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Public Improvement District Reauthorization

Public Improvement District Reauthorization

2024-2033

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Our Mission

We strive every day to catalyze a more beautiful, welcoming, playful, and prosperous downtown in the Spirit of San Antonio that amplifies our culture, heritage, and spirit.

Our Mission

We strive every day to catalyze a more beautiful, welcoming, playful, and prosperous downtown in the Spirit of San Antonio that amplifies our culture, heritage, and spirit.

Letter From
Our CEO

Letter From
Our CEO

Greetings,

Since 1982, Centro San Antonio, formerly known as the Downtown Owner’s Association and Downtown Alliance over the years, has served the property owners of downtown San Antonio by being THE nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of place in our urban core by managing the Public Improvement District (PID). The foundation of our work is our clean + safe program performed by 100+ hard-working and friendly cleaning, landscaping, hospitality and Quality-of-Life Ambassadors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We augment this with events & programming, marketing, small business support, public art, capital improvements, and advocacy for capital investments and policy changes to catalyze a more beautiful, welcoming, playful, and prosperous downtown that amplifies San Antonio’s culture, heritage, and spirit.

In short, the PID was established by the City at the request of a group of commercial and condominium property owners. Centro was then contracted by the City to perform our services based on plans approved annually by City Council. The primary funding comes from commercial and condominium property value assessments. This is supplemented by contracts, grants and contributions from the City and CPS which amount to less than 10% of our operating budget.

The PID has been renewed by downtown property owners periodically through a petitioning process, with renewal needing to occur by 9/30/23. Renewing the PID for another 10-year cycle will enable us to continue providing the above-mentioned services and more to support our growing, evolving, historic neighborhood that is the heartbeat of San Antonio.

If you’re ready, please sign the petition provided with this packet and email a scanned copy to <a href=”mailto:reauthorization@centrosa.org”>reauthorization@centrosa.org</a>.

The information below shares how we have worked over the last 10 years, in partnership with property owners, local businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities to bring to life the downtown we have all envisioned. There are challenges to be sure, but with the support of our partners we are confident the next ten years will represent an even greater boom for downtown San Antonio.

We greatly appreciate your support and invite you to authorize the 2024-2033 PID term.

Sincerely,
Matt Brown
CEO

Who
We Are

Centro PID Management Corporation (CPM) is the nonprofit placemaking organization which strives every day to catalyze a more beautiful, playful, prosperous and welcoming downtown San Antonio that amplifies our culture, heritage and spirit. We are independent and not part of the city or county government.   

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We have deep roots downtown. Beginning as the Downtown Owner’s Association in 1982, our organization has been an advocate for property owners, business, and residents in the urban core for four decades. The Public Improvement District (PID) was established by the city at the request of private property owners in 1999 to offer supplemental clean, safe, and hospitality services within the PID.  At that time, CPM was engaged by the City to manage and provide these and other services. 

In 2012, the PID was renewed by property owners for a 10-year term. 

Centro also manages two other nonprofits. The Centro Alliance can lobby on behalf of downtown, such as during bond cycles when we are seeking to have projects listed and funded for investment downtown.  The Centro Partnership is our 501c3, which can take charitable contributions, administer grants and has contracts with various organizations to provide services such as cleaning the River Walk and special events.  Whereas CPM is limited to working within the PID boundaries, these organizations work on behalf of the Downtown Regional Center and our close neighbors surrounding downtown. 

All three nonprofits have the same Boards of Directors.  From a governance standpoint, the Alliance is the parent organization, although each is managed independently of the others. 

To learn more about Centro today, visit centrosa.org.  

 

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2021-2022 Year-In-Review 

Get up to date on our current work and check out our Year-In-Review!

Centro Pid district Graphic

Where
We Serve

The Public Improvement District is a .8 square mile area in downtown San Antonio.  

Approval of the creation of the district and its renewal requires the consent of property owners representing at least 50% of the district’s private property area and 50% of the district’s private property value.  

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Once the PID is established, all commercial property and condominium owners within this District pay an assessment based on their property value, which funds Centro’s services, including– but not limited to– clean + safe maintenance, landscaping, hospitality, small business support, advocacy, homeless outreach, marketing + events, and public art. The assessment percentages are as follows: 

Commercial Property: Not to exceed $.15 per $100 of assessed value  

Residential Property (Condominiums): Not to exceed $.09 per $100 of assessed value 

As part of its agreement to manage the public improvement district to provide supplemental services, Centro presents a yearly Service & Assessment Plan and Budget for approval to its Board of Directors as well as San Antonio City Council. 

