Alazan Apache Courts Office
Description
San Antonio’s Board of Commissioners created the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) on June 17, 1937. On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937. This created the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and provided $500 million for subsidies to be paid from the U.S. government to local public housing agencies (LHAs) like SAHA to improve living conditions for low-income families.
SAHA made applications to the USHA for funds and the USHA agreed to provide financing for five projects; Alazan Courts, Apache Courts, Lincoln Heights Courts, Wheatley Courts and Victoria Courts. San Antonio enforced segregation in the projects; Alazan and Apache Courts were built for Mexican Americans, Lincoln Heights and Wheatley Courts for African Americans and Victoria Courts for whites. The federal government loaned 90 percent of the necessary funding, while the required 10 percent local contribution was raised through a bond drive. All debts were repaid over the next 60 years though rents.
Construction began on the projects in 1939. Alazan Courts opened some of its units in August 1940 and the rest by early 1941. The smaller Apache Courts was built adjacent to Alazan Courts, and the two projects share similar architecture and a common management office. They are generally referred to as Alazan-Apache Courts.
Alazan, Apache and Lincoln Heights still exist as built and are in operation. SAHA demolished Victoria Courts in 2000 and rebuilt a mixed use community of low income housing, market rate apartments and townhomes. SAHA demolished Wheatley Courts in early 2015 and opened the rebuilt complex in 2016. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 legally ended segregation in housing. All SAHA housing projects are now integrated.
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Alazan Apache Courts Units
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Alazan Courts Project Plaque
Source notes
Donald L. Zelman, "Alazan-Apache Courts," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 87, July 1983 - April, 1984. (Texas State Historical Association), accessed December 10, 2015. Plaque on building https://www.sacurrent.com https://www.expressnews.com
Project originally submitted by Larry Moore on December 11, 2015.
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I am investigating for a book about La Villita’s renovation in 1939. I am hoping to find out if any of the residents of La V at that time were relocated to these Courts. According to Maury Mavericks stenographers interview he did work with Father Tranchasse to get monies from the WPA, NYA, to house people. Also at that time MMK was relocating these people. Any info you can give me is appreciated. And maybe I already asked you anyway, ir is kind of a mystery. Thank you, Lynn Maverick Denzer
You may want to check out the article cited in this post (Donald L. Zelman, “Alazan-Apache Courts,” The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 87, July 1983 – April, 1984). You may also want to contact Mr. Zelman for more info. Good luck!
Hi,
I need to verify prior resident history for Jessica Ann Puentes. Her address was 1104 San Luis. She moved out last summer.
Thanks for your help. I will be happy to fax you her release. However, I do not have your Fax Number.
Thanks!
You need to contact these homes directly. We only chronicle its New Deal history.
Greetings . The book Old Villita And La Villita Continues is OUT. I have copies and it will be at Twig Bookstore in March, 16.95. If you are interested, now, you can contact me at 210 4391824 or [email protected]. I like it! . A great deal about the New Deal. KooLynn Maverick Denzer