2024 END OF YEAR REVIEW
MISSION
Advocate for public policies that support a positive and affordable environment for commercial real estate (CRE) development
OUR FOCUS
Influence public policy
Cultivate relationships in the CRE industry
Catalyze community investment
Propel careers
Develop the leaders of tomorrow
GOODBYE 2024
As we close the book on 2024, we are reflecting on some of the most memorable moments from the past year There is no doubt the commercial real estate industry was hit hard by rising interest rates, economic uncertainty, increased construction costs, etc. However, despite those challenges, RECSA successfully managed to keep the most burdensome regulations at bay. And thanks to your much-appreciated investment, we strengthened relationships with industry partners, expanded our leadership development program, bolstered our Community Project initiative, and increased networking opportunities We could not have done it without you!
Looking ahead, RECSA will start the new year with a close eye on the 89th Texas Legislative Session, which begins on January 14th In addition to our work at the local level, we will be working to advance our members’ interests and make our voices heard at the Texas Capitol. We can also expect a shake-up at City Hall with a new mayor and fresh faces on City Council come the May 3rd Municipal Election And members can expect some exciting, new and valuable ways to engage with top commercial real estate professionals and access exclusive educational opportunities, events and connections.
Our members are the heartbeat of the organization, so we sincerely hope we can count on your continued support in 2025. Thank you for your financial support and countless hours of volunteer time!
PUBLIC ADVOCACY
When we say a better San Antonio for everyone, we mean EVERYONE. Our policy efforts are to ensure a healthy economy and enhanced quality of life in the San Antonio area.
Here are some key examples of our advocacy efforts during the second half of 2024.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
Tree Presevation - Trees in Floodplain
Traffic Impact Analysis Credit for New and Upcoming Development
Streetlight Program
Vision Zero Plan Update
Transit-Oriented Development Policy Framework & Update to Zoning Code
Bike Network Plan
The Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) Housing Grant Application (D7) CM Marina Alderete Gavito CCR - Addressing Cluster Mailbox Theft (D6) CM Melissa Cabello Havrda CCR - Enhancing Permitting & Expediency
Planning Commission & Technical Advisory Committee Vacancies
City Charter Amendments - Proposition C (City Manager Pay & Tenure)
Housing Affordability Roundtable w/(D5) CM Teri Castillo & (D10) CM Marc Whyte (D10) CM Marc Whyte CCR - A Policy to Reduce Abandoned Shopping Carts (D5) CM Teri Castillo CCR - Rebuilding Dream Policy (Fee Waivers for Fire Affected Properties)
BEXAR COUNTY
Update to Storm Water Quality Permits (SW3P)
Permit Verification Guidelines & Process
Update to Flood Damage Prevention Court Order
Revised Floodplain Development Permit Application
Update to Subdivision Court Order
Update to Right of Way Permit Court Order
Automated Intake Process for Public Works Permits & Plats Outside of COSA ETJ
Traffic Analysis Reviews
SAWS
Land Acquisition Process for New Water Production Facilities
Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) Allocation for Multi-Family Development
SAWS Combination Meter Update
Engineering Scoping for Facility Tri-lateral Projects
Efforts to Promote Proactive Development of Infrastructure West and South of San Antonio
PUBLIC ADVOCACY
CPS ENERGY
Customer Infrastructure Development (CID) Agreement
Joint Trench Update
Service Design Workflow
Development/Redevelopment in Downtown Network
Transmission Challenges
SARA
Capital Improvement Plan Update on Floodplain Maps/Limits Revisions
River Road Restoration Project
TXDOT
Standardized Workflow for Plat Reviews, Driveway Permits, & Utility Installation Reviews (UIR) Contact
37 NEW MEMBERS
$34,080 REVENUE
2024 NEW MEMBERS
CORPORATE
PATRON
AMISHAY LAND
FULCRUM DEVELOPMENT
BGE, INC
TTL USA
WGA
CHESMAR HOMES
ELEVATE ARCHITECTURE
TOLL BROTHERS
ZIGA ARCHITECTURE
NCE GENERAL CONTRACTORS
FORESITE GROUP, LLC
MATRIX DESIGN GROUP
LANGAN ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL
SANTIKOS ENTERTAINMENT
ONYX POLITICAL AFFAIRS
XSELLENCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP
MIDDLEMAN CONSTRUCTION
SOUTHERLAND CONTRACTING GROUP
OMEGA GC
OLD REPUBLIC TITLE
RMWBH LAW
FIRSTMARK CREDIT UNION
SONORA BANK
J-4 CONSTRUCTION
FULTON DEVELOPMENT
TRINITY REAL ESTATE FINANCE
INDIVIDUAL
ALAN BASS
ANDY BOURNE
KEVIN LOVE
JEFF MEADE
MASON MILLER
LEAH SCHOENFELD
JAMIE HORA
EVAN HAMMER
JOSE VALENZUELA
WALT RAKOWITZ
BRIAN BOUDREAUX
MAKENZIE CAMPBELL
RAY KANG
MEMBERSHIP MIXERS
In 2024, the Membership Committee implemented quarterly Membership Mixers designed to engage all levels of RECSA members. These mixers continue to grow in popularity. We look forward to carrying over these mixers in 2025 If you are interested in showing off your office, site location, or would like to sponsor a Membership Mixer in 2025, contact Lauren Gonzalez.
We would like to thank our sponsors, hosts and members for their support.
PROGRAMS
OUR PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW!
