Costco buys land for a store on the far West Side.

Costco Wholesale Corp. recently purchased land on the far West Side and is building a store and gas station in the fast-growing area, which is teeming with residential and retail development.

The company acquired 16.44 acres between a Walmart Supercenter at the corner of Loop 1604 and Potranco Road and the Shops at Dove Creek stores, Bexar County deed records show.

Costco bought the property Jan. 19 from SA Dove Creek Ltd., a partnership linked to local developer Paul Blackburn of Blackburn Properties, which is developing the Dove Creek site.

“We are exceedingly glad to have closed the deal,” Blackburn said.

Filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation describe a 160,620-square-foot “mercantile building” with an open canopy and a gas station to be built on 16.44 acres at 191 West 1604 South.

The store and station are expected to cost a combined $15.2 million, with construction wrapping up in July, the November filings indicate.

City permits also describe a 151,141-square-foot “mercantile building” and gas station at that address, with a Costco executive listed in the documents as a contact.

A Costco spokesperson said the company doesn’t comment on future stores.

It’s unclear how much Costco paid for the property, but the land was assessed at $3.8 million last year by the Bexar Appraisal District. Costco operates stores at 5611 UTSA Blvd. and 1201 N. Loop 1604 E. in San Antonio and another location at 15330 I-35 N. in Selma.

Development on the far West Side is accelerating, with a flurry of subdivisions under construction and new stores and restaurants opening. H-E-B opened its newest area store at Texas 211 and Potranco last fall.

Blackburn and unnamed partners in 2016 purchased 200 acres of vacant land at Loop 1604 and Potranco for a mixed-use develop

ment.

They have since sold chunks of it to KB Home, which plans to build 182 houses, and Casey Development, which is planning to start work on a 321-unit apartment complex in March.

“Families certainly say that the Shops at Dove Creek and the easy access to Loop 1604 and Potranco

are bonuses to living in the community,” said KB Home spokeswoman Cathy Teague.

Flix Entertainment also purchased nearly six acres from the group for a movie theater and brewhouse, which has been closed since November due to the coronavirus pandemic. The shopping center includes Petsmart, Ross Dress for Less, Michaels, Ulta Beauty and other stores.

The site has generated a flurry of interest from retailers and restaurants, said Blackburn and Eric Lundblad, principal at Endura Advisory Group. Endura is handling sales and leasing.

“It was a really underserved trade area,” Lundblad said. “The far West Side is without a doubt the fastest-growing trade area of San Antonio from a residential standpoint. (It) just lacked services and a retail presence.”