Trish DeBerry, President & CEO, Centro San Antonio

In an interview with Invest:, Trish DeBerry, CEO of placemaking organization Centro San Antonio, emphasized downtown’s transformation through more than $600 million in redevelopment, AI-driven safety upgrades, and UTSA’s tech-focused expansion. “It’s an incredibly pivotal time,” DeBerry said, underscoring the push for diverse housing and public-private investment.

What changes over the past year have had the greatest impact on Centro San Antonio’s work, strategy, and the downtown market?

A lot is going on in downtown right now, with significant redevelopment and investment opportunities on nearly every corner. We’re seeing major projects like the $600 million Alamo redevelopment on the east side, a new baseball stadium on the west side with 1,200 units of housing, and potentially even relocating the Spurs arena to the eastern edge of Hemisfair Park.

That kind of investment can catalyze even more development — retail, restaurants, additional housing, and maybe even attract corporate relocations. In parallel, UTSA’s downtown expansion and merger with UT Health are transforming our urban core into a hub for cybersecurity and AI, bringing more students and driving demand for housing. It’s an incredibly pivotal time for downtown San Antonio.

What is Centro’s role in enhancing downtown San Antonio’s assets?

At our core, we manage the clean and safe operation of the Public Improvement District (PID), which covers nearly one square mile of downtown. That includes both street-level and river-level maintenance. Our 130-member ambassador team operates 24/7, keeping the streets clean, assisting tourists, maintaining landscaping, and helping address homelessness.

We’ve also heavily invested in safety. In April, we launched a pilot with AI-powered security cameras on West Commerce Street, monitored around the clock. In addition, we’ve hired former police and retired military officers to support and train our ambassador team on de-escalation and safety procedures.

Beyond operations, we advocate for major development projects like the new stadium and arena, and rally support from our 400-plus member organizations. We’re also behind initiatives like Art Everywhere, which now includes over 180 murals across the district, putting a spotlight on local artists. We’re also bringing signature events like Christmas and Fourth of July celebrations back to downtown in partnership with the city and the private sector.

What economic or policy shifts are influencing your investment partners, and what are your expectations under new mayoral leadership?

We’re encouraged by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. She brings both military and federal experience, which is invaluable when it comes to advocacy and housing policy. Housing is the critical issue right now — not just affordable housing, but workforce, market-rate, luxury, and student housing. They’re all needed to create a balanced, thriving ecosystem.

We’re seeing promising signs from both the city and county on creating incentives and passing affordable housing bonds. Our goal is to make downtown livable 24/7, and not just a place for tourism. That means residents of all income levels need access to housing in the urban core.

Why is developing housing downtown such a challenge?

It’s expensive. As more visitors come in, land prices go up. Development downtown simply costs more. Without public facility corporations, tax abatements, or city incentives, it’s difficult to make projects pencil out.

There’s a misconception that investment in downtown only benefits downtown. The opposite is true. We generate economic return for the entire city through hospitality, sales, hotel taxes, and overall development. A vibrant downtown drives broader prosperity.

What are your top priorities over the next two to three years, and how do you see Centro evolving?

We’ll stay laser-focused on housing, specifically attracting private investment, leveraging public incentives, and creating a full spectrum of housing types. We also want to expand access to daycare, retail, boutiques, and locally owned businesses downtown.

Transportation and parking are key priorities. We’re conducting a major parking study, and we’ll use technology to help visitors find, reserve, and afford parking downtown. This might mean adding free parking days or resident-focused incentives. The goal is to make it easy and welcoming for people from across the region to come into the city center.

How do you want people to think about downtown San Antonio, and what message would you most like to leave with them?

Great cities have great downtowns. That’s more than a tagline, it’s the truth. For people to embrace that, they need to be inspired to live, work, and play downtown. That’s why we’re investing in micro-mobility, parking, housing, events, and retail.

San Antonio’s downtown has something most others don’t: soul. We have 300 years of layered history — Spanish, Mexican, German, all visible in the architecture and culture. Every block tells a story. Our job is to honor that history while embracing the future with things like autonomous vehicles, AI, and the next wave of urban innovation. That blend of Old World and New World is what will make downtown San Antonio truly exceptional.