DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW

Far Northwest

Eilan Phase I Complete
http://eilan.com/UserData/Image/eilan-san-antonio-aerial3.jpg
http://eilan.com/UserData/Image/san-antonio-apartments-eilan-3.jpg
http://eilan.com/UserData/Image/san-antonio-hotel-and-spa-15.jpg

The Ricci Condominiums U/C
http://www.thericchi.com/photos/courtyard.jpg

The Village at The Rim On Hold
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8973/01147thevillageattherimcr1.jpg

Town Center at La Cantera Proposed/Planning Stage
*No renderings

Far North Central

Tacara U/C
http://www.tacara-texas.com/images/ParkViewWeb.jpg

Pearl Brewery District/ Lower Broadway Area

Pearl Can Plant Apartments U/C
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/10/56/74/2289452/3/628x471.jpg

Pearl Hotel Proposed
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e312/paul_heaston/pearl02.jpg

1800 Broadway U/C
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/04/05/1851735/5/628x471.jpg

The Mosaic U/C
http://www.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mosaic1.png

Tobin Hill Mixed Use Proposed
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/03/63/16/996272/0/628x471.jpg

San Antonio Children’s Museum Proposed
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2011/10/18684835-SAN-ANTONIO-CHILDRENS-MUSEUM.jpg

River North

1221 Broadway Near Completion
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2011/03/avenue_b_final_flattened-600x393.jpg

Wyndham River North Hotel Proposed
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/01/paradigm1.jpg

Downtown

24 Story Boutique Hotel Approved
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3288809156_418c0fe0b9_o.png

Aloft Hotel Approved
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2787197511_7fa20fee71.jpg

Presidio Tower Cancelled
http://www.sprinkleco.com/images/Presidio.jpg

RiverCenter Mall Redevelopment Proposed
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--O5ZGoyUw-0/Tnmxb4eoAAI/AAAAAAAAABE/3okVGW7UsK4/s1600/rcm2.png

RiverCenter Mall Hotel Proposed/Planning Stage
http://sapartnership.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RivercenterHotel.jpg

Ace Mart Hotel Proposed
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/02/acemart1.jpg

University Health Center U/C
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3445/5756389310_9179c899f9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/universityhealthsystem/

Public Safety Headquarters U/C
http://www.hwaparking.com/images/portfolio/city-of-san-antonio-public-safety-headquarters-1.jpg

Southtown

Cevallos Street Lofts Complete
http://livethecl.com/files/3113/2637/3404/exteriorWide-NowLeasing_471x296.jpg

Cevallos Modern U/C/Near Completion
http://cevallosmodern.com/images/index_09.jpg

Big Tex Grain Proposed/Planning Stage
http://www.alamoarchitects.com/projects/urban/BigTex/BigTexSketch1.jpg

South Side

Texas A&M San Antonio Proposed & U/C
http://www.yantiscompany.com/construction/projects/public/Texas%20A&M%20University%20San%20Antonio%20University%20Way/University%20Way%200000000001.jpg

Verano Neighborhood Proposed
http://www.crocketteers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/verano1.jpg

I'm tired. :shocked::nuts:

Anything else? I only posted the ones I was sure about.

Lots of great residentials :P

The Viceroy on the way to King William area
(http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/The-Viceroy-on-the-way-to-King-William-area-3353623.php#photo-2535639)

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/11/53/03/2535639/3/628x471.jpg
The Viceroy is a mixed-used development in Southtown that will offer retail and office space on the first floor and residential living on the top two floors. It's expected to be complete in October.

Historically, every king needed a viceroy.

So it's appropriate that the King William area welcomes The Viceroy, a mixed-used development in the Southtown neighborhood that broke ground on Tuesday at the corner of West Guenther and South Flores streets.

The 48,000-square-foot building will have about 5,800 square feet of commercial space on the first floor, which could be used as light office or retail space, said Sunshine Thacker, the owner of Landbridge Partners, the project's developer.

On the top two floors, there's room for at least 46 residential units. One- and two-bedroom apartments will range from 650 square feet to about 1,200 square feet. Rents will run about $1.40 per square foot, or anywhere from $900 per month to $1,680 per month.

The project is part of a growing residential scene that's flourishing in and around downtown, said Debra Maltz, a broker and agent with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty.

Nearby, the Cevallos Lofts, which recently went online, boasts about 250 units. A block away, the Steel House Lofts, a 67-unit project, is expected to be complete by the summer. Add to those projects the units at The Viceroy and the number of new residential spaces grows to more than 350 units in the immediate area.

To the north of downtown near the Pearl Brewery, residential projects there are expected to bring more than 1,000 units online by year's end.

Despite all those units, Maltz doesn't expect there to be a glut in the market. So far, units are being pre-leased quickly and new developments are exhibiting strong occupancy rates, Maltz explained. She expects demand for downtown rental units to remain high.

“The downtown rental market is very robust,” Maltz said. “Downtown San Antonio is rising to the occasion, and we're on the road to a wonderful downtown.”

Inside The Viceroy, the apartments will have a high-end, contemporary feel. Each unit will have amenities such as granite countertops, modern fixtures, 7-foot tall windows, and 72-square-foot balconies.

The complex also will have a pool, fitness center, elevator and onsite storage. There will be on-premise, covered parking along with on-street parking that won't impede traffic.

Pre-leasing could start as early as July and the project is expected to be complete by October, Thacker said. The project's cost was not disclosed.

Currently, the space where the three-story structure will be built is a vacant 1.4-acre lot. It sits at the intersection of an old-fashioned residential neighborhood and a revitalized industrial corridor.

“The design of the project coordinates really well with the neighborhood. It's a nice transition from what is along most of South Flores pretty industrial looking to a very historic, residential neighborhood,” Thacker said.

As the city pushes for more residential spaces in the urban core, space for development can be pricey and scarce. Many times projects are taking the place of vacant and crumbling structures. In the case of The Viceroy, it will replace an old gas station that had been left unused for a number of years.

“This is a boutique project. It's small and trying to utilize what was a vacant, blighted piece of property. We're really excited to be cleaning up the neighborhood,” Thacker said.

This is the firm's first development, but Thacker said that they are in the design stages of three other projects nearby.

El Cerrito Place

http://caseydev.com/ElCerrito/ElCerrito600_061620111.jpg

El Cerrito Place is a 6-story 158,000 square foot, Class A office building currently designed and ready for permitting in San Antonio’s north-central submarket. The project’s excellent location is just minutes from San Antonio International Airport as well as Loop 410 and Loop 1604, providing convenient access for tenants and visitors alike. El Cerrito Place’s amenities will include:

http://caseydev.com/PROJECTS_develop.html

Great job, hannah banana! :applause:

Thanks! :cheers: :bow::cucumber::banana::cheer::pepper:

Trader Joe's opening San Antonio location (http://www.sametrodaily.com/2011/08/trader-joes-opening-san-antonio.html#!/2011/08/trader-joes-opening-san-antonio.html)

SeaWorld is getting it's own waterpark, scheduled to open May 19.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309157_284957434852230_140696205945021_1308861_2045898013_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/294193_284957231518917_140696205945021_1308860_522141328_n.jpg

Aquatica San Antonio (http://seaworldparks.com/seaworld-sanantonio/aquatica)

wrzlD4ZxYOg&

http://i.imgur.com/T7yN0.png

San Antonio-based Santikos Theatres has plans to build its eighth theater in the Alamo City on 26 acres at Potranco Road and Loop 1604 on the city's far West Side. Santikos expects to break ground on the 16-screen Granada Theater on May 1 and expects to complete it by late December, said Chris Taylor, the company's director of operations.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Santikos-to-construct-eighth-S-A-theater-2755492.php#ixzz1kknS6kJd

Looks like some very high-end/quality programs are in the pipeline. :) How's San Antonio's overall economy doing these days? The last time I spent time in San Antonio was back in '95. :lol:

Looks like some very high-end/quality programs are in the pipeline. :) How's San Antonio's overall economy doing these days? The last time I spent time in San Antonio was back in '95. :lol:

San Antonio's overall economy is doing pretty well nowadays thanks to the defense industry, biomedical industry, and new oil deposits in South Texas which has brought in firms such as Halliburton into the area.

The unemployment rate is currently at 6.8% which is below the national average.

San Antonio's overall economy is doing pretty well nowadays thanks to the defense industry, biomedical industry, and new oil deposits in South Texas which has brought in firms such as Halliburton into the area.

The unemployment rate is currently at 6.8% which is below the national average.

Is an even bigger building boom expected in the area because of the oil discoveries?

Somewhat. Mostly offices but the biggest differences is in the smaller towns. The Eagle Ford has changed Carrizo Springs a lot.

Wow. Are there a lot of complaints from people in the smaller towns about all the growth?

The Viceroy - 3 floors - 48,000 sq. ft. mixed use - 46 units

pic from http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...#photo-2535639

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/11/53/03/2535639/3/628x471.jpg

The Viceroy on the way to King William area
By Valentino Lucio
Updated 09:26 p.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Historically, every king needed a viceroy.
So it's appropriate that the King William area welcomes The Viceroy, a mixed-used development in the Southtown neighborhood that broke ground on Tuesday at the corner of West Guenther and South Flores streets.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...#ixzz1nEakG4sv

Wow. Are there a lot of complaints from people in the smaller towns about all the growth?

Not at all. People who own rental property are making a killing right now. A house that once went for a few hundred dollars a month is now costing will over a thousand. The increase in tax revenue was desperately needed for a lot of the towns. My childhood was spent in Karnes County. I visited my hometown before the boom and it was really sad. The streets were falling apart, lots of businesses had closed, etc... Now it is the opposite. The sad part about this is that it is temporary (until they go after the Pearsall Shale).

Not at all. People who own rental property are making a killing right now. A house that once went for a few hundred dollars a month is now costing will over a thousand. The increase in tax revenue was desperately needed for a lot of the towns. My childhood was spent in Karnes County. I visited my hometown before the boom and it was really sad. The streets were falling apart, lots of businesses had closed, etc... Now it is the opposite. The sad part about this is that it is temporary (until they go after the Pearsall Shale).

While the boom in the surrounding towns is going on they can try to diversify and attract other businesses/industries that will keep the local economy stable.

Burlesque next to City Hall? (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/03/burlesque-next-to-city-hall/)
Club SA is not likely to win any bar naming awards when it finally opens at 408 Dolorosa, next to City Hall. Then again, Cowabunga seemed like a ridiculous name for a bar when it emerged from the former Logan’s Rock Bar spot, and now people talk about it like it’s an institution. I think it’s all about the way it sounds aloud, like Costanza and his Gore-Tex coat.

Anyway, I’m not eager for this Club SA to open so much as I am curious as hell. Apparently, there have been late-night TV ads promoting it as a burlesque club. And then there’s this description from something called sanantonio.com:

Between tasteful (no nudity) burlesque acts and the hottest video jockey in San Antonio you are guaranteed to be on your feet clapping or dancing upon every visit. Our staff is attractive, friendly and guaranteed to make every guest feel welcome.

Hmmm. Sounds like a hoedown.

I’ve peeked through the front window and it looks like a dive bar. A dive bar with a show. I have placed numerous calls to the owner, and to architects Paul Anthony & Associates, which is listed as the contact on all city permits concerning this establishment, and nothing. It should be noted that this is not the same burlesque enterprise I wrote about two years ago with much fervor. That one was to be located on the River Walk. A few months back, the owner said that this Club SA wasn’t him. He’s still trying to find investors.

Whataburger celebrating new downtown location (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/03/02/whataburger-celebrating-new-downtown.html)
Whataburger Restaurants will have a grand opening celebration for its newest location in downtown San Antonio on Friday, March 9.

The new downtown restaurant opened on Feb. 27 and features design elements unique to the Commerce Street location, including bar-height seating and custom lighting.

“We know that downtown development has been one of Mayor Julian Castro’s top priorities, and as a San Antonio-based company we are excited to play a part in that effort,” says James Turcotte, Whataburger vice president of properties and facilities. “There are some new design elements to this particular restaurant but we stayed true to our roots; when our customers walk in the door they know they are in a Whataburger.”

Burlesque next to City Hall? (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/03/burlesque-next-to-city-hall/)

UPDATE: Manager: Burlesque club will be ‘tasteful entertainment’ (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/03/manager-burlesque-club-will-be-tasteful-entertainment/)

Whataburger celebrating new downtown location (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/03/02/whataburger-celebrating-new-downtown.html)

Where on Commerce will it be??

http://i.imgur.com/T7yN0.png



http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Santikos-to-construct-eighth-S-A-theater-2755492.php#ixzz1kknS6kJd

This is gonna be some kind of theather!!:cheers:

Where on Commerce will it be??
It's on 412 E. Commerce St.

Here's more about it. Many factors contribute to Whataburger prices (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/03/many-factors-contribute-to-whataburger-prices/)

Texas A&M University-San Antonio moves ahead with new buildings (http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/Texas-A-M-University-San-Antonio-moves-ahead-with-3365020.php)
Special to the Southside Reporter
Updated 11:41 a.m., Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved a plan for two new buildings for Texas A&M University-San Antonio as part of the FY 2012-16 System Capital Plan.

The additional space will support the on-going growth of its student body and its academic programs.

Texas A&M-San Antonio has experienced over 156 percent growth since fall 2008, and today enrolls more than 3,600 students.

“It is critical that we support the academic mission of this campus by creating the proper infrastructure for planned growth,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp.

The plan calls for an Academic Building of 170,750 square feet and a 20,000-square-foot Patriot's Casa, a building dedicated the military student community.

More than 11 percent of Texas A&M-San Antonio's student body is self-identified as veterans.

The Patriot's Casa will be the first of its kind in the country as a stand-alone building designed to provide a space to guide veterans and their families through the transition from military life to higher education and into the civilian workforce ready to begin new careers.

The Central Academic Building will offer multiple floors of classrooms, lecture halls and an auditorium with a focus on encouraging student interaction.

.......

..

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/04/05/1851735/5/628x471.jpg

Apartment construction boom under way in San Antonio
By Jennifer Hiller
Updated 09:35 p.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2012
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Apartment-construction-boom-under-way-in-San-3157985.php%23photo-2289452

Rents are up, apartments are full, and developers are responding.

More than 4,000 new apartment units should hit the market in the San Antonio area this year, many of them with upscale amenities, as developers and investors respond to demographic trends and the difficulty that would-be first-time homebuyers are having qualifying for a mortgage loan.

Apartment construction slowed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. But the research firm Austin Investor Interests expects, conservatively, 10,000 new units will open in the San Antonio area in the next two years.

“The market weathered that financial storm pretty well,” said Janine Claycomb, research director of the San Antonio division of Austin Investor Interests. “We're in a good place.”

In the fourth quarter of 2011, more than 2,400 new apartment units started the permitting process, the highest quarterly number since the early 1980s.

The new projects are being added largely to the North and Northwest sides of the city, as well as to near-downtown locations such as the Broadway corridor.

Rents have been rising, along with apartment occupancy.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, apartment occupancy was 91.5 percent and rent averaged 89 cents per square foot, up about 4.3 percent from the year before.

Class A properties, considered the nicest in the market, commanded rents of $1.07 per square foot and were 93 percent occupied, according to Austin Investor Interests.

Ernest Brown, managing director at the San Antonio office of Grubb & Ellis, a commercial real estate firm, said there's demand for the new units. “We'll absorb them,” he said. “They're not all hitting the ground at the same time.”

And he thinks the future looks good, too, thanks to tougher mortgage standards. “The trend toward apartments is because people can't qualify for a home,” Brown said.

