Breaking Ground SA

San Antonio is two degrees of separation. If you don't know someone, you know someone who does. And for Omar Gonzalez, that's exactly how he built a career at the center of the city's most transformative development.

In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, Stephanie Reyes and Rob Killen sit down with Omar Gonzalez, Director of Development for Oxbow, to trace his unlikely path from the streets of West Philadelphia to the banks of the San Antonio River.

From doing early economic analysis on the original Spurs arena decision, to spending a decade reshaping Hemisphere into Yanaguana Garden, to now leading some of the most ambitious mixed-use projects in the city's history, Omar brings a rare combination of sharp finance instincts, deep community roots, and genuine love for San Antonio.

They cover the origin story behind Yanaguana Garden, the bet on parking that almost broke during COVID, the vision for Pearl's next chapter including Cooper's Row and the Isletta office project, and why Omar believes San Antonio is still on the cusp of its most exciting transformation yet.

If you care about where San Antonio is headed, who is building it, and what it actually takes to bring a city to life, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

• (01:00) Omar's Roots: Growing Up in San Antonio
• (04:30) Wharton, West Philly, and Coming Home
• (08:45) The Original Spurs Arena Study
• (11:00) Kelly Air Force Base and the Birth of Port SA
• (16:00) From Consulting to Doing: The Career Pivot
• (21:30) Mexico, the Financial Crisis, and Starting Over
• (31:00) Connecting to Pearl and the San Antonio Way
• (36:00) Building Hemisphere and the Story Behind Yanaguana Garden
• (44:00) Parking Bets, COVID, and the Pearl Expansion
• (52:00) The New Spurs Arena and What It Means for the City
• (56:00) Cooper's Row, Perlin House, and What's Next at Pearl
• (59:00) What San Antonio Does Better Than Any Other City
• (01:02:00) The Honest Challenges: Education and Mass Transit
• (01:06:00) Rapid Fire and What Omar Would Tell His Younger Self

Links and Resources:

• RECSA - Real Estate Council of San Antonio https://recsanantonio.com/
• Oxbow Development - https://oxbowdevelopment.com/

Sponsor Links:

• Security Service Title Company https://www.ssfcu.org/home-loans/title

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city. Subscribe for conversations with the leaders driving development, policy, and economic growth across San Antonio and Texas.

Podcast Production Services by https://EveryWord.Media

Growth is necessary for a city to thrive, but it often comes with resistance.

In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, Stephanie Reyes and Rob Killen sit down with Thad Rutherford, President and CEO of Southstar, to explore the real challenges behind development, community trust, and long-term city building.

With over two decades of experience and a portfolio spanning thousands of homes and major mixed-use projects across Texas, Thad shares what it actually takes to bring complex developments to life. From navigating community pushback to building relationships that last, this conversation dives into the human side of real estate development.

They also discuss the evolution of San Antonio’s south side, the future of large-scale projects like Lone Star Brewery, and why engagement and trust are just as important as financial success.

If you care about how cities grow, how deals get done, and what it takes to lead in today’s development landscape, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

• (01:00) - From Florida to Texas: Thad’s Path into Development
• (07:30) - Why Developers Are Often Misunderstood
• (10:00) - Navigating Community Pushback
• (14:00) - Growth, Community, and Finding Balance
• (16:00) - Building Trust Through Relationships
• (18:00) - Why Getting Involved in Your City Matters
• (26:00) - South Side Development and Economic Growth
• (33:00) - The Vision for the Lone Star Project
• (42:00) - Leadership, Legacy, and Advice for the Next Generation

Links and Resources:

RECSA – Real Estate Council of San Antonio

https://recsanantonio.com/

Southstar (Thad Rutherford)

https://southstarcommunities.com/

Sponsor Links:

Security Service Title Company

https://www.ssfcu.org/home-loans/title

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city.

Subscribe for conversations with the leaders driving development, policy, and economic growth across San Antonio and Texas.

Podcast Production Services by https://EveryWord.Media

How does a single deal reshape an entire city?

