San Antonio City Council voted to buy 204 acres of the historic Classen-Steubing Ranch on June 16, 2016, for a total cost near $10 million. The deal kills a proposed residential development that would have packed 3,500 homes and apartments into the Stone Oak area. It is a rare win for conservation in a city where land prices often make preservation impossible.
The acquisition is split into two distinct chunks. The city committed roughly $6.35 million to secure 165 acres, funded largely by the voter-approved Edwards Aquifer protection program. This portion remains mostly wild, shielding the ground where rainwater filters into the underground aquifer that supplies drinking water to the region. The other 39 acres comes with a purchase option for about $3.79 million, potentially financed by the city’s 2017 bond program. That section is designated for active use: sports fields, bike trails, and walking paths.
The land has been in the Classen-Steubing family since 1858. For over a century, it sat largely untouched while surrounding neighborhoods expanded. The family chose this path over selling to a developer. They wanted to balance preservation with limited recreational access, ensuring the landscape didn't vanish under concrete roofs and asphalt roads. Local conservation groups backed the move, citing the site's critical role in aquifer recharging.
The council’s approval sets the stage for the next funding step. The city must now finalize the bond financing for the remaining 39 acres. Until then, the 165-acre core remains under negotiation for final closing costs and conservation easement details. It is a slow process, but the 3,500 homes are officially off the table.