Jeff Booth, senior vice president of development with the San Antonio-based Embrey Partners Ltd., which opened more than 1,900 apartment units across the country last year, said Generation Y also has helped drive the trend toward apartment living.

“Homeownership just doesn't mean as much to this next generation,” Booth said. “They just don't seem motivated to put equity into a home as soon as they can. It's a little bit of the me generation. They want the nicest newest luxury today.”

.....

..

Public meetings set on VIA's West Side transit center
(http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Public-meetings-set-on-VIA-s-West-Side-transit-3386942.php)

VIA Metropolitan Transit is holding two public information sessions Thursday to discuss plans for its West Side Multimodal Transit Center, the first phase of which is set to open at the end of the year.

The multimodal center, located in the city's former train depot on Medina Street in the Cattleman Square Historic District west of downtown, is a key part of VIA's upcoming expansion plans: It will serve as a hub for the agency's bus rapid transit line, launching in December, and for VIA's planned streetcar, still in its early development phases.

Thursday's sessions will focus on phase two of the center, which could include construction of a transit plaza east of the old depot and may also involve mixed use, private development.

http://www.forestparksanantonio.com/images/SanAntonioRendering.jpg

Alamo City Eyed for yet another Hospital
Published on October 31, 2011
Alamo City Eyed for yet another Hospital

http://www.endurasa.com/blog/85-alamo-city-eyed-for-yet-another-hospital

San Antonio Business Journal by W. Scott Bailey, Reporter/Project Coordinator; Friday, October 21, 2011

Vibrant Healthcare Management LLC, a Dallas-based company, is spearheading the development of a new medical complex on San Antonio's Northwest Side that will include a 145,000-square-foot, acute-care hospital and an 84,000-square-foot medical office building.

The complex, dubbed the Forest Park Medical Center San Antonio, will be constructed on undeveloped land near Interstate Highway 10 and Loop 1604, in the same area where a separate hospital development is planned.

........................

The Forest Park Medical Center San Antonio complex will be located on a portion of a 100-acre tract that is being marketed as The Landmark, and it will be anchored by the multi-story hospital, which could have as many as 60-plus inpatient beds — including 10 intensive care beds and 14 VIP suites.

The hospital will also house a dozen operating rooms, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, pharmacy, imaging services, lab space and a blood bank.
The total cost of the medical center project, which will include an 800-space parking structure, is expected to reach as high as $90 million, according to Alan Beauchamp, managing partner for Vibrant Healthcare. He says construction is slated to begin during the first quarter of next year.

read more (http://www.endurasa.com/blog/85-alamo-city-eyed-for-yet-another-hospital)

New sign of change at auditorium (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/New-sign-of-change-at-auditorium-3392677.php)
A city panel approved new lettering Friday for the former Municipal Auditorium facade that will display the building's new name: Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

The Historic and Design Review Commission also delayed action on a historic designation for Alamo Stadium and a proposal to raze two buildings at Brooks City-Base.

New lettering on the 1926 auditorium had been opposed by some preservationists who felt the original “Municipal Auditorium” letters should stay in place.

Developers of the $192 million public-private conversion of the structure to a fine arts venue have said that would interfere with a naming-rights agreement tied to a $15 million gift from the Tobin Endowment for the project, set for completion in 2014.

1221 Broadway
http://www.lakeflato.com/projects/1221-broadway/1221-broadway-1.jpg
http://www.lakeflato.com/projects/1221-broadway/1221-broadway-4.jpg
http://www.lakeflato.com/projects/1221-broadway/#

Plans for East Side brewery gains momentum (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Plans-for-East-Side-brewery-gains-momentum-3413716.php#photo-2632535)

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/12/02/55/2632535/3/628x471.jpg
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/12/02/55/2632536/3/628x471.jpg
A plan to build a brewery on the East Side is gaining steam.

Alamo Beer Co. has submitted a final proposal to the city for the construction of its production brewery near the historic Hays Street Bridge. After some initial pushback from East Side stakeholders who wanted to see the construction of a park, District 2 Councilwoman Ivy Taylor and Eugene Simor, the president of Alamo Beer, said they expect City Council to address the plan soon.

The proposal includes a formal request to purchase at market rate 1.7 acres of land from the city for the construction of the 25,000-square-foot brewery.

Simor expects the project to total about $5 million, which includes the cost of equipment, the property and construction of the building. The cost associated with the land sale was not immediately available since a property appraisal still needs to be done. The land is assessed at $256,180, according to the Bexar Appraisal District.

The proposal also includes an application for the city's Inner City Reinvestment Infill Policy program, which includes incentives such as fee waivers and tax abatements, Simor said.

“It's all going the right direction,” he said. “(The city) has been eager for us to turn in the final proposal.”

Simor added that he's optimistic that City Council could take action on the issue by May. If the proposal is approved, he expects the brewery to be complete and operational by summer 2013.

Trader Joe's finds S.A. home (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Trader-Joe-s-finds-S-A-home-3421662.php)

After months of speculation and rumors, grocery chain Trader Joe's has found a home in San Antonio at the former west elm spot at the Quarry Village.

An official with Reata Real Estate Services confirmed that the California-based grocer had signed a lease for 11,000 square feet at the Quarry Village. Trader Joe's will move into the old west elm location, but the store's opening is contingent on the approval of various permits, said Price Onken, a senior associate at Reata. A move-in date hasn't been confirmed.

The company also recently filed for a sales tax permit for the space at 350 E. Basse Road, a space that was long speculated to be its new home.

Officials with Trader Joe's could not be reached for comment.

Joske's building could see retail again (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Joske-s-building-could-see-retail-again-3421952.php)

The landmark downtown Joske's building this year could see the start of construction work that would return retail to the space for the first time since 2008.

The New York-based firm that owns Rivercenter mall plans to divide the department store space into smaller retail spaces and restore the building's original façade. Interior demolition could start in the second quarter.

“We hope to start construction midyear and be 70 percent leased at that time,” said Joe Press, senior vice president of Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp.

Ashkenazy also will remake the Blum Street pedestrian corridor between the mall and the Menger Hotel into a set of “fast casual” restaurants with outdoor cafes.

“It will be like a promenade,” said Michael Alpert, president and vice chairman of Ashkenazy.

And as soon as it signs a lease with a new tenant, it plans to continue renovating the lagoon area of the mall to add more upscale restaurant space, similar to the Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão, which opened in 2009.

The changes will help move the mall more in the direction of being an entertainment and dining hub, aspects considered more important at Rivercenter than at traditional suburban malls.

The mall has approximately 565,000 square feet of leasable space, and the changes to the Joske's building will add more than 100,000 to that, he said.

The old Joske's building is at 100 Alamo Plaza at the corner of Commerce Street, and was known to generations of San Antonians as Joske's Department Store. It was most recently a Dillard's department store, which closed in late 2008.

Design and construction drawings are still in the works, and the company has not started the permitting process. Oviatt said the mall hopes to have a demolition and structural permit by midyear for the Joske's building. “We want to make it a vibrant and active piece of downtown again,” he said.

Billionnaire Weston eyes major downtown revival in San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/03/23/billionnaire-weston-eyes-major.html)

http://assets.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/1221Broadway__SAROPer_032312.jpg?v=1
1221 Broadway is one of the projects near the epicenter of Broadway and I-35 where many new downtown residential projects are under way.

The newest member of San Antonio’s billionaire’s club is ready to open his wallet over downtown.

Rackspace Hosting Inc. founder and chairman Graham Weston says he will forge partnerships with a dozen or more real estate developers over the next two years to further develop the city center into a livable, walkable urban environment that will attract and retain young professionals.

Weston, who owns downtown’s Weston Centre, says his plan — which he’ll unveil within the next six months — will involve “philanthropic capitalism” akin to Pace Foods billionaire Kit Goldsbury’s Pearl Brewery redevelopment or the Bass Brothers’ revitalization of ...

1221 Broadway’s second phase underway (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/03/1221-broadways-second-phase-underway/)

The second phase of the massive mixed-used development known as 1221 Broadway got underway on Monday. It’s the monolithic concrete lattice facing Broadway at U.S. 281, for years the almost iconic symbol of Broadway’s blight.

But that’s changing. Just north, residential projects The Mosaic and 1800 Broadway are going up. And when completed, this latest aspect to 1221 Broadway will add 39 residential units and 10,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space. The first buildings of 1221 Broadway, which face the River Walk, account for 268 units and are 100 percent leased, developer David Adelman said.

The owners are in discussions with coffee shop and sushi restaurant for the ground floor spaces, said Adelman, who also is moving in his own company, Area Real Estate.

Adelman and his team hope to deliver units in October.

The rates have not been set, but the size of the units will range from 800 to 1,300 square feet. According to Adelman, the prize pads will be the two-bedroom corner units with their 250-square-foot balconies.

“Whoever has those units will have the best parade-watching parties downtown,” Adelman said, referring to the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades.

Adelman declined to give the cost of the project.

G2E debuts new production/art space in Southtown (http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/G2E-debuts-new-production-art-space-in-Southtown-3427031.php)

It’s the old cliché: Artists aren’t good at business and business people aren’t good at art. In an old Victorian home on the South Side, G2E is proving how wrong that is.

G2E, which stands for Government 2 Enterprise, was created by Ron Garcia, Scott Gilliam and Robb Garcia. Located at 1115 S. St. Marys, it is a production and web design company housing several creative freelancers and businesses within their historic doors.

Ron Garcia owned an art gallery, but began selling computers to artists and designing websites to pay the bills.

He joined with his brother Robb and Gilliam to create G2E, formerly housed at the Blue Star Arts Complex. The trio wanted to tap into the local artistic community and offer support to local talent while doing corporate video work.

“We have friends in the genre of art and wanted to make this a creative space and invite them to share this space,” Robb Garcia said.

“We wanted to keep the creative juices flowing. There’s a great diverse knowledge base here. It’s great to be with other creative in different disciplines.”

Some of G2E’s recent collaborators include San Antonio-based Attagirl Productions, Nikki Young of Prima Donna Productions, local filmmaker Eric Bosse and Kenesha Brown from Carbon View, an online marketing research company.

While each company and artist rents office space and works independently, they all often work together on various projects as contract employees. The co-op or collaborative sharing work environment is the first of its kind in San Antonio.

Young said he hopes that the trend will pick up in San Antonio and help bring prominence to the film and theater community.

“I think the challenge is that people think San Antonio doesn’t appreciate art,” Young said. “But progress like this is inspiring. I’d love to see San Antonio be the new Los Angeles or New York, where people come to follow the dreams. We’ve got the talent.”

But no matter what inspiration G2E and it’s tenants give to the community, everyone’s main task is to create the best work possible — together.

More B-cycle stations to open (http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/More-B-cycle-stations-to-open-3425255.php)

Anyone can rent one of the bicycles for short, commuter-like trips, using either a one-time pass or an annual membership.

B-cycle and city officials will mark B-cycle's first birthday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the hub station at 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way #203.

They will announce plans to add three bicycle stations in April, at HemisView Village apartments, the San Antonio Housing Authority park on South Flores Street, and the 1221 Broadway apartments, said Cindi Snell, executive director of San Antonio B-cycle and co-owner of Bike World. That will bring the total number of stations to 23, with 230 bicycles in circulation.

The program started with 14 stations.

By the year's end, B-cycle may add five to seven more bicycle stations near the Spanish colonial missions south of downtown, thanks to a federal parks grant. B-cycle is seeking $50,000 to $60,000 in donations to outfit the mission stations with bicycles because the grant covers only the stations, Snell said.

To date, 1,069 people have signed up for annual B-cycle memberships, Snell said, slightly shy of the goal of 1,200 in the first year.

More than 6,700 people have bought the $10, 24-hour passes, with 876 sold this month alone — the highest in a single month since the program began.

San Antonio now has the second busiest B-cycle program in the country, behind Denver, she said.

“I feel like that there's a really an emerging bike culture in San Antonio, like we've never seen this before,” Snell said.

New facility will create 65 jobs in Seguin

A new assembly and warehouse facility will bring two manufacturing companies to Seguin, creating 65 jobs, city officials said Wednesday.

The 300,000-square-foot facility will be built by Bandera Ventures, a Dallas-based commercial real estate development firm.

The facility will be near the Seguin Caterpillar plant and will house Caterpillar suppliers Gray Interplant Systems and FCA Packaging, the city said.

The new facility was secured in part by an incentives package from the City of Seguin, Guadalupe County and the Seguin Economic Development Corp

http://www.statesman.com/business/business-digest-new-facility-will-bring-65-jobs-2283753.html

Contractor selected for design of Market Street realignment (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/04/contractor-selected-for-design-of-market-street-realignment/)

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/04/market-600x415.jpg

URS Corporation has been selected as the contractor for the Market Street realignment project, which must be executed before the eastward expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and will go before City Council on Thursday. According to the agenda, the contract would not exceed $2.5 million. In return, URS Corporation would provide the following:

• Roadway design (including traffic signal, street lighting and pedestrian walkway)
• Utility coordination
• Bid and construction phase services
• Traffic control/construction phasing plan
• Surveying, mapping and ROW documents
• Utility relocation design (to include sewer, water & electrical)
• Geotechnical investigation/analysis
• Structural engineering services
• Streetscape and landscaping designs

This is the first significant piece in the city’s big plans for HemisFair Park. By expanding the convention center east, the city will then be able to demolish the center’s West Building, which would then create space for an entrance to the park at the corner of Market and Alamo streets.

This prep work is being funded by savings in the 2007 bond program specifically earmarked for downtown infrastructure improvements. The city is looking to select a construction contractor by the end of the year, in which case work would begin in the first quarter of 2013.

The city’s Capital Improvements Management Services Department would not comment on the contract until after the council vote.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/04/19522212-SAN-PEDRO-CREEK-KMH-4-04_04_2012.jpg

San Pedro Creek planning underway
Posted on 04/11/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

The funding is still up in the air, but plans to revitalize San Pedro Creek — 3.82 miles of the channel downtown — are proceeding, as first reported by the Express-News. The San Antonio River Authority has issued a request for qualifications for a feasibility study, in which cost and deadlines would be fleshed out.

“We hope to have someone selected by May 18, and have a contract executed by June 5,” according to Rudy Farias, projects and planner supervisor at SARA.”We’ll know what the schedule is (after).”


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/04/san-pedro-creek-planning-underway/

Downtown may get at least $84 million (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Downtown-may-get-at-least-84-million-3481011.php)

We are less than a month away from voting on the largest bond program in city history. Meanwhile, City Council is considering a downtown revitalization plan. Given these two rather lengthy propositions, in the coming weeks, numbers are going to be flung from every direction, Swedish Chef-style.

In the interest of clarity and to prevent further headaches, I figured now would be a good time to pause and talk specifics.

At least $84 million of the $596 million 2012-2017 bond initiative is coming downtown's way, assuming it's approved by voters on May 12. Talking with city officials, and studying the two websites dedicated to the proposal — buildsanow.com and sanantonio.gov/2012Bond — this is how it breaks down in the millions:

$40M downtown streets

$15M HemisFair Park area streets

$15M HemisFair Park general improvements

$4M Central Library

$2.6M Cherry Street

$1.7M Frio Street

$1.5M Buena Vista Street

$1.5M Commerce Street

$1.4M César E. Chávez Boulevard

$1M Alamo Plaza

$1M San Antonio Museum of Art

$75K Travis Park

Hays Street Bridge, the beer magnet (http://www.plazadearmastx.com/index.php/business/101-news/2029-hays-street-bridge-the-magnet)

Do we dare ask Nettie Hinton what she thinks? The historic Hays Street Bridge, a symbolic and physical link to the old East Side, restored through the efforts of community activists such as Hinton, Gary Houston, and Doug Steadman, has lured another business to the post-industrial corridor between downtown and on-the-up Dignowity Hill. Boneshakers, the early adopter that put craft beer and a bike shop on the banks of the reconstructed Mission Reach the moment it opened to cyclists and hikers, is moving north at the end of the month to 306 Austin, near the foot of the bridge.