The PID automatically sunsets on 9/30/23 after its current 10-year cycle. It must be renewed for services to continue. 

Centro TimeLine

1982
Downtown Owners Association
Downtown Owner’s Association Founded
1982
1999
PID Creation
The Public Improvement District (PID) created
1999
2013
2013
Centro San Antonio formed
2013
2013
2013
2013: Block faces maintained: 364
2013
Block Faces
Total Ambassadors: 54
2014
PID
PID boundaries expand from 364 block faces to 504 and authorized for ten-year term.
2014
2016
Homeless Outreach
3 Homeless Outreach Specialists hired
2016
2016
SAPD
SAPD Bike Patrol supplementary hours begun
2016
2020
Motoscrubber
Began Motoscrubber Storm disinfecting tech service
2020
2020
Homeless Outreach
6 homeless outreach specialists
2020
2022
Quality Of Life Ambassadors
6 homeless outreach specialists
2022
2022
Transfer of Homeless Outreach
Transitioned homeless outreach team to partners at Corazon Ministries San Antonio.
2022
2023
Quality Of Life Ambassadors
15 Quality of Life Ambassadors
2023
2023
Block Faces
Block faces maintained: 504
2023
2023
Total Ambassadors
Total Ambassadors: 85
2023
Downtown Owner’s Association founded
1999
Centro San Antonio founded
Total Ambassadors: 54
Blocks maintained: 364
2013
Zona Cultural Arts District receives state designation
2016
Advocacy leads to $200MM in Bond funding
2019
Partner with Rotary Club to launch Ice Rink at Travis Park
2020
Main Street Small Business Support Program begins
2020
Advocacy helps develop and pass DHS Homeless Strategy
2022
Quality of Life Ambassador Public Safety Program begins
Total Ambassadors: 85
2022
Advocacy leads to $85MM in Bond and TIRZ funding
Advocacy leads to Downtown Neighborhood staying entirely within D1
1982
Public Improvement District (PID) created
2013
PID expanded and authorized for 10 years
Blocks maintained: 504
2015
SAPD Bike Patrol supplementary hours begin
2017
Art Everywhere Public Art Program begins
2019
Rapid and on-going COVID safety response begins
2020
Peacock Alley Placemaking Event Space launched
2021
La Zona Placemaking Event Space launched
2022
Advocacy leads to $85MM in Bond and TIRZ funding
2022

Downtown By The Numbers

Downtown makes up only 0.3 percent of the city’s overall landmass but it is the 2nd largest regional center based on economic impact while also being the most historic neighborhood in San Antonio.

0 Billion
In Projects
0 Million
Visitors Annually
$ 0 Million
Combined Tax Revenue
36
Employees in Downtown Regional Center
5000 +
Hotel Rooms
0.8
Employees In and around PID
200 Million
OFFICE SQUARE FEEt
Class A: 3.4M sf  Class B: 4.5M sf  Class C: 1.4M sf
$ 0.8 Billion
Invested into Pid Over Past 10 Years
36
Acres Of Parkland
50 PID
Residential Population
14% growth over past decade
1 Billion
PID Property Value
0 :1 ROI
For Each Dollar Invested
Highest In City
0
Historic Locations

Source: U.S Census 2020, Placer.ai, City of San Antonio, Texas Comptroller, 2021

Downtown Is Everybodys Neightborhood

Residents from all 10 City Council Districts invest time and money downtown. Check out the most frequent users of some of these downtown landmarks in 2021. 

Main Plaza
36
District 5
Market Square 
200
District 3
San Antonio Botanical Gardens 
200
District 10
Yanaguana Gardens 
200
District 10
Travis Park 
3600
District 10
Travis Park Holiday Season 
200
District 1
Alamo Plaza 
200
District 5
La Villita 
200
District 3

Source: Placer.ai

Clean
+ Safe

Since 1999, Centro has provided cleaning + hospitality services for the district. As the organization and PID have grown, additional services have been added, increasing the beauty, cleanliness, safety, and prosperity of downtown. 

