A visionary $350 million mixed-use development near the University of Texas at San Antonio campus might give Austin’s Domain a run for its money. The Merc, a 112-acre live-play district, has officially broken ground on the Northwest Side with the announcement of its first tenant, entertainment hub Park Golf.
Park Golf, arriving in Spring 2026, is the brainchild of Jason Black, the Austin entrepreneur behind the city’s Butler Pitch & Putt. Located next to The Merc’s trailhead to Leon Creek Greenway, the complex promises a nine-hole, par-three course outfitted with a putting punchbowl, beer garden, food trucks, and flexible green space for live music and movie nights.
The project, led by Rob Schumacher of Schumacher Interests, Inc., will start with its eight-acre retail centerpiece, which offers 35,000 square feet of space for dining, shopping, and services. The Merc will eventually add an extra 200,000 square feet of retail, a robust trail system, and additional residential units to add to the existing Oxly and Lyric apartments.
The Lyric and Oxyl apartments are already open at The Merc.Lyric at the Merc/ Facebook
Butler Pitch & Putt/ Facebook
Park Golf will be similar to Austin’s Butler Pitch & Putt.
The Merc’s name nods to San Antonio’s history as a crossroads of commerce along the Pinta and Old Spanish Trails. But the planners want to do far more than encourage trade. The development will include plenty of green space that The Merc hopes will host outdoor yoga, farmers’ markets, and a bunch of happy dogs.
“San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and Northwest San Antonio has quickly become the heart of that growth,” said Schumacher, via a release. “With The Merc, we’re not building another strip mall with some apartments nearby. We’re creating a legacy destination where residents and visitors can live well, shop local, while enjoying access and space to enjoy the outdoors together.”
The developers say they will roll out more details on The Merc in the upcoming months, including new information on the project’s culinary lineup, entertainment programming, outdoor amenities, and cultural partnerships. Locals can keep up with progress at www.TheMercDistrict.com and on social media at @merc_satx.