Office building planned for Museum Reach (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/04/office-building-planned-for-museum-reach/)

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/04/phipps1.jpg

Conceptual plans for a four-story, 25,000-square-foot office building along the Museum Reach portion of the River Walk goes before the Historic and Design Review Commission this week. The address is 206 Arden Grove — the road behind KSAT 12 which dead-ends at 9th Street. In relation to the River Walk, it’s across the river from the Turner Club.

UTSA hosts Park West Athletics Complex groundbreaking (http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northwest/news/article/UTSA-hosts-Park-West-Athletics-Complex-3472520.php)

UTSA hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to kick off the construction of the Park West Athletics Complex.

The athletics complex will be located on a portion of the 125-acre UTSA Park West Campus, located approximately two miles west of the main campus, and is slated to include a track-and-field complex, soccer field, paved parking and related infrastructure.

UTSA President Ricardo Romo, Director of Athletics Lynn Hickey, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro and City Councilman Reed Williams attended the groundbreaking along with the UTSA Marching Band, UTSA student-athletes, UTSA cheerleaders and Rowdy Roadrunner.

Construction of the Park West Athletics Complex will be completed in multiple phases.

The first phase, with an expected completion date of 2013, includes a 1,000-seat soccer stadium, 1,000-seat track and field stadium, 500-space surface parking lot, roadways and a retention basin.

The facilities will be used for public events and will serve as home bases for the UTSA sports teams.

Future development of the complex will include tennis, softball and baseball facilities, fan amenities, meeting and hospitality rooms and expansion to existing facilities.

New plan to put SA2020 into action (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/New-plan-to-put-SA2020-into-action-3486437.php)

Build more housing units and then downtown will attract more of the things that make a vibrant city: residents, workers, retail, recreation, and maybe even a grocery store.

It's one strategy the city thinks will keep area-born young creatives — millennials between the ages of 16 and 34 — from leaving San Antonio for the big city somewhere else.

And it's the backbone of a $350 million downtown action plan by HR&A Advisors Inc. that was outlined to a roomful of movers and shakers Monday at the Hyatt Regency. Where the mayor's SA2020 plan was a broad list of goals for the city center, the downtown action plan aims to be a roadmap for how to achieve those goals.

Specifically, the action plan calls for adding 7,500 housing units (mostly apartments) to the downtown area by 2020. That's a more ambitious goal than the 5,000-unit bump outlined in SA2020.

The council is expected to vote on the plan in mid-May.

Some of the other keys to downtown's rebirth already are in motion, such as HemisFair Park and the planned north-east streetcar route.

Other recommendations:

Parking: While HR&A found there's plenty of parking downtown, it's not distributed evenly, creating shortages in some parts of downtown. The city plans to build two more parking garages by 2017.

Transportation: The plan calls for making streets friendlier to pedestrians by widening sidewalks and to cyclists by creating bike lanes. It also suggests introducing on-street parking to major corridors like Commerce Street.

Connectivity: Torres Springer said the River Walk contains most of downtown's life and action, but not the streets that border it. HR&A recommends improving the means by which people enter and exit the River Walk from Jones Avenue to the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center to encourage more pedestrian movement at both levels. That would hopefully create more street-level retail and restaurants to encourage more action above the river.

Parks: Downtown's open spaces are in desperate need of resuscitation, according to the plan. The obvious candidate is HemisFair Park, but it also mentions better programming and design for Maverick, Madison Square, Travis and Milam parks.

Cultural institutions: The report encourages the city to get involved with its culture destinations, such as assisting in parking for the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

Office building planned for Museum Reach (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/04/office-building-planned-for-museum-reach/)

There is a bomb shelter on the property?! Sounds like a hell of place to have a club!

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/12/65/36/2840487/3/628x471.jpg

Santa Rosa will be Children's Hospital of San Antonio
By Don Finley
Updated 12:08 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2012

San Antonio will get a new, stand-alone children's hospital downtown after all.

Officials with Christus Santa Rosa Health System announced Friday they would immediately begin a $135 million transformation of their downtown campus into the Children's Hospital of San Antonio.

Completion should take two years. The campus currently includes adult and children's hospitals.

Patrick Carrier, president of the Christus Santa Rosa system, said plans began shortly after March 1, when the University Health System pulled out of talks to build a new, state-of-the art children's hospital together.

“This process has gone very fast for us because until just six weeks ago, we were in discussions with the University Health System in the hopes of developing a partnership to develop a freestanding hospital with them,” Carrier said. “We began immediately at that time to look for alternatives for a children's hospital because we felt it was so vital — not only to the community but to our own Christus Santa Rosa mission.”

....

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Santa-Rosa-will-be-Children-s-Hospital-of-San-3497775.php#photo-2840487

1800 Broadway construction
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/12/74/70/2870824/3/628x471.jpg
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/12/74/70/2870815/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/fiesta/article/Battle-of-Flowers-cheers-smiles-and-families-3516596.php#next

Developers: It's a matter of supply, demand (http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Downtown-Dispatches-For-developers-it-s-a-matter-3516198.php)

Recently, on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, two men were power-washing the Alamo-shaped marquee of a one-story building at the northeast corner of Broadway and Grayson. The brain cells — the few I have left — began dancing with the realization that there were 950 reasons why those men were tidying up the building's facade.

That's the number of new residential units — four major projects either already finished or under construction — slated for the near-Broadway corridor.

That little building, whatever it's destined to become — coffee shop, clothing boutique, bar — will directly serve occupants of apartment buildings 1800 Broadway and The Mosaic when they are completed across the street.

A block west, there are nearly 300 apartments in the works at Pearl, most of which will adopt the Can Plant name. And then there's 1221 Broadway, a five-minute walk south of the Pearl, which will total 307 units when its second phase is completed.

Alone, any one of the aforementioned projects might not sustain new business, large or small. But together, they already are sparking inquiries into what kinds of amenities could complement the arriving near-downtowners.

The primordial ooze and its evolution along Broadway can be seen every day. But what about office space?

Full article on Graham Weston posted earlier. If you haven't read it yet, it's a good read for what to expect from him.

Billionnaire Weston eyes major downtown revival in San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/03/23/billionnaire-weston-eyes-major.html?page=all)

The newest member of San Antonio’s billionaire’s club is ready to open his wallet over downtown.

Rackspace Hosting Inc. founder and chairman Graham Weston says he will forge partnerships with a dozen or more real estate developers over the next two years to further develop the city center into a livable, walkable urban environment that will attract and retain young professionals.

Weston, who owns downtown’s Weston Centre, says his plan — which he’ll unveil within the next six months — will involve “philanthropic capitalism” akin to Pace Foods billionaire Kit Goldsbury’s Pearl Brewery redevelopment or the Bass Brothers’ revitalization of downtown Fort Worth.

He declined to reveal specifics, however, including how much he will spend and which sites he’s targeted for development.

“This is about helping San Antonio become a city over the next decade that’s more attractive to young and single people,” says Weston, 48. “Young people are free agents looking to live in a city for the experiences it can give them, for the people they can meet, the things they can do. They’re also very mobile. They can work anywhere that captures their imagination.”

Weston holds almost $1.1 billion in Rackspace stock, according to a story last week by Bloomberg News tallying billionaires overlooked by Forbes magazine’s annual list. His fortunes exceeded the billion-dollar mark after a recent runup in the tech company’s stock price.

While San Antonio’s urban core has grown with the revitalization of Southtown and Goldsbury’s Pearl, Weston says those should provide just a taste of what’s to come.

Hip cities

Weston is eyeing projects, including new residential development, that take inspiration from San Francisco, Portland, Ore.; and Silicon Valley — communities that attract skilled young workers by creating urban enclaves where people can live, work and be entertained.

In 2008, Rackspace located its worldwide headquarters in the shuttered Windsor Park Mall, a decision Weston says was partially driven by the lack of downtown properties that could accommodate its anticipated growth.

Rackspace employs more than 4,100 workers, many of whom relocated to the Alamo City. Officials at local tech firms have long lamented the difficulty in finding skilled employees here and in competing for workers with “hip” cities such as Austin and Denver.

“San Antonio is a net exporter of talented young people,” Weston adds. “Too many go away to school and don’t come back. We need to change that. This brain drain isn’t sustainable.”

A handful of downtown developers say they’ve held conversations with Weston about his vision, but add that he’s not shared detailed plans. Given Weston’s vision and resources, however, most expect his moves to substantially shake up the city’s urban landscape.

“Graham is serious about taking bold steps,” says Downtown Alliance president Ben Brewer. “I think we’re looking at some of the largest major downtown development in quite some time.”

Weston, to be sure, is no stranger to real estate development — or community involvement.

His Weston Centre is one of downtown’s premiere office properties, and he also owns an adjacent parking garage. Those properties, Brewer adds, likely will be the centerpiece of Weston’s efforts.

Read more...

Plans are for Taco Land to become an outdoor bar (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/05/taco-land-to-become-an-outdoor-bar/)

As the story goes, Ayala, along with doorman Douglas “Gypsy Doug” Morgan, were shot and killed in a robbery at Taco Land in 2005.

The Ayala family has since sold the place to a partnership called Tacoland Studios LLC, made up of “Desperate Housewives” actor Ricardo Chavira and developer David Adelman, who lead the 1221 Broadway apartment project.

Rather than wait to sign a tenant now, Adelman said they are going forth with renovating the property on the corner of Grayson and Elmira streets.

“I figured it’s a little bit like ‘Field of Dreams’,” Adelman said. “If you built it, they will come.”

The plans are the highlight of the Historic and Design Review Commission meeting this Wednesday. Click here to view them.

In short, the plan is to modify the Taco Land building to become an outdoor bar or ice house with picnic tables and probably a food truck component. So, identity-wise, somewhere between The Friendly Spot and Alamo Street Eat Bar, but on the Pearl side of downtown’s fringe areas. It’s completely unclear if the venue will keep the Taco Land name or live music bent because, again, there is no actual tenant.

But, according to the submitted plans, the portrait of Ayala, which was drawn after his death, will remain along with the other art on the northwest brick facade.

The plans do call for the demolition of the wood-framed portion of the building — roughly the middle portion around the tree. Apparently this was constructed to connect the two original masonry structures. As you can tell from drawings, it looks like the space to be demolished includes the former stage and I’m not too upset about it. It’s not like they’re tearing up Gruene Hall, or anything. Taco Land was one of those places whose character was defined by its proprietor, and not the building itself. That’s why it never got back off the ground.

Adelman said construction should take 90 days after the permitting process is completed. Urbanist Design pllc of San Antonio is the architect.

Like the universe, B-cycle is expanding (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/05/like-the-universe-b-cycle-is-expanding/)

With apologies to Woody Allen, bike share program B-Cycle indeed is expanding.

In mid-April, new stations became operational at 500 Victoria Lane (HemisView Village), 818 S. Flores St. (next to San Antonio Housing Authority) and at 1221 Broadway, which pushed the program’s totals to 23 stations and 230 bikes.

By year’s end, the program could grow to 30 stations and 300 bikes.

“We always have great plans,” B-cycle Executive Director Cindi Snell said. “I think our next stop is going to be close to the Weston Centre (112 E. Pecan St.) and then we are working on connectivity, whether it be from Brackenridge to downtown, or some of the universities to downtown.”

Snell acknowledged early criticism that B-cycle was a program for tourists, because the bike stations were located by tourist destinations. But she said the intent of future growth will be to connect fringe neighborhoods to the downtown core.

She confirmed the near East Side — Dignowity Hill neighborhood and VIA’s Ellis Alley — are on B-cycle’s radar for expansion. And there are plans to include a station in the Westside Multimodal Center, the former International & Great Northern Railroad depot on Medina Street, which VIA is currently planning.

And there are plans to install 5-7 new stations between Blue Star Contemporary Arts Center and Mission Espada, in part paid for by a federal transportation grant.

Some more 1800 Broadway photos

Construction (You can see the Mosaic at the very top of this picture also)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/536377_370265563020172_351049401608455_1050822_801001840_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/524329_370253063021422_351049401608455_1050799_2140324558_n.jpg

3D Renderings
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/582699_370276626352399_351049401608455_1050848_1383680799_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/525964_370276589685736_351049401608455_1050847_1661379320_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/pages/1800-Broadway/351049401608455

Two articles about some projects in River North

River North TIRZ OKs $4M in incentives (http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/River-North-TIRZ-OKs-4M-in-incentives-3529221.php)

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/13/02/10/2892298/4/628x471.jpg

A municipal board on Wednesday unanimously recommended to City Council that three near-downtown developments receive more than $4 million in incentives for projects that will continue revitalization of the San Antonio River's Museum Reach.

The projects — a hotel, a multi-family residential development and a law office — each abut the river and lie within the boundaries of the River North Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ. Those zones capture the increased tax revenue from new developments and spend that money within their boundaries to improve the area.

The proposed $31.5 million, 256-unit multi-family development is slated to receive about $2.43 million in city tax rebates during the next 15 years from the TIRZ. A grant and fee waivers from the city and the San Antonio Water System increase the total incentive package to more than $4 million.

Lori Houston, assistant director of the Center City Development Office, told the TIRZ board that such developments play an important role in the city's goal to increase housing downtown over the next decade — a major piece in Mayor Julián Castro's SA2020 long-term plan.

“We really want to incent housing in this downtown area,” she said. “The River North area is an area we need to target.”



River North TIRZ approves area’s first incentives (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/05/river-north-tirz-approves-areas-first-incentives/)

• $997,743 for Embarcadero Hotel, a project of Paradigm Hotel SA Riverwalk, at 103 W. Ninth Street. This looks to be the same project that has been referred to, in documents submitted to the city’s historic board, as the Wyndham Garden River North. Click here for more.

•$2.4 million for a “River North Multifamily project,” by A.A. Seeligson, Jr. River North, Ltd., adjacent to the 1221 Broadway apartment complex. The Seeligson partnership, which includes Hixon Properties Inc., owns about 1.5 acres just south, and 1.1 acres just west, of 1221 Broadway. This is presumably the location of this project. Click here for some background on this project.

• $520,548 for an office building, 206 Arden Grove, which is owned by Martin J. Phipps, lead council of Goldman, Pennebaker & Phipps, P.C. I’ve been emailing with Phipps to try to nail down an interview. But it sounds like the building will completely be occupied by Phipps’ firm. Click here to see a drawing of the building.

Read the Express-News article for details.

These incentives seem to indicate that a move by the city in 2010 has paid off. That’s when the 1221 Broadway project was removed from the River North TIRZ to pave the way for a city incentives package worth $3.7 million. That allowed the developers of 1221 Broadway to secure its final piece of financing — a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Some major players in River North attribute the success of 1221 Broadway as the catalyst for the Can Plant Apartments, currently under construction just north at the Pearl, and that Can Plant was the catalyst for 1800 Broadway and The Mosaic on the other side of Broadway.

It was back in 2010 that the city wanted to dissolve the River North TIRZ because it was under performing. But the new residential projects seem to indicate that it’s here to stay.



Here is the article from February, posted in the old thread, about the new residential development.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/02/closure-request-suggests-river-north-development/

This new project plus other projects recently completed and under construction in the area pushes the number of new residential units over 1000.