Over the past ten years, the Ambassador team has grown from 54 to 85. Additional services including the Quality of Life Team, disinfecting high touch infrastructure, power washing pavement and bus stops, street vacuums, bird abatement, and landscaping have been added.   

Clean

Our Ambassadors work 24/7 365 so that San Antonio has the cleanest downtown in the U.S. Our services include power-washing sidewalks and bus stops, sweeping and picking up waste, graffiti removal, bird abatement and trash collection. We also disinfect high-touch and high-traffic areas to promote health safety. (https://centrosanantonio.org/about/)

Public Safety

Starting in 2016, Centro partnered with SAPD to supplement existing Bike Patrol services by funding two officers for two additional hours in the morning to do initial sweeps of the district at the beginning of the day. Starting in 2021, the Quality of Life Team was put into action. These Ambassadors are trained in local ordinances to recognize and appropriately report on quality of life crimes. Serving as extra “eyes on the street”, they work to dissuade uncivil behaviors and report crimes to SAPD. (https://centrosanantonio.org/about/)

Homeless Assistance

In 2016, Centro began a partnership with Haven for Hope to contract three outreach specialists to offer services to those experiencing homelessness in the PID. In 2021, Centro received a two-year ESG Grant to fund two in-house homeless outreach technicians and one homeless outreach clinician. Our partners over the years have included City of San Antonio Department of Human Services, Haven For Hope, Block By Block, Christian Assistance Ministries, SAMMinistries, and Corazon Ministries. 

Roughly 40% of Centro’s Ambassador team are those who formerly experienced homelessness, a result of our partnership with Haven For Hope to create a workforce development pipeline that integrates unsheltered individuals back into society and provides for their independence and prosperity. (https://centrosanantonio.org/about/) 

Landscaping

Centro manages over 1,000 hanging baskets and flowerpots (including planting 250 trees!) to bring color, shade and little islands of nature throughout downtown to attract beautiful butterflies and productive pollinators for all to enjoy. (https://centrosanantonio.org/about/)

Hospitality

All our Ambassadors are the friendly faces downtown helping visitors and locals by answering questions and finding just the right cultural experiences, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, cool rooftop bar, or any business, service or event they are looking for. (https://centrosanantonio.org/about/)

COVID Response

Centro deployed the latest in disinfecting technology, MOTOSCRUBBER STORM WANDS, at the height of the public health crisis, sanitizing high touch surfaces throughout the district. (https://centrosanantonio.org/about/)

Clean

Block Face Icon Graphic
Ambassadors Graphic
Bus Stops Pressure Washed Stats Graphic
Graffiti Removed Stats Graphic
Gum Spots Removed Graphic
Trash Bags Graphic Icon
People Assisted In San Antonio Graphic Icoin
Spray The Side Walks Graphic

Safe

Pedestrians Assisted Graphic Icon
Engagement Stats Graphic Icon
Crime Reporting Graphic
Safety Escorts Graphic Icon

Homless Assistance

Looking
Ahead

In 2023 and beyond, Centro will focus on our existing and essential clean + safe services. We will continue to deploy innovative techniques to ensure downtown infrastructure is clean and sanitized.  

Our Quality of Life team will almost double from 9 to 15 in 2023. We will work closely with City and County partners and advocate for funding and resources to ensure that there is necessary law enforcement presence and coverage to ensure the safety of the neighborhood. 

Our homeless outreach team transitioned to Corazon Ministries in September 2022, one of our close partners. Corazon is well positioned to respond and adapt efficiently to the needs of the unsheltered community downtown. 

Advocacy

Speaking up for our downtown stakeholders is one of our most important functions. We take our advocacy responsibility seriously and work every day to ensure City, County, and State leaders know where our stakeholders stand and how they can best address their challenges. From the 2017 and 2022 Bonds, pandemic relief funds, and the City Council Redistricting, Centro has advocated for and secured economic, social, and cultural prosperity for downtown. 

