San Antonio’s Ashby Place Project Showcases Infill Development and ‘Missing Middle’ Housing

The Ashby Place development in San Antonio's urban core is emerging as a significant model for infill and "missing middle" housing. Developers Ryan Reed and Sara Villarreal of VillaReed Partners are nearing completion on a 16-unit boutique apartment complex near San Pedro Springs Park. This project, dubbed Phase I, also includes a new Italian sandwich shop, Iggy's Hot Corner, set to open this fall.

The City of San Antonio's Neighborhood and Housing Services Department highlights Ashby Place as an example of "missing middle" housing, which encompasses multi-unit dwellings like duplexes and fourplexes, bridging the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. This strategy aims to expand housing affordability and provide residents with closer access to essential services and public transit.

VillaReed Partners plans to extend this revitalization across the entire intersection with a Phase II mixed-use project, featuring more housing and commercial space. City officials are actively encouraging such developments, recognizing their potential to accommodate San Antonio's projected population growth by 2050. The city is exploring incentives and Unified Development Code amendments to remove barriers for these crucial smaller and mid-sized multifamily projects, making the Ashby Place approach a blueprint for future urban growth.