Not sure if word's gotten out on this yet, but the project on South Flores by SAHA has been renamed...

Judging by the new website it looks like they're going more upscale and modern, à la St Benedict's Lofts: http://www.1010southflores.com/

^^ Looks nice

Methodist Healthcare plans $44 million expansion in Downtown San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/05/11/methodist-healthcare-plans-44-million.html)

http://assets.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/Metro%20Meth%20Expansion_SAROP_051112.jpg?v=1
Courtesy of Methodist Healthcare system

Rendering of planned expansion to Methodist Healthcare System’s Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, which is located in downtown San Antonio.

Some of San Antonio’s largest hospital systems are playing a high-stakes game of chess, rolling out new development plans that could significantly reshape the delivery of care downtown.

Methodist Healthcare System , bracing for an anticipated sharp increase in demand for services in the center city, is preparing to make the next move on that front. It plans to break ground this summer on a major expansion of its Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, the Business Journal has learned.

Christus Santa Rosa Health System struck first, however. Last month, it unveiled a plan to relocate adult services from its City Centre campus to ...

Incentives: Are we for or against them? (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/05/incentives-are-we-for-or-against-them/)

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/05/RiverNorth-560x600.jpg

The numbers are these:

A partnership called A.A. Seeligson, Jr. River North Ltd., which includes S.A.-based Hixon Properties, plans to build 256 market-rate apartments on 3.23 acres of prime River North real estate at Avenue A and 13th Street. The unnamed project also would push the number of new digs along the I-35/U.S. 281 interchange segment of Broadway to around 1,200.

It’s exactly the kind of growth — and the rate of growth — that fits in perfectly with Mayor Julián Castro’s vision for downtown.

The project is going to cost $31.4 million to build. And the city is willing to contribute $4 million in incentives — a combination of grants and fee waivers — which is not a bag of mixed nuts by any means, but seemingly a reasonable investment given the domino effect-like growth potential in that area.

But if it’s such a great project why did two council members vote against it?

To be fair, council members Elisa Chan and Carlton Soules thought the project was a worthy one and described the developer as reputable. But Chan called attention to the other projects on Broadway that the city has assisted. Because there are about 1,000 new units due in the near future, she said, now is a good time to put the incentives on pause and understand their affect on the market.

“I think it will be prudent for the city to understand the market a little bit more,” Chan said at last week’s meeting.

Councilman Diego Bernal took an opposite stance.

“I don’t believe we can move fast enough in refilling the inner city with people,” Bernal said. “And if you look at other projects downtown and on Broadway, the benefits, the dividends, aside from that residential density, are very apparent.”

Weatherford's S.A. hub completed (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Weatherford-s-S-A-hub-completed-3583519.php)

Oil field services company Weatherford International Inc. provided more details this week about the completion of its 108-acre facility in south San Antonio at Interstate 37 and Loop 1604.

Weatherford's base consists of eight buildings totaling 184,589 square feet, including a multiple service structures and a 50,000-square-foot office building. The hub houses several Weatherford divisions that will maintain and stage equipment and personnel for customers in South Texas, particularly for those in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas, the company said.

Weatherford real-estate manager Jeff Stringer said in a statement that customer demand in South Texas was strong, and the project had been expedited.

Switzerland-based Weatherford chose PinPoint Commercial LP of Houston to develop the site.

Construction on the project began in July 2011 and move-in began on March 22.

Texas Biomedical Research Institute to expand (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Texas-Biomedical-Research-Institute-to-expand-3583239.php)

http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/13/27/51/2980441/3/628x471.jpg
A 70,000-square-foot building that will serve as a new front door to the 200-acre Texas Biomedical Research Institute campus and allow for the enhancement of existing research programs and the creation of new ones. The $26.45 million building will provide eight laboratories for the institute’s federally designated Southwest National Primate Research Center and will allow the institute to grow its research into stem cell use. There also will be space for an additional six virology and immunology laboratories and one biomedical safety laboratory.
Photo: Courtesy Illustration / SA


There's room to grow, and that's exactly what they aim to do.

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute has plans to build a 70,000-square-foot building that will serve as a new front door to the 200-acre campus and allow for the enhancement of existing research programs and the creation of new ones, said Kenneth Trevett, the organization's president and CEO.

The $26.45 million building will provide eight laboratories for the institute's federally designated Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC), which is where work concerning tuberculosis, heart disease, diabetes and AIDS is done. The expansion also will allow the institute to grow its research into stem cell use, Trevett added. There also will be space for an additional six virology and immunology laboratories and one biomedical safety laboratory.

“We've got real room to grow here,” Trevett said.

The construction of the 2-story facility, which will be named after Earl Slick, the brother of the institute's founder, is part of the first phase of the 25-year master plan that has been in the works for about a decade, Trevett said. Phase one also includes $15 million for recruitment start-up packages for 11 new researchers.

The second phase is expected to start in the next five years and will include the construction of an animal procedure holding area and renovations to about 530,000 square feet of existing buildings. Other future projects include infrastructure enhancements, more green space on the campus and a new entrance, according to the institute's 2011 annual report.

Building permits still need to be secured from the city but construction is expected to start in June with completion by late 2013, Trevett said.

1800 Broadway May construction (You can see the Mosaic at the top in the first to pictures as well)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/11791_386236824756379_351049401608455_79663151_371630113_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/577342_384050308308364_351049401608455_79658141_513442249_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/69201_386236861423042_351049401608455_79663153_1556619377_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/pages/1800-Broadway/351049401608455

Pearl Brewery (few months old, but a different view I thought was interesting)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6819316533_c1ddede949_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theeplproject/6819316533/)
Pearl Brewery, San Antonio, TX (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theeplproject/6819316533/) by ~The EPL Project~ (http://www.flickr.com/people/theeplproject/), on Flickr

More 1800 progress
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/389287_388352097878185_351049401608455_79668830_1180340082_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/389287_388352104544851_351049401608455_79668831_1500033856_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/pages/1800-Broadway/351049401608455

Good improvement in this area. Went by Pearl Can Plant apartments a few days ago and most look nearly complete on the outside.

City formulating funding strategy for Convention Center expansion (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/05/city-formulating-funding-strategy-for-convention-center-expansion/)

The city outlined a plan on how it’s going to pay for the expansion of the Convention Center, as well as the demolition of the original portion on the corner of Alamo and Market streets, according to the Express-News. The overall project is expected to cost $325 million, and the financing plan call for issuing more than $500 million in something called public facility corporation lease revenue bonds, as well as the refinancing of $254 million on hotel occupancy tax debt on previous Convention Center expansions, instead of using HOT revenue. There’s more, but it’s best you click here to read the actual article by reporter extraordinaire Vianna Davila.

The story also mentions that construction of the realignment of Market Street, to created room of the expansion of the Convention Center eastward, should begin in March.

— Benjamin Olivo

Argo Group’s 200-plus employees all moved in (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/06/argo-groups-200-plus-employees-all-moved-in/)

And now I pass the proverbial gift basket — Hillshire Farm? — to Argo Group US. Welcome. Last week, the specialty insurance provider and its 200-plus employees officially moved into its new corporate digs at the IBC Centre, 175 E. Houston St., the same building AT&T once called home.

So if you see some new faces walking around the corner of Houston and St. Mary’s streets, particularly around lunchtime, they’re with Argo. How cool is it that our city is looking more and more like an actual city?

“We have about 200 employees who moved from the old location to the new location,” Lisa Scannell, Argo’s vice president of corporate communications, said. “In addition, we have about 60 or so contract workers who were also at the airport location. So, (we have) about 260 in the building.”

All of a sudden things are peachy keen. Those were some dark days, indeed, in the months after AT&T left for Big D. Literally, the building was dark for most of between mid-2008 until December 2011. Even though they skipped town, AT&T had been paying the lease on the unoccupied building until July 2011. And then it took an additional six months until HVHC Inc., the parent company of Visionworks (formerly Eye Masters), moved in. For a while, AT&T was subleasing the top floor to Biglari Holdings Inc., parent company of the Steak ‘n Shake chain, but they left at the end of 2011.

That makes HVHC and Argo as the building’s two main tenants. HVHC even opened a Visionworks retail outlet on the ground floor in January.

“So far so good,” Scannell said. “It’s a change for people, you know, people are exploring all the different lunch places. I think it’s a good change for most people. People have to get use to a new way to work.”

Larry Mendez, senior vice president of Transwestern, the real estate company handling the leases for the building, said there is still 75,000 square feet of space available at the IBC Centre, and a couple of suites left at the smaller satellite building northwest of the building.

— Benjamin Olivo

The future bends to SA's skyline (http://www.plazadearmastx.com/index.php/culture/106-columns/2161-the-future-bends-to-sas-skyline)

Following my first column on the San Antonio skyline I received a fair amount of feedback from architects, developers, and engaged readers who were supportive of the idea that the first 30 feet from the ground is more important than how our city meets the sky. There was agreement that, essentially, it was old school to think of skyline as a city brand, something exploitable and exportable as a symbol of pride. In agreeing to move beyond the modern-day obsession with skyline, it also seems that we should be just as concerned with how buildings perform as how they appear.

Local architect Jim Poteet offered: “The era of the skyscraper was an expression of the rise of American corporate capitalism, an expression of individualist competition I don’t think that tall buildings are necessary for a city to be vibrant and alive, even in the US. No one faults Rome for lack of a high-rise skyline. I firmly believe that it is the first 30 feet or so is where the life of a city exists and that medium-rise buildings can provide the necessary density to support this life. Walkability, street life, markets, and urban parks are some of the measures of vibrancy and they have to be supported by adequate density of people living and working nearby.” He suggests that we should leave the race to the sky, to build the tallest building, to emerging economies with something to prove – nations in the Middle East and Asia hell-bent on seeing how high they can go.

Consensus: San Antonio’s future is at street level. Many cities San Antonio envies one way or another learned this lesson a long time ago.

This will bring lots of people downtown.

People en Español Festival billed as Labor Day destination (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latinlife/2012/06/people-en-espanol-festival-billed-as-a-labor-day-destination/)

The summer just began but I’m already looking toward Labor Day.

That’s when People en Español magazine will bring its two-night Latin music concert series and conference extravaganza to San Antonio.

It’s called the People en Español Festival, and organizers say it ultimately will become the Labor Day destination for Latin music lovers in the United States and Latin America.

Its concerts will be at the Alamodome. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.

Its conference will be at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and it’s free. Music will be featured there, too, as will health, fitness and other experts.

The lineups for both events are in development but already look impressive.

International star Luis Miguel will headline the two concerts, followed by popular acts Daddy Yankee and Prince Royce. The latter, a young bachata singer-songwriter, was in San Antonio last week for a sponsor summit and made an impression as a smart, young hard-working entertainer with a love of music and dedication to make the right business moves.

The Alamodome bills will include merengue artist Olga Tañón; Los Angeles-born performer Larry Hernández, whose corrido roots rest in Sinaloa, Mexico; Banda Los Recoditos; and 3Ball MTY, a Monterrey-based band.

The magazine’s top execs, the festival’s major sponsors and members of its board of directors, including music producer Emilio Estefan, visited the Alamo City, too, and met with city officials at a VIP dinner at the convention center.

“This is going to be bigger than any one of us thought,” Casandra Matej, head of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau said.

What’s key to this event is its roots in the annual Essence Festival in New Orleans.

Blue Star's Big Tex could be set with $5M from City Council (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Blue-Star-s-Big-Tex-could-be-set-with-5M-from-3625935.php#photo-3056807)

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/13/52/22/3056806/3/628x471.jpg

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/13/52/22/3056807/3/628x471.jpg
The City Council is expected to vote on a $5 million incentive package for the redevelopment of the former Big Tex site just south of the Blue Star Arts Complex. The Blue Star Phase II project will incorporate 320 residential units, retail space and the new home for the Blue Star Contemporary Arts Center.
Photo: Courtesy Illustration / The NRP Group LLC

After years of searching for financing and cleaning up asbestos-riddled soil, the redevelopment of the Big Tex site is closer to becoming a reality.

City Council is expected to vote on a proposal Thursday for a more than $5 million incentive package to redevelop the former Big Tex property near the Blue Star Arts Complex.

Known as Blue Star Phase II, the development on the 7.5-acre riverfront property is expected to cost upwards of $42 million, according to Dan Markson, senior vice president for the NRP Group LLC, the developer.

The property would be removed from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, according to the council agenda. City staff recommended that the project receive a 10-year tax abatement worth $2.3 million, a Chapter 380 grant for up to $750,000, an Inner City Incentive Fund Grant of $1.28 million and other fee waivers that would bring the total to nearly $5.1 million, according to the agenda.

Plans for the redevelopment project include 320 market-rate residential units, live/work space, 6,000 square feet of retail space and structured parking, Markson said. The grain silos and the main tower will be incorporated into the project, which will have a modern and industrial feel with several open spaces and walkways.

The developer also has $2.2 million slated for other public improvements such as a road that runs through the property.

If the incentives are approved, Markson said that construction would begin in the first quarter of 2013 and the first units would come online during the first quarter of 2014.

Recap (Thought I'd put things together for confirmed residential projects.)

Proposed/Under Construction in and around downtown

River North/Pearl area

Pearl Brewery Can Plant Apartments - 312 units
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/10/56/74/2289452/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Apartment-construction-boom-under-way-in-San-3157985.php

1800 Broadway - 230 units
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/04/05/1851735/5/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/A-new-luxe-development-near-the-Pearl-2338679.php#photo-1851735

The Mosaic - 120 units
http://www.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mosaic1.png
http://www.themosaiconbroadway.com/home.aspx

1221 Broadway Phase II - 39 units
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2011/05/20110503broadway2.jpg
http://www.lakeflato.com/

River North Multi-Family Project - 256 units
(No Rendering Available)

Total - 957 units

Southtown/South Flores

Big Tex apartments - 320 units
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/13/52/22/3056807/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Council-could-grant-5M-to-Big-Tex-site-3625935.php

1010 South Flores (Formerly The Viceroy) - 46 units
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/11/53/03/2535639/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/The-Viceroy-on-the-way-to-King-William-area-3353623.php#photo-2535639

Steel House Lofts - 67 units
http://www.alamoarchitects.com/projects/historic/Steel-House-Lofts/exteriorview.jpg
http://www.alamoarchitects.com/projects/historic/Steel-House-Lofts/

Total - 433 units

Combined total - 1390 units Proposed or U/C

So the downtown and surrounding districts are gaining some good momentum. All of this plus Graham Weston's plan for downtown, which will be announced in the next few months, will give the core some good growth.

Mexico to S.A. flight capacity up 193% (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Mexico-to-S-A-flight-capacity-up-193-3625773.php)

Awareness of a sudden plethora of new airline flights and routes between San Antonio and various Mexican cities needs to spread to ensure service is not reduced later because of a lack of business, Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Richard Perez said Monday.

The chamber devoted one of its aerospace luncheons Monday to three airlines providing service between San Antonio International Airport and Mexico.

“Listening to their presentations, they are here to stay,” Perez said. “It's important to have these kinds of events and get that public awareness. These airlines have reasonable rates. They are happening every day. They are safe.”

The increase in San Antonio-Mexico airline capacity has zoomed to 7,046 departing seats a week for July 2012, up from 2,402 in July 2011, a 193 percent increase. The 60 departing flights a week to Mexico is up from 23 departures last July, a 161 percent increase, according to San Antonio Airport System statistics.

Much of the capacity increase is justified by the 50,000 to 75,000 San Antonio houses owned by Mexicans, said Frank Miller, city aviation director, during the luncheon attended by almost 100 people.