In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, Stephanie Reyes and Rob Killen sit down with legendary San Antonio developer Marty Wender to unpack the stories, decisions, and mindset behind some of the most impactful developments in the city’s history.

From helping bring SeaWorld to San Antonio to developing the west side and influencing major infrastructure projects like Highway 151, Marty shares how he built a career by solving problems others avoided and seeing opportunity where others saw obstacles.

He also dives into the importance of relationships, decision-making under pressure, and why great developers focus on people, not just projects. Along the way, he shares powerful lessons on leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to close transformative deals.

This is a must-listen for developers, business leaders, and anyone interested in how cities grow and evolve.

Topics Covered:

1. (01:00) - Growing up in Fort Worth and early leadership mindset
2. (04:30) - Building a career by hiring great people and listening
3. (10:00) - Finding opportunity in overlooked land and solving problems
4. (14:00) - The deal that launched his career as a developer
5. (22:00) - Why I-10 became San Antonio’s “golden corridor”
6. (28:00) - The inside story of landing SeaWorld in San Antonio
7. (36:00) - Building relationships and closing high-stakes deals
8. (38:00) - Fiber optics, data centers, and long-term vision
9. (41:00) - The Microsoft data center deal and problem-solving strategy
10. (45:00) - “Always tell the truth, but in the right order”
11. (47:00) - How to build trust and long-term business relationships
12. (48:00) - Lessons on leadership, service, and community impact
13. (58:00) - Advice for young professionals: get involved

Links and Resources:

1. RECSA – Real Estate Council of San Antonio

Sponsor Links:

1. Sol Schwartz & Associates

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio (RECSA) exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city.

Subscribe for conversations with the leaders driving development, policy, and economic growth across San Antonio and Texas.

Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

San Antonio’s growth doesn’t happen by accident. It takes vision, investment, and leaders willing to transform underused spaces into thriving places.

In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, Stephanie Reyes and Rob Killen sit down with David Adelman, founder and principal of Area Real Estate, to discuss his journey from buying his first rental property while still in high school to becoming one of the developers helping reshape downtown San Antonio.

Adelman shares how early entrepreneurial curiosity led him into real estate, his transition from residential investing into commercial development, and why he focuses on redevelopment and historic preservation. He explains how developers identify buildings with “good bones,” why adaptive reuse can be more sustainable than ground-up construction, and what it takes to bring new life to historic properties.

The conversation also explores several of Adelman’s projects including The Creamery, St. Paul Square, Sunset Station, and The Maverick, and the growing entertainment and cultural energy emerging in downtown San Antonio.

Stephanie, Rob, and David also discuss the importance of collaboration between developers, business leaders, and local government, and why thoughtful development plays such an important role in the long-term economic growth of San Antonio.

For developers, business leaders, and anyone interested in the future of Texas cities, this episode offers insight into the mindset behind building vibrant communities.

Topics Covered:

1. (01:30) - Buying his first rental property while still in high school
2. (07:20) - Transitioning from residential investing to commercial real estate
3. (10:45) - Why he focuses on redevelopment and historic preservation
4. (14:30) - Identifying buildings with “good bones” for redevelopment
5. (19:40) - Sustainability, density, and smarter urban living
6. (20:00) - Revitalizing St. Paul Square and Sunset Station
7. (21:00) - Building entertainment and nightlife in downtown San Antonio
8. (23:00) - Strengthening collaboration across San Antonio’s business community
9. (28:30) - The role of policy in real estate development
10. (37:00) - Mentoring the next generation of real estate leaders
11. (40:40) - What excites him most about San Antonio’s future

Links and Resources:

RECSA – Real Estate Council of San Antonio

https://recsanantonio.com/

Area Real Estate

https://www.areatx.com/

St. Paul Square

https://www.areatx.com/stpaulsquare

The Creamery District

https://www.areatx.com/the-creamery

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio (RECSA) exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city.

Subscribe for conversations with the leaders driving development, policy, and economic growth across San Antonio and Texas.

Podcast Production Services by https://EveryWord.Media

What does it take to lead one of Texas’ fastest-growing counties?

