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