The San Antonio passenger load factor for VivaAerobus, which has provided nonstop service to Monterrey three times a week since last fall, is below the 85-90 percent the Monterrey-based airline seeks across its network, said Hector Palacios, VivaAerobus head of government and airport affairs.

Pearl to get new retail tenants (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Pearl-to-get-new-retail-tenants-3628816.php)

Two local retailers have secured space at one of the new construction projects at the Pearl Brewery that is set to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

Custom guayabera maker Dos Carolinas and Lee Lee Loves Shoes, a boutique women's shoe store, are set to open at the Pearl's Lab Building as soon as the project is complete, ownership at both businesses confirmed.

Officials at the Pearl did not return a request for comment.

It will be Dos Carolinas' first retail location in San Antonio, said Caroline Matthews, the owner. The business currently has its manufacturing plant with a showroom at 127 W. Carolina St. Matthews said she will keep that location for manufacturing but move the retail operation to the Pearl. The store will occupy about 840 square feet there, according to the city's Development Services website.

Matthews opened her first retail location in Houston last month.

Her decision to open a retail spot in San Antonio had to do with the company's growth, which is about 20 percent year over year. And when the Pearl approached her about space at the campus she though it would be a good move, Matthews said.
“It's got so large that we can't handle the retail within facility anymore. It's an intrusion,” she said. “We're excited about the space.”

Lee Lee Loves Shoes has plans to close its Alamo Heights location at 5932 Broadway to open at the Pearl, said co-owner Sherry Leeper. The business will move into a 1,030-square-foot space there, according to the Development Services website. The company's move to the campus will broaden its customer base and fits with the Pearl's strategic push to attract local businesses, said Leeper.

The San Antonio Area Foundation also has plans to move into 18,000 square feet of space at the Lab Building, according to Express-News archives.

Incentives approved for Mission Reach development (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Incentives-approved-for-Mission-Reach-development-3634929.php)

Published 03:52 p.m., Thursday, June 14, 2012

Development along the San Antonio River is heading south.

City Council Thursday approved a more than $5 million incentive package for what is expected to be the first mixed-use development to be constructed along the Mission Reach section of the river.

The Blue Star Phase II project, which encompasses about 7.5 acres at the former Big Tex site near the Blue Star Arts Center, is a proposed $42.7 million mixed-use development.

The project would include structured parking, 320 residential units and about 6,000 square feet of retail space. Additionally, the Blue Star Contemporary Arts Center has plans to move its operation into about 24,000 square feet of dedicated space there.

The developer also has $2.2 million slated for other public improvements such as a road that will run through the property.

“At the end of the day we’re getting a really excited development done, which I’m thrilled to have happen,” said Dan Markson, senior vice president for the NRP Group LLC, the developer for the project. “It’s really going to move the line of prosperity further south.”

Construction is planned to start the first quarter of 2013, with the first units coming online during the first quarter of 2014.

The incentive package included a 10-year tax abatement worth $2.3 million, a Chapter 380 grant for up to $750,000, an Inner City Incentive Fund Grant of $1.28 million in cash and other fee waivers that would bring the total to almost $5.1 million, according to city documents. Plus the approved ordinance removed from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

City Council roundup: Plaza de Armas building, Blue Star incentives, B-cycle expansion, River Walk design contract, HOPE program, SAPD demo (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/06/city-council-roundup-plaza-de-armas-building-blue-star-incentives-b-cycle-expansion-river-walk-design-contract-hope-program-sapd-demo/)

Posted on 06/14/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

City Council passed several downtown-related items today. Here’s a quick breakdown. I’ll have full stories on the bigger items later. District 4 Councilman Rey Saldaña was absent.

• Plaza de Armas Building: The $8.4 million renovation of the Plaza de Armas building, located just west of City Hall, was approved. The contractor is Fort Worth-based Byrne Construction Services, which will oversee the design and construction of the project. Read the ordinance.

• Blue Star Phase 2: An incentive package worth about $5 million was approved for the second phase of the Blue Star complex. It’s a $42.7 million project that would add 320 market-rate apartments, and 6,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. It would also include $2.2 million in public improvements (streets). Council members Elisa Chan and Carlton Soules voted against the ordinance most because it uses the old incentives policy, which includes cash grants, rather than the one the council is poised to approve next week, which excludes cash. There were also questions about why developer NRP Group LLC didn’t apply for federal money to help close the financing gap the incentives are intended to help close. Look for a story by Valentino Lucio in the business section of mySA.com and the Express-News later. Read this story for background. Read the ordinance.

• B-cycle: The contract with San Antonio Bike Share, the operator of the city’s B-cycle program, was increased by $27,000 to $1.2 million to help with the cost of a new station at the Weston Centre, 112 E. Pecan St. W. Laurence Doxsey, director of the city’s Office of Environmental Policy, told the council that each station, bike included, costs between $45,000-$50,000. This increase comes from federal grant money from the Centers for Disease Control Communities Putting Prevention to Work Initiative. Read the ordinance.

• 203 E. Jones Ave.: An incentives package for a commercial development at 203 E. Jones Ave. passed without discussion. It’s worth $486,914 and includes an Economic Development Program Grant worth $407,736, $20,000 in city fee waivers, and $59,000 in SAWS fee waivers. The project is estimated at $4 million by 1101 Broadway. Read the ordinance.

Council backs incentives policy on housing (http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Council-backs-incentives-policy-on-housing-3632355.php)

By Benjamin Olivo

Updated 12:14 a.m., Thursday, June 14, 2012

After a months-long debate, a revamped incentives policy for multifamily projects, intended to help add 7,500 housing units downtown by 2020, has gained the consensus of the City Council.

It's the latest attempt by the city to attract more young professionals to the urban core.

The new policy removes cash grants from the city's incentives repertoire and now consists of tax reimbursement grants, loans and fee waivers. It also adds brevity to the process by basing the incentives amount for each project on a formula. Before, negotiations between the city and developers could take up to 10 months.

“There is certainty now in our incentive policy,” Mayor Julián Castro said. “My hope is that this will unleash a floodgate of great vibrant projects downtown, and I'm confident that we'll create the 7,500 more units we're looking for.”

District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan, an early opponent of the policy, said she was pleased with the latest version.

“Before, it really wasn't well defined,” Chan said. “I think we can see after the debate we came up with a better product.”

Next week, council members are scheduled to formally vote on the policy, which is one component of an overall action plan for downtown that covers transportation, infrastructure and the regulation of hotel development in certain areas.

Property tax reimbursement grants would be doled out in 10- and 15-year increments.

One requirement would be that 10 percent of the units being built would remain at the initial rental rate for the duration of the abatement.

Loans would be based on several factors, including the project's placement. In an attempt to create a geographic housing balance, the policy would create zones as far north as Mulberry Avenue and as far south as the Lone Star Brewery.

The closer the project is to the urban core, the bigger the loan.

For example, a developer would receive $3,000 to $6,000 per unit if the project was located in downtown's core. The increments would decrease as projects were planned farther from the core.

A project's characteristics would also play a factor. For example, a project could get a larger loan if it was a high-rise or a rehabilitation of a historic structure or if it included housing for college students. Additional loan bonuses would be available for things such as the creation of structured parking or mixed-use, retail or commercial office space.

Update from first article I posted. Seems to mention a new development.

Mixed-use project gets nod (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Mixed-use-project-gets-nod-3635231.php)

In other development action, City Council also:

Agreed on a $3.4 million incentive package to Embrey Partners Ltd. for a $32 million multifamily housing development planned at East Mulberry and Brackenridge avenues. The Residences at Brackenridge Hill will consist of 280 market-rate units.

Developer Lynd talks about S.A. challenges (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/06/developer-lynd-talks-about-s-a-challenges/)

Posted on 06/18/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

San Antonio-based Lynd Company is responsible for many successful apartment high-rises in some of the biggest metro areas in the country. But none in downtown San Antonio.

My column on Saturday expanded on the city’s reworked incentives policy, and I included CEO Mike Lynd Jr. in there because of his company’s success of building across the country. That’s exactly what’s needed and desired here. I wanted to know if he thought the new policy for multifamily projects would sway him toward pulling the trigger in his hometown.

Lynd said he’d have to look closely at the new policy. In all fairness, it hasn’t even been formally adopted — that’s supposed to happen Thursday at the City Council meeting.

The economics in downtown S.A. don’t match his company’s criteria for new projects, Lynd said, mostly because the rental rates aren’t high enough that these buildings could be financed through his sources alone. Such a project would require some kind of public assistance, and that’s not how the Lynds typically do business.

“We’ve got great access to capital here, some of the best capital partners in the country, people who have entrusted us,” Lynd said. “We have to deliver on what we say we can deliver.”

From Lynd’s perspective, it’s about jobs as much as it’s about rents.

“So you have demand and then you have to have the people with the ability to pay that rent to meet the demand,” Lynd said.

It’s most success was called EnV in downtown Chicago. The 249-unit, 29-story tower was completed in 2010 and sold in December to MetLife Inc. for an estimated $120 million. In 2011, it was named “High Rise of the Year” by Multifamily Executive magazine. There are residential/mixed-use buildings in the works in Austin and Miami.

Lynd said even though the economics of our downtown don’t quite match for his company, he applauds the city for taking steps at creating a more fertile environment.

“I think that’s a great start,” Lynd said. “By creating an incentive package that’s going to help developers bridge the economic gap downtown certainly that will make it feasible. That’s a big part of the equation: how do you bridge the economic gap if rents aren’t high enough.”

Nationwide, Lynd manages about 36,000 units and has built about 11,000. The company typically builds, stabilizes and then sells these properties.

Lynd acknowledged that his company is looking at specific property in our downtown, but didn’t want to say anything beyond that. His company is making an impact on downtown anyway. It recently purchased the insolvent St. Anthony Hotel and the new San Antonio Talons arena football team.

As an insider into the local developer’s universe, Lynd said there’s a lot of interest in downtown San Antonio.

“I can tell you that there’s a lot of interest from developers in downtown from both a local perspective and from a regional perspective,” Lynd said. “There’s a lot of people with their eyes on (building) multifamily projects downtown.”

He added, “I believe (the city) is taking the right steps. We would much rather build these types of buildings in San Antonio then having to travel to Miami to build them.”

The proposed incentives policy in detail (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/06/the-proposed-incentives-policy-in-detail/)

Posted on 06/20/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

My coverage last week of the city’s new incentives strategy for multifamily housing was abbreviated for print. Meaning, I only could highlight the revamped policy. Here it is in detail.

The City Council is expected to approve the policy on Thursday. I’m basically regurgitating a handout that was given to the Council members last week.

The reason the new policy has gained City Council consensus is two-fold:

1. Cash incentives are no longer an option.

2. Instead of the city and developer negotiating on the amount — which could take months — it’s based on a formula. This, in effect, makes the process predictable, transparent and streamlined.

Projects now are eligible for fee waivers (SAWS and city), real property tax reimbursement grants and loans. Projects that are eligible can be apartments or condominiums and they must be located within the Inner City Reinvestment / Infill Policy area.

Here’s how it breaks down:

Inner City Incentive Fund Loan

Within the ICRIP are four targeted areas that would be tiered, meaning, depending on the projects location the loan amount fluctuate:

• Tier 1: Urban core; $3,000-$6,000 per unit
• Tier 2: Near River South, HemisFair/Chavez, near East Side, near West Side, government district and medical district (northwest downtown); $1,500-$3,000 per unit
• Tier 3: River North (ends at U.S. 281); $1,000-$2,000 per unit
• Tier 4: Midtown (north of River North); $500-$1,000 per unit

The city hopes this kind of disbursement adds geographic balance.

They must also meet one of the following categories:

• Mixed income
• Community use
• Adaptive reuse
• Brownfield redevelopment
• Historic rehabilitation
• High-rise
• Student housing
• Development within a quarter-mile from the West Side Multimodal Center or the Rover Thompson Transit Center

The developer could receive a bonus of $1,000 per unit if the project includes structured parking, and $500 per unit for green aspects like rain gardens or bio swells. The bonuses would stay fixed and not fluctuate depending on the tiers.

The interest on these loans would compound annually and the developer would have to make a balloon payment in the seventh year.

Mixed Use Forgivable Loan

Developers of mixed-use projects would be eligible for $20 per square foot of retail and $10 per square foot of office space. Twenty percent of the entire amount would be forgiven annually over a five-year period as long as the space is leased and the tenant uses the funding toward the space.

Lone Star rises, just in time for CCHIP (http://www.plazadearmastx.com/index.php/business/101-news/2196-a-new-plan-for-lone-star-just-in-time-for-cchip)

How will PdA ever decide where to live when we become empty-nesters and join the urban-repopulation movement?

Austin-based AquaLand Developments LLC is buying the old Lone Star Brewery on the banks of the San Antonio River’s Mission Reach, whose last chance at rebirth was tanked by the Great Recession. The company represents properties throughout central and south Texas, and is involved in an ambitious medical-complex development in Cedar Park and a student-housing project in San Marcos, where company President Mark Smith and his wife recently gave $250,000 to Smith’s alma mater, Texas State.

The Can Plant Residences at the Pearl Brewery progress
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/177784_380132842043626_1054986770_o.jpg

In this picture you can see the Mosaic and 1800 Broadway consteruction
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/456980_380132932043617_954996162_o.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/TheCanPlant

Downtown focus for development (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Downtown-focus-for-development-3649400.php)

By Valentino Lucio

Published 01:35 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Redevelopment in the urban core isn't just seen as a catalyst for growth downtown but could become a benefit of the city as a whole.

The city is banking on it with millions invested in infrastructure projects, incentive packages and facility enhancements. The next ten years has been labeled the “Decade of Downtown,” a call to increase residential, retail and other commercial density downtown while helping to attract young, educated individuals and big-name business to the city.

“It's not a secret what the young, talented, educated workforce is looking for,” said Hixon Properties Inc.'s Jack Spector. He pointed to several offerings the target audience is looking for in a city such as walkable neighborhoods, reliable mass transit, cultural and educational opportunities, and entertainment options.

“In a nutshell, they're looking for a vibrant, dense center city. We refer to great cities have great downtowns. There's not a city that I'm aware of that is a great city without a great downtown.”

Lone Star rises, just in time for CCHIP (http://www.plazadearmastx.com/index.php/business/101-news/2196-a-new-plan-for-lone-star-just-in-time-for-cchip)

To expand on this

Lone Star site in contract (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Lone-Star-site-in-contract-3650212.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 08:20 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2012

After years of sitting vacant, the Lone Star Brewery could have a new owner by the end of this year.

Austin-based AquaLand Development LLC is currently under contract to purchase the nearly 22-acre property that is located on the southern edge of the San Antonio River, said John Readyhough, vice president for the development firm.

The preliminary plans for the property are for a $60 million mixed-use development incorporating about 700 residential units that could be a mix of apartments, condominiums and townhomes, about 30,000 square feet of commercial space, a hotel and beer gardens, Readyhough said.

The company also plans to reintroduce the pool there that is fed by an artesian well and has talked about building a microbrewery that would produce Lone Star, he added.

“Our intent is to keep the eclectic feel of the brewery and incorporate multifamily (housing) around it,” he said.

The property is assessed at about $3.9 million, according to the Bexar Appraisal District.

The news was first reported in the online publication Plaza de Armas.

Retailers already have reached out to the development firm, expressing their interest in the site, he said.

