SAN ANTONIO -- The city is brewing up plans to revitalize the abandoned Lone Star Brewery south of downtown.
"A lot of people may have actually lost hope in this property, may have lost hope in this part of town," Councilman David Medina says.
It's still the "national beer of Texas," but for this Lone Star Brewery, last call was a long time ago and new neighbors moved to the area.
"We're right here next to Presa Street," Councilman Medina says. "For many years, the neighborhood has obviously been dealing with the issue of prostitution."
So to stop crime, he says neighbors have stepped up community policing efforts and what the area needs now is economic development.
"Once those two come together, it naturally pushes out and pushes away the criminal element," Councilman Medina says.
The redeveloped Pearl Brewery is hugely successful and on tap now are plans to turn the abandoned Lone Star Brewery into a place where people can live, work and play,
"We have a larger footprint here," Councilman Medina says. "We have about 60 acres that can be developed."
City Council approved plans that envision 25,000 square feet of development near the expanded river trail that's become a hot spot for bicyclists.
"Roosevelt Park improvements have really had a tremendous impact in terms of people moving back to the area," Councilman Medina says.
And neighbors say fixing up the brewery will bring another shot to an old neighborhood on the edge of revitalization.
"Hopefully it will raise our property values," business owner Rene Rocco says.
"Jobs, more jobs for people," parkgoer Martha Trinidad says.
It will take several years for the plans to take shape but Councilman Medina says neighbors will see changes like road improvements and a railroad quiet zone much sooner.