2017 + 2022 Bond Programs

Centro convened downtown stakeholders to identify priorities for the neighborhood and eventually secure $285 million in bond dollars for downtown, invested in infrastructure and projects with community-wide impact. (2017 Bond: https://www.sanantonio.gov/2017bond 2022 Bond: https://www.sanantonio.gov/2022bond) 

TIRZ Funding

In addition to the 2022 Bond, we mobilized support for the allocation of additional funding for capital projects through the Midtown and Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ). The Catalytic Committee’s first recommended and then approved projects allocated $17 million for Upper Broadway, $22 million for Dolorosa St., and $14 million for Flores St. 

Economic Development

Centro advocated for small business grants, outreach dollars, and provided input on the $30.9 million in ARPA funds for small business. Through our advocacy as part of the Business Development (BDO) Alliance, we were able to secure $625,000 in outreach dollars, $5.25 million in placemaking grants, $17 million in COVID Impact Grants, and an easier application process for this round of grants than those of 2020. Centro has been advocating for construction relief in the form of improved communication, signage, parking solutions during closures, and grants if needed to support business in 2021 and 2022. (https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/What-Were-Doing/ARPA#:~:text=Under%20the%20American%20Rescue%20Plan,2024%20and%20spent%20by%202026.) 

Zona Cultural

Centro led the effort to create this Texas Commission of the Arts designated cultural district in 2015. These 44 contiguous blocks on the west side of downtown and on the near west side of San Antonio are home to some of the city’s most treasured cultural assets, including Market Square, Main Plaza, and San Pedro Creek. With significant new public and private investment, and implementation of the Centro commissioned ‘Zona Cultural Design Guidelines,’ in 2022, the vision is now becoming reality. (https://centrosanantonio.org/zona-cultural/) 

City Council Redistricting

During City Council redistricting in Summer 2022, we rallied neighbors and neighborhood businesses to preserve the continuity and community bonds of our downtown neighborhood through single member district representation. The proposed map would have resulted in not just the splitting of neighborhoods, but a population disparity between Districts 1 and 5. With a revised map- resulting from community feedback- population parity was reached while also adhering to the committee’s guiding criteria regarding neighborhood continuity and enriching assets, thereby serving neighborhoods best. (https://www.sanantonio.gov/comm/News/ArtMID/24373/ArticleID/23887/City-of-San-Antonio-Adopts-Final-Map-for-New-Council-District-Boundaries#:~:text=San%20Antonio%20(June%2016%2C%202022,the%20final%20decennial%20Census%20information.) 

By The Numbers

$ 0.8
ARPA funds to Downtown
Small Businesses
$ 0.8 MILLION
Public Investment
$ 0.8 MILLION
business relief

Looking Ahead

Public Safety, Cleanliness, Housing, and Students are our top priorities for the years ahead as UTSA expands its downtown campus and Private Developers lean into residential. We will commit full force to work with our partners to create the cleanest and safest downtown for students and families living here.

PLACE
+ MAKING

It’s not just about keeping the space clean, safe, and invested in- it’s about activating it with people who will preserve and grow the culture and economy of the city. That’s where our placemaking services come in: from public art to large-scale events and local economic development, Centro strives to enliven the neighborhood we call home. 

Our events and programming have attracted hundreds of thousands to downtown over the past decade, not to mention the legacy programming of our cherished partners like the City of San Antonio, San Antonio Fiesta Commission, Hemisfair, San Antonio Parks Foundation, San Antonio Rodeo, and more. 

Play experiments like Holiday Snow on Houston Street, trash cans with sound effects, and telephone booth flower displays have added unexpected moments of delight and garnered significant media and hyper local attention. 

This program launched close to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a well-timed initiative which helped to not only support local artists during a challenging time but also added to our culture and streetscape when inspiring art was needed in a dark world. Art Everywhere has added dozens of large-scale and small-scale installations downtown, directly supporting San Antonio artists while making storefronts, offices, and apartment blocks more attractive to pedestrians. (Text , image, and link button: https://centrosanantonio.org/centro-art-everywhere/)

By The Numbers

10
Works Of Art
$ 100000
Invested in Art + Local Artists

SEE ALL “ART EVERYWHERE” PROJECTS

Peacock Alley

Centro, through a pilot activation and now two successful event series, has brought a small stretch of urban alley to life with entertainment, local vendors, and community interactions. The latest series empowered local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs to plan and execute their own dreams for the space, resulting in increased attendance, media impact, and dollars circulated through our local economy. Peacock Alley has achieved 26,000 attendees and $2.1 million in earned media. (Text , image, and link button: https://centrosanantonio.org/peacock-alley-2/)

