requires careful consideration of long-term residents.
Rising property values can create wealth for homeowners, but they can also increase housing costs and financial pressures. Preserving affordable housing and neighborhood traditions will be essential as growth accelerates.
“There's a culture and a community, generations of home ownership, and events and businesses and restaurants that are familiar to the South Side community and give it its unique characteristic,” Simpson said.
He believes policymakers and community leaders have recognized these connections when planning for future development.
“The city really has to be intentional about trying to preserve those things,” he said.
Mixed-income housing, thoughtful land-use decisions and policies that protect established neighborhoods could help ensure economic progress strengthens communities rather than displacing them.
For Simpson, A&M–San Antonio has an important opportunity to contribute not only through education and workforce development but also through research, community engagement and informed public policy.
“We can be a voice and an advocate for good public policy and inclusive practices where we can make sure the community feels that we're not intruding upon them and that they're welcome on the campus.”
He points to the University's broad academic expertise as a valuable resource. History faculty can document neighborhood heritage, public health researchers can examine community needs, business scholars can explore economic opportunities, and sociologists can study how development affects families.
Together, these disciplines can help community leaders make informed decisions that balance economic growth with residents' well-being.
“A university offers a kind of a multiplicative survey of what's going on in the community,” Simpson said.
Ultimately, he believes South San Antonio's transformation presents an opportunity to demonstrate how universities, public institutions and communities can work together to create lasting prosperity.
“The real task and the real paradox with gentrification and development is how do you do it in a way that is not exclusionary,” Simpson said. “For A&M–San Antonio, we have an opportunity to help shape a future in which economic growth expands access to education, healthcare and employment while preserving the South Side's character and ensuring its residents share in the benefits of progress.”
Dr. Joseph Simpson is an associate professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology and Communication. He lectures on environmental sociology, social psychology, and quantitative methods. He is the co-author of the recent publications "Building Walls Destroying Borderlands" in "Nature and Society" and "Abrogation of Public Trust in the Protected Lands of the Lower Rio Grande Valley" in "Society and Natural Resources."