If the deal is inked, it would become the second major redevelopment along that section of Mission Reach. The Blue Star Phase II project is a $42 million mixed-use development planned for the former Big Tex site. It has plans for 320 residential units and about 6,000 square feet of retail space. Along with the Lone Star project, that would create about 1,000 residential units along the Mission Reach within the next few years.


If they stick with 700 units, that would push the number of units planned or under construction to over 2000 and in Southtown/SoFlo over 1000. :banana:

Something happening at Lone Star? Ill believe it when I see it.

Hopefully when Blue Star gets started, Lone Star will gain more traction.

Council approves incentive policy, debates broader plan (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/06/council-approves-incentive-policy-debate-broader-plan/)

Posted on 06/22/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

It took months of deliberation, but City Council unanimously approved an incentive policy for downtown multifamily housing on Thursday. The implementation plan, which encompasses the new policy, received nay votes from three council members — Elisa Chan, Carlton Soules and Reed Williams — because it dealt with capital projects the council had not yet discussed.

Click here for the Express-News story. (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/What-how-of-housing-idea-OK-d-3653676.php)

I slipped into the meeting in the middle of the discussion (I was on my lunch break; seriously, I don’t get paid to do this). District 1 City Councilman Diego Bernal took issue with Chan’s motion to split the policy and plan into two votes, although he reluctantly went with it.

From today’s Express-News, “I certainly want to provide my colleagues with an opportunity to vote ‘yes’ on something, but at the same time I think that the plan is comprehensive, and it covers all of downtown and it has a lot of pieces, and there’s always little pieces of large policies that we may not like,” he said. “So I’m in support of the motion more as a courtesy, but I’m uncomfortable with it because I believe that it is one and the same. There might be a piece of it you don’t like, but overall, it is the ‘what’ and the ‘how.’ But we are colleagues so I’ll support her motion — reluctantly.”

The broader plan includes the incentive policy, but it also contains a lot of other moving parts. At 96 pages, the plan indeed is “meaty” (as colleague Josh Baugh put it so well). And I’m not sure if council members have actually read the thing. Reason No. 27 to read The Downtown Blog: I read the plan and translated it for you in this post in March.

At one point, Soules suggested the council discuss aspects of the broader plan in debt at a later time because it included major projects like San Pedro Creek. Williams took the baton and asked Deputy City Manager Pat DiGiovanni to explain just what it was he was being asked to vote on.

DiGiovanni left out the part about regulating hotel development in outlying areas of downtown, which seems pretty big to me. My column in tomorrow’s Express-News expands on some of what happened at Thursday’s meeting, and just the whole vetting of these issues — or not — in general.

— Benjamin Olivo

$10 million could be used for streetcar or other VIA projects (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/10-million-could-be-used-for-streetcar-or-other-3656952.php)

By Vianna Davila
Updated 11:17 p.m., Friday, June 22, 2012

A vote Friday by the Advanced Transportation District board could give VIA Metropolitan Transit the option to shift $10 million from one project and use it for a downtown streetcar system.

The money could also go to park-and-ride facilities or other elements of VIA's short-term capital plan.

The funds came from San Antonio Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization discretionary funds, which were allocated in April. The MPO received nearly $1 billion in project requests but only funded $90 million of them.

VIA originally received its share for a new compressed natural gas facility to replace the smaller facility it currently uses, because the agency's CNG bus fleet will nearly quintuple by next summer.

Besides the CNG request, VIA also requested money from the MPO for two other projects: $16.6 million for the streetcar system, and $16.6 million for bus fleet replacement.

VIA eventually withdrew the streetcar request, said MPO Executive Director Sid Martinez.

VIA, Bexar County and San Antonio have agreed to co-fund the streetcar system downtown, at a projected cost of $190 million.

It's part of a larger package of transportation facilities that include two park-and-ride facilities along with redevelopment of two downtown transit centers.

VIA President and CEO Keith Parker said the agency will likely still use the $10 million for the CNG facility, but the vote Friday “gives us flexibility in the event we need to shift the money” to the short-term capital plan projects if their scopes need to change.

“Right now, it's our intent to keep it in the CNG project,” Parker said.

“It doesn't impact anyone else,” he added. “These are funds already assigned to VIA.”

Microbrewery would enliven Hays St. Bridge (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/news_columnists/brian_chasnoff/article/Microbrewery-would-enliven-Hays-St-Bridge-3656996.php)

Brian Chasnoff
Updated 12:06 a.m., Saturday, June 23, 2012

If you're looking for a fresh perspective on downtown San Antonio, I'd suggest a visit to the historic Hays Street Bridge, a high, broad walkway built more than a century ago on the near-East Side and renovated for nearly $4 million in 2010.

Seen from the bridge, the idiosyncratic skyline of the city spreads open to visitors in an up-close panorama of the Tower Life Building, Pearl Brewery and other beloved landmarks.

The view is there for those who come. On recent visits to the bridge, though, I saw just a few other people.

This raises a troubling question: If an inspiring view of downtown exists on the East Side and no one comes to see it, does anyone get inspired about downtown or the East Side?
Eugene Simor, founder of Alamo Beer Co., wants people to come to the bridge connecting downtown to the East Side.

More specifically, he wants them to come to his future microbrewery at a city-owned site beside the bridge, where a beer-garden restaurant would pick up the “prevailing breezes” as diners sit at tables on the bridge itself and enjoy the view.

Simor intends to spend more than $7 million to develop the site, which now sits vacant in a blighted zone of industrial warehouses. The restored bridge is already showing signs of wear, including graffiti and busted lights.

But he envisions more than a world-class brewery designed by premier architects.

He sees the historic bridge, with the aid of his private dollars and some reasonable public incentives, transformed into “an elevated linear park” that attracts tourists, residents and more jobs to a part of the city historically neglected by officials and residents alike.

He cites other breweries, in Brooklyn and Denver, as accomplishing the same aim.

Don't mistake discussion for being anti-downtown (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Don-t-mistake-discussion-for-being-anti-downtown-3656282.php)

Benjamin Olivo, Downtown Dipatches
Updated 11:58 p.m., Friday, June 22, 2012

It seems every time Councilwoman Elisa Chan questions an ordinance or plan having to do with downtown there's a collective rolling of the eyes.

You could sense it again in City Council chambers on Thursday when she made a motion to separate the new incentives policy for downtown housing and the broader plan that encompasses it into two votes.

The incentives policy passed with flying colors while the broader plan received nay votes from council members Chan, Reed Williams and Carlton Soules. The incentives policy probably would have passed as early as March, but Chan slammed on the brakes and insisted it better define the city's role in downtown development.

Did Chan deserve scrutiny then for a move that reeked of politics?

Probably.

At the time, the Wal-Mart/Phil Hardberger Park issue was at the apogee of its controversy.

Was Chan within reason for initiating the discussion?

Absolutely.

The result is a policy that removes cash grants from the city's tool belt, making it easier for any taxpayer to digest.

But there are other examples of council members questioning policy which could be mistaken as anti-downtown.

Take, for example, last week.

The day after the council was briefed on the revamped incentive policy it was presented with a $5 million package for a mixed-use development at Blue Star.

Soules asked whether developer NRP Group LLC had explored a HUD loan to close the economic gap that incentives address.

On the surface, Soules' inquiry could be viewed as purely argumentative.

But the last piece of the funding puzzle for Ed Cross' 1221 Broadway apartment project — no question the catalyst for all of the new apartments along inner Broadway — was a HUD loan.

U.S. 281, Loop 1604 expansion to get $100 million (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/U-S-281-to-get-100M-fast-lanes-3657013.php)

By Vianna Davila
Updated 12:37 a.m., Saturday, June 23, 2012

The board that controls the spending of a quarter-cent transportation sales tax approved the allocation of $100 million for expansion projects on Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 but with the condition that high-speed bus and carpool lanes be incorporated on the U.S. 281 portion.

Another provision of the resolution requires the Texas Department of Transportation — and not the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority — to build the nontoll expressways and the transit/carpool lanes, which could be open to other traffic only if the drivers pay a toll.

For TxDOT to build them, the Alamo RMA would have to relinquish its legal right to build, design, finance and operate any toll projects on Loop 1604 and U.S. 281.

The vote was taken at a special meeting of the Advanced Transportation District Board, which oversees the sales tax and whose members are also make up the board of VIA Metropolitan Transit.

The projects could be up and running by 2017.

While the ATD tax has been generating revenue since 2005, its board never has before involved itself so closely in a project of this magnitude.

The inclusion of the transit-priority lane in a highway project marks a first for the San Antonio region, a collaboration that VIA Board Chairman Henry Muñoz III called “monumental.”

“I think this positions San Antonio as a major player in the state of Texas because it's the first step toward integrating public transit and a highway system,” Muñoz said.

Friday's resolution also said the transit lanes would be operated by an agency that the ATD board approves.

Brewery on East Side close to a reality (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Brewery-on-East-Side-close-to-a-reality-3667933.php)


By Valentino Lucio
Updated 05:26 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The San Antonio Planning Commission approved a plan to allow for the sale of city-owned land for the construction of an Alamo Beer brewery on the near East Side.

Along with the approval for the land sale, the commission OKed the brewery's request to use land underneath the historic Hays Street Bridge as a park-like space with tables and seating. It also approved plans to construct a skywalk from the brewery that would connect to the nonhistoric part of the bridge and OKed the placement of tables and seating on the bridge.

The commission approved the matters 7 to 0 except for the issue concerning the tables on the bridge, which passed 5 to 2. The plan for the $5.7 million project will go before City Council in August.

District 2 Councilwoman Ivy Taylor, in whose district the brewery would be constructed, backs the brewery plan said that she's not aware of any opposition among her council colleagues. Historically, when the councilmember of the district for a new project backs the plans, the issue passes.

An aide for District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal also spoke in favor of the plan.

Before the vote, Bernal said in an interview that the East Side needs something that is a destination for the rest of the city.

“I would argue (South Alamo) is sort of like the poster child of original nonchain economic development in the urban core,” he said. “There's good stuff there. The key to their success is that those places — The Monterey, Feast, Rosario's, The Friendly Spot — they not only serve the immediate community, but they are destinations for the rest of the city. The East Side needs that to get it moving.”

Several community stakeholders spoke against of and in favor of the brewery. Dozens of opinions were shared followed by applause.

Update from article above ^^


Simor's plans for the initial phase of the brewery call for a 25,000-square-foot facility to brew his Alamo Golden Ale, which currently is brewed at Real Ale Brewing Co. in Blanco. After the brewery is built, Simor says that it will employ about 10 people but is expected to grow to about 40. Besides offering brewery tours, Simor would like to add a rooftop restaurant, in which legally he could not have an ownership interest since he would own the brewery. He has started talking with several local restaurants that are interested in the facility, which could employ more workers from the area, Simor said.

The brewery plan has already sparked other development interest in the area. Jacob Wittig owned a lot near the brewery site. He said the brewery plan inspired him to build a 100-unit, market-rate multifamily development, so he bought another lot. The project is still in the preliminary stages.

Skyonic to build CO2-capture plant in San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/06/26/skyonic-to-build-co2-capture-plant-in.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by James Aldridge, Web Editor
Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 4:50pm CDT

Skyonic Corp. has secured the initial $9 million of a $35 million Series C funding commitment to build the first carbon capture and utilization plant in the United States.

Skyonic, founded in 2005, has developed a patented process called SkyMine that converts carbon dioxide emissions into baking soda.

The plant will be built at Capitol Aggregates Inc.’s cement facility in San Antonio. Once completed in 2014, the facility will be able to capture 83,000 short tons of carbon dioxide as well as offset an additional 220,000 short tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Skyonic will remove the carbon dioxide emitted from the cement plant’s flue gas streams and recycle it into hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate and other byproducts.

Billionaire investor Carl Berg and San Antonio-based Zachry Corp., the owner of Capitol Aggregates, are existing investors in Skyonic. Northwater Capital Management, ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), BP (NYSE: BP) and PVS Chemicals are also participating in the Series C funding.

Skyonic founder and CEO Joe Jones estimates that it will take as much as $125 million to fund Skyonic from research stage to commercialization. Jones, the inventor of the SkyMine process, already conducted field trials at power plants throughout Texas before proceeding with the development of the San Antonio facility.

New high rise in the works?

Soledad Block Mixed Use (http://www.robertyakasdesign.com/san-antonio-mixed-use-high-rise.html)

29 Story
Mixed Use Building
on Riverwalk
San Antonio Texas

Hotel
Structured Parking
Apartments

http://www.robertyakasdesign.com/uploads/1/1/1/4/11147047/8974302_orig.jpg?391

http://www.robertyakasdesign.com/uploads/1/1/1/4/11147047/5487245_orig.jpg

Robert Yakas Design (http://www.robertyakasdesign.com)

1800 Broadway looking good

https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/309487_405870549459673_1396726069_n.jpg

https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/295194_405869989459729_784858737_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/pages/1800-Broadway/351049401608455

http://www.thericchi.com/img/gallery/real/img69.JPG

The Ricchi progress. http://www.thericchi.com/

Mayor and City Council evaluate Center City housing developments (http://www.tpr.org/news/2012/07/news12070305.html)

Ryan Loyd - Texas Public Radio


To get a good sense of the housing developments springing up all over town, San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will tour projects from Southtown all the way to Broadway. The city council is poised to redevelop the urban core with the addition of 7,500 housing units by the year 2020.

http://www.tpr.org/articles/2012/07/news-1800.jpg
Construction in mid-progress on the 1800 Broadway Urban Residences, part of the Broadway development that Mayor Castro and other city leaders will tour later this month. Photo: Ryan Loyd/TPR.

July 3, 2012 · Mayor Julián Castro says it’s the decade of downtown for San Antonio.

Another project to transform the city’s urban core is an aggressive campaign to build 7,500 new housing units in the downtown area. The Mayor and most of the city’s councilmembers support the arm of the city government called Center City that develops and redevelops areas in the urban core. In this case, Center City developed an incentives package and implementation plan to meet the Mayor’s lofty goal.

Downtown of the future

“Physically, the downtown that you are driving through or walking through today is not going to be the downtown of 2014, 2015, 2016, and so on. So this is a comprehensive look at how we can impact redevelopment in our urban core,” said Castro.

“By facilitating the access of the incentive programs by out-of-town developers, the city will be much more able to quickly accomplish its goal of 7,500 new residential units in the center city by 2020,” said Frank Russell, a developer with Austin-based AquaLand who is eager to get started.

Incentives

But District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan thinks cash rewards or other lucrative options should be reconsidered. Henry Rodriguez from the League of United Latin American Citizens agrees.

“Why should we give incentives such as SAWS fee waivers, loans, reimbursement of taxes, when in reality these developers, they know how to play the game,” said Rodriguez.

Chan successfully separated the plan into two votes: one on the incentives package, and the other on the implementation of the program. At the end, both parts ended up passing anyway. District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal says you can’t have one without the other.

“This is the plan," said Bernal. "There might be a piece of it you don’t like. But overall, it is the what and the how.”

If you build it, will they come?

This month, city leaders, including Mayor Castro, will board a bus to tour the properties popping up in the urban core. They want to see if what folks like Ben Brewer, the president of the Downtown Alliance, say is true: that developments have the power to create a demand for shops, office space and an increase in residents and visitors.

“Great cities have great downtowns," said Brewer, "and center city housing will lead the way in making our downtown great.”

District 10 Councilman Carlton Soules was one of three members opposing the Center City plan. Soules say supporting it could include support for other projects mentioned in the overall plan, like expansion of streetcars.

“I’m just not simply comfortable at this point going forward with an approval until we’ve had a little bit more time to discuss those items in depth,” said Soules.