Holiday Wonderland

There’s nothing like downtown during the holidays, especially with Centro’s mischievous merrymaking. Partnering with Rotary Club of San Antonio, Centro has helped bring an Ice Rink to Travis Park during the holiday season since 2019, to the delight of tens of thousands of skaters so far. Ours and our partners various holiday activations, snow flurries, and magical memories have delighted an additional 110,000 people and garnered $6.4 million in media coverage (Text , image, and link button: https://centrosanantonio.org/tis-the-season/)

La Zona

This newest activation space enlivens the Zona Cultural district on the West end of downtown. Together with local property owners, nonprofits, and Bexar County with the nearby San Pedro Creek Culture Park, “La Zona” has brought new art and life to the area.  (Text , image, and link button: https://centrosanantonio.org/zona-cultural/)

Small Business Support

Launched in response to the devastating impact of COVID-19, our Local Economic Development program has grown into a permanent function that helps facilitate a healthy, growing business ecosystem downtown.

Local Economic Development 

main st img 4

Main Street Navigator

The Main Street Navigator has connected hundreds of downtown businesses with much needed resources and hosted many educational seminars and web programming to support local businesses with Financial, Planning, and Grant Assistance information. 

The Main Street Resource Page evolved from the COVID-19 resource page and serves as a web presence providing our downtown business with connections to much needed resources and educational material and programming. (https://centrosanantonio.org/main-street-businesses/)  

main st img 4

Storefront Resiliency Program

In response to vandalism and a rise in crime, we launched our storefront resiliency program, which provides small businesses with grants to repair damaged storefronts and install security cameras. It has assisted dozens of downtown businesses in strengthening their storefronts. (https://centrosanantonio.org/main-street-businesses/) 

main st img 4

Holidays on Houston St Pop Ups

Our team reestablished the “Downtown OPEN Pop-Up" program during November 2022 -January 2023, connecting emerging local retailers with space on historic Houston Street at no rental cost. This gives these micro-businesses experience in operating a storefront downtown and lowers barriers of entry to the downtown retail ecosystem. (https://centrosanantonio.org/holidays-on-houston-st/)  d

By The Numbers

500 +
Local Businesses
Connected to Resources
$ 0.8
Storefront Repair Grants

Looking Ahead

Centro will continue to connect artists and property owners to exponentially increase the amount of art in the public sphere. Our activations and partnerships will continue to bring locals and visitors alike into the urban core. Our Local Economic Development team is finalizing a 2030 Plan, which will outline a concrete set of actions, as well as substantive goals, for our small business ecosystem downtown.

Pid Budget Breakdown

Centro Reauthorization Temp Pie Chart

FAQ Reauthorization

A petition is distributed to all property owners in the existing PID and the proposed expansion areas. Property owners will be requested to sign the petition supporting the reauthorization. Upon receipt of the valid petition representing more than 50% of the property area, the petition will be presented to City Council and a public hearing will be held to take action on the reauthorization of the PID to include the proposed expansion areas. City Council will vote on the approval of the PID in Spring 2023. 

No. The current rates, $.15 per $100 of assessed value for Commerical Properties and $.09 per $100 of assessed value for condominiums, will remain in place for the entire reauthorized term (through 2033).  

Without reauthorization, the PID will automatically expire at the end of 2023, and ALL of Centro’s supplemental services, including clean + safe, advocacy, local economic assistance and placemaking, will cease. 

The proposed term is for 10 years (2024-2033) with a comprehensive review in 5 years to determine if any changes are necessary. 

The core services will be consistent from year to year, but an annual Service & Assessment Plan and Budget will be submitted to City Council that will detail any adjustments or additions to the core and other supplemental services.  

All private commercial and residential (condominium) properties within the boundaries of the district pay the assessment. Government properties, property owned by Non-Profit entities, schools, churches, and hospitals are all exempt from the assessment. 