We rounded out 2024 with the Legacy & Leadership Luncheon in September, which included the presentation of this year’s Lewis Westerman Award (see pg 7) and the Philip M Barshop Award Luncheon (see pg 8) in November
Some of our most exciting events happened in December, including our Jingle & Mingle holiday party, co-hosted this year with CCIM and CoreNet, and boasting over 150 attendees. Finishing out the year is the “State of RECSA” breakfast, featuring panels on advocacy successes and challenges of 2024 & 2025, as well as opportunities to learn more about how RECSA benefits its members
We hope that you will join us in 2025 for what promises to be some very exciting discussions! We’ll kick-off the new year with a developmentfocused panel and a local economic impact update with the Responsible Growth Alliance (RGA). In February, we will host a members-only mayoral debate so RECSA members can get a first look at who’s in the running and their plans for San Antonio
LEWIS WESTERMAN AWARD
We were thrilled to recognize Jim Welch, PapeDawson Engineers as this year’s Lewis Westerman Impact Award recipient! Jim has worked tirelessly to promote RECSA’s advocacy efforts and truly embodies the award standards of integrity; humility; transparency; and fearlessness, even in the face of controversy.
We are grateful to guest speaker Bob Worth with Worth & Associates and moderator Jenna SaucedoHerrera with greater:SATX for sharing Bob’s story about his role in transforming the face of San Antonio
PHILIP M. BARSHOP
FOUNDER’S AWARD
In November at The Witte Museum, members gathered to honor the legacy of Philip M. Barshop. The award is designed to honor the legacy of leadership, hard work, community involvement, and advocacy within the commercial real estate industry. This year’s award recipient was Rob Killen with Killen, Griffin, & Farrimond.
Attendees were treated to a delightfully inspiring conversation between moderator John T. Montford and guest speaker Ed Whitacre Jr
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITY LEADERS
Co-Chairs Brad Carson with Kruger Carson and Ashley Nelson with Guido have been leading an incredibly successful year with the 2024-2025 Leadership Development class. This year’s program kicked-off with a retreat at Pedrotti’s Ranch, which culminated with a competitive margarita pour-off Since August, the LDP class has been on a walking tour of downtown, attended both the Legacy & Leadership and Barshop Award luncheons, and have completed in-depth leadership training from industry experts and trainers
New to LDP this year is the Mentorship Program, developed by Carrie Caesar, RECSA’s 2024 President Carrie’s dedication to encouraging a new generation of leaders has been inspirational for RECSA’s success this year Thank you to everyone who has participated in LDP as a tour guide, speaker, mentor, and so much more!
Our LDP Alumni have had a great year! With three happy hours and a luncheon, our Alumni have had an opportunity to network and reconnect with old friends once per quarter We are grateful to all the officials who came to speak at the Alumni events as well, sharing their love for San Antonio and exciting plans for 2025 and beyond
FIGHT NIGHT
33RD ANNUAL FIGHT NIGHT
MARCH 20, 2025
HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER
Announcing the 2025 Fight Night Co-Chairs
Crystal Acker
Kruger Carson PLLC
Andrew Christopher Whiting-Turner
33RD ANNUAL COUNCIL OPEN
Thank you to everyone who made our 33rd Annual Council Open Tournament one of our most successful ever! With over 230 players, we were SOLD OUT on teams, a first in recent history We are so grateful to players, sponsors, and volunteers for making it such a fantastic day. Thank you to Trenton McGee with DNT Construction, and Dane Wright with Pape-Dawson Engineers for cochairing this exciting event!
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
LEVERAGING OUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO GIVE BACK TO SAN ANTONIO
Our 2nd annual Community Project was a rousing success! Over 70 volunteers gathered at Towne Twin Village to beautify the area behind their community pavilion and create a garden oasis for rest and relaxation.
In just 4 hours on Event Day, volunteers transformed the space with ADA-compliant picnic tables providing shaded rest areas, all surrounded by native and naturalized plants. Thank you to all our volunteers and donors for making this project possible!
The Community Relations Committee has also been hard at work reinvigorating RECSA’s partnerships with UTSA, Alamo Colleges, and Texas A & M San Antonio
Keep an eye out for more information in the new year on how you can be a part of these exciting initiatives.
Interested in joining the committee, contact Casey@recsantonio.com
RECSA & ULI SAN ANTONIO REAL ESTATE FORUM
On November 14, RECSA and ULI San Antonio joined forces to launch the inaugural Real Estate Forum, bringing together members of both organizations to hear local experts discuss some of San Antonio’s toughest challenges facing the commercial real estate industry. Leading the event was keynote speaker Ken Perlman, Managing Principal at John Burns Research & Consulting, followed by panels focused on Economic Development, Housing, and Infrastructure.
The Forum also featured a marketplace, where sponsors and exhibitors could show-off their new and visionary projects. With everything from VR walkthroughs, to 3-D models, it was an exciting look into the changing, growing future of our city. Thank you to all our sponsors, presenters, exhibitors, and attendees for making this inaugural event a success! We look forward to bringing this event back for 2025 and beyond
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Do Not Forget to Update RECSA if:
Your office has moved.
Changes need to be made to your account.
You have moved companies.
Stay Tuned for More Info.
Memberships renew on January 1, 2025
Launching in 2025, an exciting new feature to make renewals fast & easy.
Renewing your membership just got easier.
As an added benefit to your membership, we are now offering an optional Auto-Pay Subscription
SPOTLIGHT YOUR PROJECTS
We want to share your projects, awards, and more of who are members are through social media From groundbreakings, progress pictures, new offices Our members are what sets RECSA apart.
To reach a bigger audience, send your pictures, video, or social media links to our Director of Member Engagement, Lauren Gonzalez at laureng@recsanantoniocom