In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, we sit down with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, economic growth, public-private partnerships, and the future of San Antonio.

Judge Sakai shares the powerful story of his grandparents’ immigration from Japan, his father’s experience in World War II internment camps, and how those family values of hard work, integrity, and humility shaped his career in public service.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00 – Family roots, internment camps, and core values
2. 02:07 – Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley
3. 05:06 – UT Law School and early career lessons
4. 13:04 – Choosing public service over higher pay
5. 16:12 – Serving as a judge and building the Children’s Court
6. 23:10 – First political campaign and community support
7. 26:20 – Becoming Bexar County Judge
8. 33:39 – Modernizing county government and improving efficiency
9. 39:14 – Propositions A & B and the Spurs arena discussion
10. 46:29 – Clarifying Project Marvel
11. 52:14 – East Side revitalization and long-term economic strategy
12. 59:02 – Housing, transit, and the Silver Line vision
13. 1:01:14 – Why economic growth drives prosperity
14. 1:03:37 – Leadership, family, and protecting future generations

Resources:

1. RECSA: https://recsanantonio.com/

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city.

Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

In this episode of Breaking Ground SA, we sit down with former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, collaboration, and what it takes to guide a city through growth and transformation.

Hosted by Stephanie Reyes, President and CEO of RECSA, alongside policy expert Rob Killen, this episode explores Ron’s journey into public service, his approach to building coalitions across government, and his vision for San Antonio and Bexar County’s future.

Ron reflects on lessons learned during his time as mayor, the importance of long-term planning over short-term wins, and why strong relationships between city and county leadership are essential for economic development, infrastructure, housing, and quality of life. The conversation also touches on workforce development, transportation, housing strategy, climate action, and the responsibility leaders have to create opportunities for the next generation.

This episode offers valuable insight for developers, business leaders, and policymakers who care about the future of San Antonio and the role thoughtful leadership plays in shaping the city our kids will want to call home.

Topics Covered

1. Ron Nirenberg’s path into public service and leadership
2. Why collaboration between city and county governments matters
3. The role of long-term vision in economic development
4. Housing, transportation, and workforce challenges facing San Antonio
5. Building coalitions to move complex projects forward
6. Leadership lessons from serving as mayor during periods of change
7. Creating opportunity and quality of life for future generations

Resources

RECSA: https://recsanantonio.com/

Breaking Ground SA is a podcast of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, exploring the people, projects, and decisions shaping the future of our city.

Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media.

In this episode, we sit down with Randy Smith, co-founder and CEO of Weston Urban, to explore his unexpected journey from attorney to developer and his vision for San Antonio's future. Randy shares how a breakfast at IHOP led him to Rackspace and eventually to transforming downtown San Antonio with projects like Frost Tower, the Milam Building, and the upcoming downtown baseball stadium. We discuss why downtowns matter, the importance of people over buildings, and how San Antonio's unique community spirit sets it apart. Randy also opens up about the challenges of capitalizing development projects, his passion for creating family-friendly spaces, and why he believes San Antonio does community better than anywhere else in America.

Topics Covered:

1. (00:34) - From Attorney to Developer: Randy's unexpected career journey
2. (8:34 - Moving to San Antonio: Why Randy and Rachel chose San Antonio in 2005
3. (13:41) - The IHOP Breakfast: Meeting Graham Weston and joining Rackspace
4. (15:19) - Founding Weston Urban: "Building the city our kids want to call home"
5. (23:00) - Frost Tower: Breaking San Antonio's 30-year office tower drought
6. (25:09) - The Frost Tower Land Deal: Complex three-way swap with Frost Bank and the City
7. (28:53) - Why Downtown Matters: Economics, community, and San Antonio's identity
8. (37:55) - Downtown Baseball Stadium Update: Current status and challenges
9. (42:05) - "Who Has It Better Than Us?": Randy's philosophy on gratitude and perspective
10. (47:00) - The Power of People: Why humans matter more than buildings in San Antonio's future

Resources:

1. https://recsanantonio.com/
2. https://westonurban.com/

Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media