Mayor Castro said any additional project would need its own discussion and vote for approval, but right now, housing is the Mayor’s number one priority.

THE URBAN 15 GROUP
MASTERPLAN / ADAPTIVE RE-USE


In the Southtown of San Antonio, Robey Architecture has designed the adaptive re-use of a 20,360 square foot church sanctuary and an adjacent classroom/dormitory building into an integrated 27,600 square foot multi-purpose performance theater. The adaptable multipurpose spatial planning correlates the multiple functions of the Urban 15 Performance Group; dancing, multimedia performances, rehearsal spaces, individual practice spaces, distance learning classrooms, dressing rooms, administrative offices, artist residences, costume and set design and creation areas, as well as unique gallery spaces. The existing formal brick buildings welcome the juxtaposition of a new modern and expressive architecture, reminiscent of the culture and art inherent in the Urban 15 Group.

http://www.robeyarchitecture.com/images/urban/5.jpg

http://www.robeyarchitecture.com/images/urban/8.jpg
Robey Architecture (http://www.robeyarchitecture.com/projects/urban15/)

The Convention Center expansion – hoping for the best (http://plazadearmastx.com/index.php/business/103-columns/2251-convention-center-expansion-hoping-for-the-best)

The last two major projects at the Convention Center turned into disasters and embarrassed City Hall – hopefully. With the City now set to start selecting a contractor for the latest one, here's hoping for the best.

Nine teams of construction and design firms – a small constellation of mostly A-list contractors, local, national, and international – answered the City's request for qualifications for the facility's next expansion, its fourth since it opened for HemisFair in 1968. The work, valued for now between $270 million and $300 million, is expected to juice San Antonio's convention trade and the Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue that goes with it, as well as the redevelopment of HemisFair Park.

The deadline for bid packages was Tuesday. The schedule now calls for vetting and short-listing this month and through August, followed by a City Council decision in September.

UTSA, VIA teaming up on downtown public transit art project (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/07/13/utsa-via-teaming-up-on-downtown.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by James Aldridge, Web Editor
Date: Friday, July 13, 2012, 2:39pm CDT

The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Architecture has secured a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to design a public art transit stop near the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

UTSA will work with the San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs and VIA Metropolitan Transit to complete the project. The NEA is furnishing $50,000 through its “Our Town” grant program, which supports partnerships between nonprofit groups and local government to create public and community art.

Local officials are in the process of redeveloping Municipal Auditorium into a world-class performing arts center. The Tobin Center, as it will be named, will open in ßthe fall of 2014. It will draw musicians, actors and artists from around the world to San Antonio.
The public art project is intended to complement the Tobin Center.

Beginning this fall, the architecture college, the city and VIA’s Planning/Urban Design Office will host a series of public discussions to craft design concepts for the public art transit stop. Prominent local and national artists, architects and designers will be invited to help shape the design process and provide public art and expertise. UTSA architecture students will assist throughout the process by providing two- and three-dimensional renderings and models.

I wonder if this has to do with that high rise a few posts above.

S.A. developer eyes projects in downtown (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/S-A-developer-eyes-projects-in-downtown-3717741.php)

By Valentino Lucio and Benjamin Olivo
Published 06:26 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2012

With the historic St. Anthony Hotel already on its books, San Antonio-based BC Lynd Co. now has its eyes on another site downtown.

The development firm currently is under contract for four parcels along Soledad and E. Houston streets, which include the historic Book Building and the former Solo Serve location.

Although BC Lynd has been in negotiations with the property owner, Austin-based Service Lloyds Insurance Co., for months, Brandon Raney, CEO of BC Lynd, the firm's hospitality arm, said that the deal is in its infancy and there isn't a specific plan of what they'd like to develop there.

“We're working with a group on that, and it is extremely early, meaning that we're only doing physical due diligence at the site and don't really have, yet, programmed if and what we're going to do there,” Raney said.

The parcels make up about 1.3 acres and are appraised for a total of nearly $6.9 million, according to the Bexar Appraisal District.

The move signals a shift for the company as it starts to focus its attention on downtown San Antonio.

It has shied away from building in downtown San Antonio mainly because the economics aren't right in the city's core, Raney said. Market rents in San Antonio don't compare to what the company could get in places such as Austin or Chicago, he said.

“Right now you look across the city, and rents ... in San Antonio don't compare to other Texas cities or other cities in the United States.”

But the city's recent push for more downtown living, plus the renewed interest in the area thanks to development along the North and South stretches of the San Antonio River made BC Lynd start to look at investing in downtown San Antonio more seriously.

It helped, too, that City Council approved a revamped incentive policy for multifamily projects. Raney said the adoption of the incentive package was a smart move and added that the firm will look to see how it could benefit any plans they might have at the downtown site.

Because more developments in the downtown area are starting to come online, the firm is bullish on the city center.

“We're betting on San Antonio,” said Clyde Johnson IV, chief investment officer for BC Lynd.

To expedite development in that area, the city has partnered with several of the land owners on that block to conduct a $45,000 feasibility study, said Mark Brodeur, director of the Center City Development Office. The landowners pitched in $30,000 and the city picked up the remainder, he added.

“I identified two or three key blocks of the downtown that I thought were particularly unattractive. Soledad, between Houston and Commerce, adjacent to the river, was one of them,” he said. “I then wanted to develop what I wanted to call a development capacity study that looks at all of the development regulations that apply to that particular block and gives me an idea of whether I can build a two-story building, or a four-story building, or a 40-story skyscraper.”

The study's goal is to re-establish a pedestrian atmosphere along the River Walk, improve the appearance of the properties on the block and improve the streetscape. The study is about 80 percent complete and is expected to be done in the next 30 to 45 days, he said.

“The preference is for multifamily residential, possibly a hotel with restaurants and retail on the first floor. The other priority, too, is office,” said Brodeur.

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/14/17/76/3211187/4/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Developer-adding-properties-3717741.php#photo-3211187

The Lone Star District's industrial heritage (http://plazadearmastx.com/index.php/business/103-columns/2279-arts-entertainment-housing-and-maybe-jobs-for-the-lone-star-district)

It’s had several names – SoFlo, Lone Star, Roosevelt Park, St. Henry’s. But a new designation emerged during the kickoff meeting for a development plan for the area just south of downtown: the Industrial Heritage District. Others have called it Near River South, complementing the previously completed River North plan. Industrial Heritage is typically used to describe a city’s abandoned manufacturing plants and warehouses, so the description of the neighborhoods between downtown and the old Lone Star brewery fits to a tee. But driving its streets, you can see a transformation taking place.

River North was a plan looking for development, but the newly dubbed Lone Star Community Plan is development looking for a plan. New housing and businesses are cropping up throughout the district, which is bounded by IH-10 to the south, IH-35 to the west, IH-37 to the east, and Cesar Chavez and the San Antonio River to the north. Within its boundaries you’ll find the Blue Star Arts Complex, Pioneer Flour Mills, and several abandoned sites, including the brewery, Big Tex, and a decommissioned CPS power plant.

1800 Broadway construction with some Mosaic and Pearl

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/531207_414663175247077_448367854_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/217955_414663258580402_1833610367_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/pages/1800-Broadway/351049401608455

Downtown living tour (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/clockingin/2012/07/downtown-living-tour/)

Posted on 07/24/2012 by vlucio

During a short bus ride Tuesday, city officials gave a media tour of 10 downtown projects that it has granted incentives for since the adoption of the Inner City Reinvestment Infill Policy.

Mayor Julian Castro addressed the media as the tour kicked off at the Cevallos Lofts, a 250-unit, mixed-use development near the start of the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River. Castro reiterated the strategy for housing first in the core, mentioning the goal to create 7,500 residential units downtown by 2020. Along with several residential units coming online, the mayor also pointed to the other projects expected to change the downtown landscape such as the Mission Reach expansion, the Tobin Center renovation, the convention center expansion and the HemisFair redevelopment.

Here’s a quick run down of each of the projects on the tour:

- Cevallos Lofts: 301 E. Cevallos, 252 units, 98 percent occupied, opened January 2012

- Blue Star Phase II: 500 block of Blue Star, 320 units, expected to open Fall 2014

- Steel House Lofts: 1401 S. Flores, 69 units, 33 percent pre-leased, expected to open Fall 2012

- The Viceroy: 1010-1012 S. Flores, 56 units, expected to open in October

- 1221 Broadway: 99 percent occupied, 309 units, 39 units under construction

- River North Multifamily: Avenue E and 13th Street, 256 units, expected to open sprint 2015

- Brackenridge Hill: E. Mulberry and Brackenridge Avenue, 280 units, expected to open fall 2013

- 1800 Broadway: 221 units, expected to open in December

- The Mosaic: 1915 Broadway, 120 units, expected to open March 2013

- Can Plant: 503 Avenue A, 293 units, phase 1 opened in July, Phase 2 and 3 expected to open in the fall, 22 percent pre-leased, 25,000 square feet of retail space

That is a nice aerial shot of downtown in the 1st Broadway construction pic. :okay:

With all the latest news of residential developments taking place downtown, does H-E-B still have plans for building their downtown store, or has that been shelved?

Tower crane above the new Tobin center of the performing arts, you see the second crane base by the white truck.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/403860_461846773825719_1810649430_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/s720x720/206120_460787710598292_1289072902_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.434830563194007.118041.143761728967560&type=3

With all the latest news of residential developments taking place downtown, does H-E-B still have plans for building their downtown store, or has that been shelved?

If HEB is planning something at this very moment, I'm not sure. I think that the plans are on hold but there has always been talk with the mayor and developers about bringing one downtown. I personally don't think we'll see one very soon unless a huge major development comes out in the near future. HEB doesn't think it's feasible to build downtown at the moment and seems to believe the only way it can build a grocery store is if it's huge like the ones in the suburbs. I guess it doesn't register to them that they could try to go smaller, but with the type of stores they've been building lately, I doubt anything but huge is on their radar. That's why I am for smaller grocers to come into the area, like a Trader Joe's in Southtown or Sprouts in River North or near Pearl.

I do think it will be inevitable for something to happen though. With all the development planned and under construction in and near downtown, it would be hard to ignore.

This slide show has a few up-close construction pics.

Downtown living (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/slideshow/Downtown-living-46499.php#photo-3236868)

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/14/26/20/3236871/3/628x471.jpg
Construction continues as part of the Can Plant Residences at Pearl project Tuesday July 24, 2012 as part of the Center City Housing Media Tour. Since the adoption of the Inner City Reinvestment Infill Council Policy, City Council has assisted in the creation of 2,463 housing units that represent a total investment of $349.8 million. City Council has authorized incentive packages for 11 housing projects costing $34.7 million. The tour included Blue Star Phase II, Steelhouse Lofts, The 1010, River North Multifamily, 1221 Broadway, Residences at Brackenridge Hill, 1800 Broadway, and The Mosaic. (Julysa Sosa / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) / SA

San Antonio, Texas, Solar Power Consortium Plans $1 Billion Investment To Create Electric Power (http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/7-25-2012/san-antonio-solar-power-consortium-1b-investment-2626711.shtml)

Area Development Online News Desk (07/25/2012)

CPS Energy, OCI Solar Power and Nexolon North America formed a consortium that will invest $1 billion to develop and operate the largest municipal utility solar project in the country, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The venture plans to bring several manufacturing facilities together to produce solar panel components and create 800 professional and technical jobs.

CPS Energy is the nation's largest municipally owned natural gas and electric utility, providing service the Greater San Antonio area. OCI Solar Power is a solar power industry firm. OCI Solar Power created the consortium to deliver 400 MW of solar to CPS Energy throughout the 25-year life of an agreement. The consortium will build facilities in San Antonio to produce components for solar power generation, including modules, trackers and inverters used to supply the North American market.

San Antonio-based Nexolon America, a manufacturer of components used in solar panels, whose parent company is based in South Korea, will invest $100 million to build a high-tech manufacturing facility and create over 400 jobs. All combined, the consortium estimates its project will create more than 800 long-term jobs. "Nexolon is looking forward to becoming a leader in solar power manufacturing in the U.S. and we're excited that our expansion into North America is taking place in one of the most historic cities in America. We expect to contribute greatly to San Antonio's New Energy Economy," said Nexolon Board Chair and Chief Strategy Officer Woo-Jeong Lee.

Downtown office vacancies to rise (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Downtown-office-vacancies-to-rise-3735496.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Published 06:26 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Two years into the decade of downtown, and residents are leasing up space faster than apartments come online. But those residents are probably still commuting to their jobs.
Despite a growing supply of vacant office space in the core, not enough companies are ready to make the move downtown.

The vacancy rate for office space downtown is expected to jump to about 34 percent for the second quarter, a rate that the central business district hasn't seen since the early 1990s, said Kim Gatley, a vice president for NAI REOC San Antonio. That number reflects a rise of about 8 percentage points compared to the vacancy rate during the first quarter of this year, according to NAI REOC figures.

The increase is due mostly to more than 400,000 square feet of space hitting the market from AT&T vacating an office building at 500 and 530 McCullough Ave., Gatley added.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the creation of residential units in an area will push up demand for office space, Gatley said. But the sector is seeing its share of hurdles and recovery is slow moving despite downtown residential growth. The urban core is poised to have nearly 2,500 more residential units expected to come online by 2014, according to the city's Center City Development Office.

But the sentiment among some commercial real estate agents is that aside from the numbers, things are looking up downtown.

“There's just more interest in the downtown area as a whole,” said Terri Rubiola, vice president at DH Realty Partners. Deals for downtown office space are up this year, but most leases and sales that Rubiola said the company has inked are for smaller, boutique office spaces, which include about 1,200 square feet at 526 Nueva Street and 3,500 square feet at 2515 Broadway.

Despite the numbers saying otherwise, Cross is confident that the vacancy figures won't stay high for long. He added that office space could be occupied quicker than residential space because it takes several months for apartment projects to be built.

“You may start to see the office stuff move faster.”

Good news for the area.

Pearl momentum is spilling over to Broadway corridor (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/07/27/pearl-momentum-is-spilling-over-to.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by W. Scott Bailey, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, July 27, 2012, 5:00am CDT

http://assets.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/01-Can-Plant.jpg?v=1
Silver Ventures Inc. is developing nearly 300 new residential units at Pearl and has begun preliminary work on plans for as many as 150 more units. Erik Reyna / San Antonio Business Journal

Silver Ventures Inc., which is redeveloping the former Pearl Brewery site, has yet to complete work on a new complex that will house nearly 300 residential units and more than 25,000 square feet of retail space.

However, the company has already begun preliminary work on plans for an additional project that could bring another 150 residential spaces to Pearl, and it controls a number of nearby parcels of real estate where hundreds more units could be developed.

The momentum that Pearl is generating could have far-reaching effects. San Antonio leaders say it is already inspiring additional interest and investment elsewhere ...

A month old, but gives a good idea of what they expect to do.

San Antonio Convention Center Set to Expand (http://meetingsnet.com/destinations/southwest/sa_antonio_cc_0627/)

Jun 27, 2012 12:40 PM

San Antonio city officials are moving forward with a $325 million expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Under the plan, the newer part of the convention center, built a little more than a decade ago, will expand eastward to create more modern space and increase the amount of prime, contiguous exhibit space to over 500,000 square feet. Also, a 50,000 square foot ballroom will be added, the largest in Texas.

"San Antonio's city leadership understands the value and supports the meetings and convention industry and they're paving the way for future growth opportunity with this expansion," says Casandra Matej, executive director of the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This expansion is going to open doors for us in terms of luring new business to San Antonio,” she adds. It will enable the destination to host larger and more concurrent conventions. Currently the center has 440,000 square feet of exhibit space and 192,000 square feet of meeting space.