The Word Around Town

Quotation Mark Icons

“I work at CaptureRx on Houston St. I just wanted to reach out and let you all know that I really appreciate what your team does for our city! You water the plants and keep them beautiful, keep our sidewalks free of litter and you even wash them when they get too dirty. I’m sure there’s more that we don’t know about. I come to work around 6:30 am, during the cooler months when it’s darker in the morning I get a bit uneasy walking the block to work, but when I see someone with the Centro shirt on, it makes me feel so much safer. I just wanted to let you know that there’s more people out there just like me and that you all are very much appreciated!” – Susan Lutrell  

“I had the pleasure of encountering Centro in Summer 2021, when I organized ‘Juneteenth at Legacy Park.’ My organization needed marketing support, which was required to ensure the success of this first-time event. Centro was able to craft messaging for local and regional news outlets, which resulted in greatly increased media attention. The team at Centro became vital partners of this event.  In difficult times such as these, with the challenges of public health, racial and social justice, having partners like Centro is invaluable.” -Maria Williams, Art of Four Gallery 

Centro Partnership

The Centro Partnership, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, is the managing entity of the Centro PID and Centro Alliance, and allows Centro San Antonio to engage in its advocacy efforts for downtown. For more information, check out the Advocacy section above or visit centrosa.org.  

Centro
Alliance

The Centro Partnership, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, is the managing entity of the Centro PID and Centro Alliance, and allows Centro San Antonio to engage in its advocacy efforts for downtown. For more information, check out the Advocacy section above or visit centrosa.org.  

Ready To Sign?

Please sign the attached petition provided to you with this packet. Signing the petition constitutes your support, as a property owner, for the Reauthorization and Establishment of the Public Improvement District.  

Questions or concerns? Call us directly at (210) 225-3862. Or shoot us a note at reauthorization@centrosa.org.  

FY2023 Reauthorization
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  • 110 Broadway Street, Suite 230 San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm​
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  • 219 E Travis Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
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  • (210) 224-7747

Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2023 Centro SA | Designed by Tribu Marketing + Advertising + Design

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EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN

LIVE DOWNTOWN

INITIATIVES

CLEAN + SAFE

JOIN US

RESOURCES

ABOUT US

NEWSLETTER

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

LOCATIONS

  • Headquarters
  • 110 Broadway Street, Suite 230 San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm​
  • (210) 225-3862
  • Operations Center
  • 219 E Travis Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Everyday 7:00am - 6:00pm
  • (210) 224-7747

Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2023 Centro SA | Designed by Tribu Marketing + Advertising + Design

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Connie Garza

TACTICAL PLANNING COORDINATOR

Connie is a native San Antonian with roots planted deeply on San Antonio’s Southside. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Passionate about building strong communities, Connie loves acting as a connector to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and people to help each other reach their goals and work together. She works inbetween the Cultural Placemaking team and the Mainstreet Economic Development team, bringing vibrancy and support to urban core businesses to make downtown the place to be. When not at work, you can usually find her at the local plant nursery buying another plant, exploring new cafes/breweries, and spending time with family.

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Priscilla Lopez

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Priscilla or “P.Lo” as her teammates affectionately call her, has 20 years of corporate administrative experience. Priscilla attended The University of San Antonio with a focus on Business Administration. In her role as office “fixer,” she handles everything from communications and relationship management to IT sleuthing. On weekends you can find her enjoying a Truly poolside. She lives the vegan lifestyle and is  a proud member of the Peleton community.

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Michael Cirlos

JEDI CAMERAMAN

Michael began his studies and volunteer work at Webster University Thailand with a focus on international relations and Buddhism. After returning to San Antonio and graduating from UTSA, Michael began photographing and telling the stories of people in Downtown San Antonio to help connect and increase awareness of our vibrant urban culture. Michael’s work has appeared in several news media organizations, and has produced digital content for small- and large-scale marketing campaigns for Red Bull, COSA Department of Arts and Culture, World Heritage Office, National Park Service, and others. Michael is a former Pecha Kucha San Antonio Speaker, best-selling author at Trinity University Press, entrepreneur, and adventurer.

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JanIe Garza

OFFICE MANAGER

Janie is a native of Corpus Christi, TX and has made San Antonio her home since 2012. Her 15+ years’ experience allows her to serve a broad range of functions that allow the organization to operate efficiently, including, accounts receivable/payable, record management, information technology, office management, and assisting with human resources. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with her family, visiting local art museums, and enjoying a German beer in Southtown.

