After it sat vacant and mostly forgotten for two years on the outskirts of Bexar County, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater finally has a new owner. River City Community Church bought the amphitheater last month, and pastor Sean Azzaro is excited about the new, spacious home for his evangelical flock.

But how did a church wind up buying Bexar County’s largest outdoor concert venue, where artists such as ZZ Top and Toby Keith had performed during the amphitheater’s flashy glory days?

Records show that even if an entertainment company were interested in buying the property, deed restrictions prevent the concert venue from being used as a concert venue.

Anyone who has ever paid dues to a homeowners association is probably familiar with deed restrictions — they’re the reason why owners receive stern letters when they forget to mow the lawn.

Also known as “restrictive covenants,” the restrictions govern a variety of topics such as how high a sign can be, and they run with a piece of property no matter who owns it or how often it changes hands.

In commercial real estate, some big hitters use deed restrictions as a savvy business tactic. When these companies permanently close businesses and sell their properties, they attach restrictions to the sites that prohibit rivals from using the land and buildings.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater is among dozens of properties in Bexar County with restrictions. They include former burger joints, gas stations, department stores and supermarkets, such as Wal-Mart and H-E-B.

The restrictions often last decades, and can complicate efforts to find new uses for vacant “big box” stores and other empty properties.

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