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Matt Sirgo

DIRECTOR OF STORYTELLING

Matt graduated from Texas Tech University in 2016 with a Dual Major in Media Strategies and Honors Arts & Letters with a minor in Italian (Benvenuto a tutti!). Matt oversees the marketing, public relations, and digital content for Centro. After sharing the story of Downtown San Antonio on digital channels, he enjoys creating TikToks about LGBTQ+ media. His mug graces a Fiesta Mural on the St. Mary’s Strip just north of Downtown. You can’t miss it. 

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Elizabeth Burt

DIRECTOR OF URBAN ACTIVATION + PLAY

Liz is a passionate underutilized space evangelist known for collaboration matchmaking + play based troublemaking (snow, pumpkins, and Parisian mimes included). She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Public Policy studying Public Administration (#BirdsUp)! More recently, she oversaw the award winning Activate Houston Street Initiative, a placemaking action plan to reinvigorate the historic pedestrian corridor in the heart of Downtown, which is recognized as a Best Practice in Public Space Management by the International Downtown Association, for which she is also a proud Emerging Leader Fellow.

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Jacqueline Lucio

DIRECTOR OF PID OPERATIONS

Jacque is a longtime downtowner with a deep passion for community service. She oversees Centro’s Clean & Safe and Homeless Outreach services, which aim to create a more beautiful, welcoming, inclusive, and hospitable downtown. For nearly two decades, Jacque has lived in downtown San Antonio and has been actively involved in the transformation of the urban core. Through her work with nonprofits, local government, and news media, she’s continually focused on championing more sustainable, diverse, and equitable communities. Jacque has led efforts to support asylum seekers, served as communications director for City Council District 5, and served in public affairs role for Clear Channel Outdoor San Antonio. Jacque studied Mass Communications and Mexican-American Studies at UTSA.

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Sarah Esserlieu Khalil

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Sarah is a passionate urbanist who has spent the majority of her career on downtown revitalization efforts. Downtown is the best part of any city where you can find the finest history, culture, life, and beauty. Sarah has a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego. Sarah enjoys visiting small local businesses, enjoying foodie culture, cooking, hiking, and visiting the cities of the world. 

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Andi Rodriguez

VICE PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL PLACEMAKING

Andi is a long-time urban champion and leads Centro ‘people projects’ which tell our stories and bring us joy, such as Centro’s Art Everywhere and Zona Cultural. Serving on the Leadership Council of Urban Land Institute, she is a former city Planning Commissioner, Founding Chair of the Hemisfair Conservancy, Co-founder of Power of Preservation/PROM, former Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and immediate past Chair of Leadership San Antonio. Andi considers herself a servant leader; she has an MS in Architecture/Urban Planning, and enjoys advocating for the unifying power of art, history, and public space.

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KANDICE PERKINS

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

Kandice is a Sunnyvale, CA native and has made San Antonio her home since 2014. She graduated from University of Argosy in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and continued to complete her Master’s in Business Administration from University of Phoenix 2020. She has worked in downtown San Antonio for years, bringing 15+ years of accounting experience to the organization and has been tasked with promoting and developing the city’s urban core. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, managing her family’s businesses, and enjoys cooking and baking.  

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs 

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Edward A. Romero

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Eddie is responsible for understanding community needs through research and dialogue, serving the organization’s community development and advocacy efforts while delivering Public Improvement District services and marketing campaigns. Eddie earned a B.S. in Mass Communications from Texas State University and a M.A. in Interactive Communication and Design from the University of the Incarnate Word. He has spent the past eight years leading Centro in multiple capacities, including membership, events, marketing, community engagement, and district operations.

Copy and paste the following url in your browser to listen to Eddie’s “Downtown” playlist: https://spoti.fi/30fSerZ. 

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MATT BROWN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Matt is the lucky guy that gets to lead a team of passionate placemakers who work every day to make downtown San Antonio more beautiful, playful, prosperous, and welcoming. Since starting his career as an attorney, Matt accumulated 25+ years’ worth of experience in the private sector by founding play and creative companies; consulting for start-ups and Fortune 500s in strategy, innovation, and leadership; and serving as president and C-level executive for Scholastic, Klutz and LeapFrog, among others. Directly prior to moving to San Antonio, he was the Economic Development Director and Interim Land Use Director for Santa Fe, NM.  He and his daughter have visited 15 state capitals on their way to all 50! 

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