City officials plan to issue requests for qualifications to potential design/build teams for the proposed convention center expansion in late June/early July. Bonds will be issued later this summer. Construction will begin in late 2013 and be completed in the summer of 2016. The HBGCC will remain in full operation throughout the duration of the expansion construction period.

The oldest portion of the convention center located on the west side of the complex will be demolished to pave the way for a new twelve-acre redevelopment of HemisFair Park. This new development will create a mixed-use urban park that will provide a great new amenity for convention visitors and locals to enjoy

Mexico chain chooses S.A. for café, U.S. headquarters (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Mexico-chain-chooses-S-A-for-caf-U-S-3741844.php)

By David Hendricks
Updated 08:08 p.m., Friday, July 27, 2012

A large Mexican café chain, Café Punta del Cielo, has selected San Antonio for its first U.S. franchise, its U.S. headquarters and its jumping-off point for U.S. expansion.

The city has made recruiting more Mexican companies, especially eateries, a goal.

Café Punta del Cielo opened its café two weeks ago downtown near the River Walk at 140 E. Houston St.

That it would set up shop in San Antonio someday was a good bet. Many of the Mexicans who have moved to San Antonio in recent years are familiar with the chain.

The company, after all, operates 184 cafés in 27 Mexican cities, along with others in Madrid and Hong Kong.

But San Antonio also can thank its hordes of tourists and conventioneers as a critical reason for being selected as the chain's U.S. base.

Café Punta del Cielo wants to spread across the United States, so San Antonio was judged the best city in which to start word-of-mouth marketing.

“Tourism is a big issue,” said the chain's main owner, Pablo González Cid, who divides his time between San Antonio and Mexico City, where the company was founded in 2004.

“Downtown San Antonio is always visited by tourists. They can be ambassadors of our concept and our brand” when they go home, González Cid said.

Attracting Mexican-based dining companies to invest in San Antonio is a City Hall goal.
Last August, Mayor Julián Castro was the host to a luncheon in a swank private dining club near Mexico City's Zócalo.

About a dozen Mexico City restaurateurs attended to hear from San Antonio restaurant operators, including La Gloria's Johnny Hernandez and Los Barrios restaurant chain's Louis Barrios.

More may be coming, said Raul Rodriguez, foreign direct investment specialist at the Free Trade Alliance.

Expected to start soon

Tobin Lofts at San Antonio College (http://www.alamo.edu/sac/Tobin-Lofts/)

Tobin Lofts at San Antonio College is a public-private partnership. The complex will include student housing, apartments, a 1000 space parking garage, and retail space along Main Avenue. Student housing will be available for the fall semester 2013.

http://www.alamo.edu/uploadedImages/SAC/Business_and_Community/Tobin_Lofts_at_San_Antonio_College/images/Tobin-Hill-Full-View-web.jpg

http://www.alamo.edu/uploadedImages/SAC/Business_and_Community/Tobin_Lofts_at_San_Antonio_College/images/Tobin-Hill-N-Main-From-Crockett-Park-web.jpg

Under Construction

Challenger Learning Center at the Scobee Planetarium (http://www.alamo.edu/sac/challenger/)

Renovation of the Scobee Planetarium and the Construction of the Challenger Learning Center at San Antonio College will begin in April, 2012 with a completion date in fall, 2013.

http://www.alamo.edu/uploadedImages/SAC/Business_and_Community/Challenger-Planetarium/images/sac-observatory-1-draft-SAC-logo-web.jpg

http://www.alamo.edu/uploadedImages/SAC/Business_and_Community/Challenger-Planetarium/images/SAC-Observatory-Option-1-web.jpg

E. Side brewery is a go (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/E-Side-brewery-is-a-go-3758240.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Published 05:54 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2012

San Antonio is picking up part of the tab for beer on the East Side.

The City Council unanimously approved a measure Thursday to allow Alamo Beer Co. to build a microbrewery next to the historic Hays Street Bridge.

After 14 months of community meetings concerning the issue, City Council approved a nearly $800,000 incentive package and the sale of about 1.7 acres of city-owned land for the construction of the $8 million, 25,000-square-foot brewery that would include retail space for a restaurant. The land at 803 Cherry St. will be sold for $295,000.

The measure allows the brewery to use land under the bridge, use of an area on the bridge for chairs and tables and to construct a skywalk that would connect the brewery to the bridge. Those spaces will be leased to Simor for free for 10 years, said Lori Houston, assistant director of the city's Center City Development Office.

The three-story facility, which San Antonio-based Lake|Flato Architects is designing, will showcase a 60-barrel brew house, packaging line, tasting room, event space, offices and residential spaces for visiting brewers. There are plans to develop park space and a beer garden underneath the bridge.

On the third floor, Simor will lease space for a gastropub restaurant. By law, Simor would not be able to have an ownership stake in the restaurant and beer garden, but he can sell his beer there. After seven years, the brewery is expected to employ about 30 people, Simor said. The hourly jobs are expected to pay at last $13 an hour and the salaried jobs will start at $40,000.

Already the area near the bridge is seeing investment inspired by the brewery plans. BoneShakers bar recently moved from the South Side to a building on the west side of Hays Street Bridge along Austin Street. Also, another developer is looking to build a 100-unit multifamily project in the immediate area near the bridge.

More on that River North multifamily project next to 1221 Broadway.

More apartments are slated for San Antonio downtown (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/08/03/more-apartments-are-slated-for-san.html)

250-unit complex planned near art museum
San Antonio Business Journal by W. Scott Bailey, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, August 3, 2012, 5:00am CDT

San Antonio’s plan to offer more financial incentives to spur the development of urban housing is attracting new investors.

The latest is A.A. Seeligson Jr. River North Ltd., a partnership including San Antonio’s Hixon Properties, which has acquired prime real estate across from the San Antonio Museum of Art and plans to transform the site into a new riverfront residential complex.

“This will be the first housing development along the Museum Reach, and the first project within the River North Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone,” says Deputy City Manager Pat DiGiovanni. “So we think this is a very important development.”

They still need a grocery store downtown. The Central Market by Incarnate Word is too small too support so many people.

They still need a grocery store downtown. The Central Market by Incarnate Word is too small too support so many people.

Seems like every city has the same problem. City Target would be a nice start if SA can land one.

^^ Took the words out of my mouth! :banana:

When I first heard about City Target I thought it'd be perfect downtown if it was part of a development.

I think it would be great if they remodeled Central Market into something like Whole Foods Market in downtown Austin.

It'd be nice to see an underground parking garage so the remaining space on top could be used for college students and others to eat their food.

River North Multifamily Development on the agenda
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7756850362_fb216604ae_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7756848938_b3059ca1b8_c.jpg
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_10_219_Avenue_A_River_North_Apartments.pdf

I think it would be great if they remodeled Central Market into something like Whole Foods Market in downtown Austin.

It'd be nice to see an underground parking garage so the remaining space on top could be used for college students and others to eat their food.

Welcome cbm4090!

Pearl Hotel on agenda as well
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e312/paul_heaston/pearl02.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e312/paul_heaston/pearl04.jpg
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_8_312_Pearl_Pkwy_Pearl_Hotel.pdf

La Cantera to gain new upscale apartment community (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/08/13/la-cantera-to-gain-new-upscale.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by James Aldridge, Web Editor
Date: Monday, August 13, 2012, 5:13pm CDT

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/t/polxr.jpg
A rendering of The Residences of La Cantera, a new Class A apartment community in Northwest San Antonio.

USAA Real Estate Co. and Cambridge Development Group are set to break ground on The Residences at La Cantera, a new Class A apartment complex that will feature 4,000 square feet of retail space.

The new 323-unit complex will be built on five acres of land next to the newest phase of The Shops at La Cantera. This will be the third development pursued jointly by San Antonio-based USAA and Houston-based Cambridge. The Residences will have a range of floor plans from studio apartments to three bedrooms.

The Residences at La Cantera is the first phase of the Town Center at La Cantera mixed-use development. Future phases will include hotel, office, retail and additional multi-family space.

Alamo needs a building as good as the beer (http://plazadearmastx.com/index.php/culture/106-columns/2318-a-building-thats-as-good-as-the-beer)

http://plazadearmastx.com/images/stories/alamobrewery5.jpg
Aerial view facing northeast. Design development by Lake Flato. Image courtesy Alamo Beer

Despite a relatively strong local economy, it’s not every day that we see the announcement of a major new construction project in our city. Certain projects get more attention than others, of course, and such is the case with the Alamo Beer brewery project on the east side of downtown, which was approved by City Council August 2.

The City-supported, $8-million microbrewery project is very significant for San Antonio, in part because of the considerable amount of public attention the project has garnered: years of proposals and debate, some of it contentious, drawing many opponents. Under such circumstances, pressure for success at many levels is heightened. Only time will tell if the project will measure up to its critics’ concerns.

More on La Cantera development

The downtown of the Hill Country: La Cantera (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/The-downtown-of-the-Hill-Country-La-Cantera-3788124.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 5:52 p.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2012

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/14/54/53/3328706/4/628x471.jpg
Construction has started on The Residences at La Cantera, a mixed-use development near the Shops at La Cantera that will incorporate 323 apartments and more than 4,000 square feet of retail space. Future phases will include a hotel, office and retail space and additional multi-family units. USAA Real Estate Co.


In the coming years, the area around The Shops at La Cantera will become more than just a destination for shopping and dining.

USAA Real Estate Co. and Houston-based Cambridge Development Group have started construction on The Residences at La Cantera, a high-end mixed-use project that will incorporate 323 apartments and more than 4,000 square feet of retail space, said Bruce Petersen, executive managing director of real estate investments for USAA Real Estate Co.

The project is the initial phase of Town Center at La Cantera, a multiple-phase project on about 150 acres that will include a hotel, office and retail space and additional multifamily units. The Residences will be located on a 5-acre swath of land east of the shopping center 6215 Via La Cantera.

“We're convinced that this type of location will have tremendous appeal for not only San Antonians but Mexican nationals,” Petersen said.

The project cost for The Residences will be close to $50 million and the development is expected to be complete by spring 2014, Petersen said.

There wasn't a timetable for the start of the project's other phases.

Although that section of the city is best navigated by car, the property will favor a more walkable environment, with direct access to the shopping center. Town Center also will have a 3-acre park that will connect to the Leon Creek hike and bike trails, Petersen said.

Short-listed: Convention Center bidders (http://plazadearmastx.com/index.php/chisme/121-chisme/2322-short-listed-convention-center-bidders)

The City has sliced the list of bidders for the high-profile, high-dollar expansion of the Convention Center by a little more than half, according to sources close to the vetting process. Four entities out of nine, vying for a project valued between $270 million and $300 million, will head into interviews Friday and Monday with COSA officials. The City Council is expected to pick the winner in September – talk about fast-tracking.

Here's the short list, in no particular order:

A joint venture between locally based Zachry Construction Corp. and Hunt Construction Group (Dallas)

New York-based Turner Construction Co.

A joint venture between Guido Brothers Construction (San Antonio), Sundt Construction (Arizona) and Tishman Construction (New York)

Colorado-based Hensel Phelps Construction

Broadway changes take area in a new direction (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Broadway-changes-take-area-in-a-new-direction-3791550.php#photo-3333311)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 1:02 a.m., Thursday, August 16, 2012

http://s12.postimage.org/7v5o401zx/628x472.jpg
The Casa Blanca Lofts are a 17-unit condo project that will be constructed near the Pearl Brewery. The project's developer says that the area's growth encouraged him to invest in properties there.
Photo: Uptown Interests Inc. / SA

http://s16.postimage.org/6uk6gbogl/628x471.jpg
Construction near the intersection of East Grayson Street and Broadway in San Antonio Texas on Wednesday, August 15, 2012.
Photo: Kevin Martin, San Antonio Express-News / © 2012 San Antonio Express-News


From Rudy Ramirez's nearly 100-year-old bungalow along North Alamo Street, the sights and sounds of investment along Broadway near the Pearl Brewery are unavoidable.

From his front porch, he can see the 1800 Broadway luxury development take shape. He's accustomed to the sounds of banging hammers and grinding machinery that have become background noise.

“I see the development, and I think it's great,” he said. “It'll probably help the value of this property.”

Just east of the vibrancy at the Pearl and along Broadway are several blocks of rundown homes, boarded-up shacks and vacant storefronts. But community stakeholders say the blighted fringes of Government Hill are about to give way to a redefined neighborhood — one that they've been waiting for a long time.

The city's push to redevelop downtown and its aggressive incentive packages have lured a slew of investors near the city center. In the Broadway corridor, the city has doled out more than $20 million in incentives to developers, who are investing more than $200 million there.

It's estimated that the area could see about 1,200 new residential units within the next few years.

As those projects begin to take shape, so too, does the neighborhood.

A few blocks south along North Alamo Street, longtime San Antonian Mitch McManus is developing the Casa Blanca Lofts, a low-density condominium project that is expected to come online late next year.

Wow, San Anton has some serious growth in the works! I love it!

A&M-S.A. has plans to blossom

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/14/60/77/3346398/3/628x471.jpg

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/14/60/77/3346399/3/628x471.jpg

By Jennifer R. Lloyd Updated 11:27 a.m., Sunday, August 19, 2012

In the only building on campus, the president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio looks out her window at rolling brush land and sees the future — a mushrooming complex of academic buildings, housing and everything else needed by a student population that could top 25,000 in the next 20 years.

The growth has already started and could help reshape the city's less affluent South Side, boosting its low educational attainment and drawing new residents and businesses.

This month, Texas A&M University System regents approved $75 million for two more buildings, including a massive future campus centerpiece, both critical to the university's freshly inked development plan.

“When we did the groundbreaking for the road ... in my mind, I was trying to be inspired by standing there, but I was having a hard time,” said President Maria Hernandez Ferrier.

“Today, I can look at our development plan and it's real,” she said, shaking her fists triumphantly in the air.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/New-school-with-big-goals-3798420.php#ixzz2417OAz8Q

Man found dead in Pearl Brewery smokestack

By Eva Ruth Moravec Published 6:23 p.m., Tuesday, August 21, 2012

San Antonio police are investigating the death of a man, believed to be a construction worker, who was found at the bottom of a smokestack at the Pearl Brewery on Tuesday afternoon.

Just before 1 p.m., officers were called to the 300 block of Pearl Parkway, where workers reported smelling a foul odor.

Inside the brewery's iconic smokestack, police found the body of a man who had apparently been dead for several days, said Sgt. Javier Salazar.

“There's no telling how long he was in there,” Salazar said. “Apparently the family hadn't seen the guy for several days.”

Police believe the man had been working on a construction project at the Pearl Brewery in a building adjacent to the smokestack. He apparently was inside of a covered walkway that connects to the smokestack when he fell to the bottom from a height of about 20 feet, Salazar said.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Man-found-dead-in-Pearl-Brewery-smokestack-3805141.php

^^More on the man http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Roofer-s-family-still-has-questions-about-Pearl-3815429.php#photo-3358477



East Quincy Townhomes is slated for downtown San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/08/24/east-quincy-townhomes-is-slated-for.html)

25-unit complex planned for Museum Reach area
San Antonio Business Journal by Tricia Lynn Silva, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, August 24, 2012, 5:00am CDT

The city’s plan to create a vibrant center-city residential community continues to bear fruit. One of the latest entries, the East Quincy Townhomes on the River, is a project slated for development by local real-estate industry veterans Frank Pakuszewski and Steve Yndo.

East Quincy joins a growing list of downtown residential projects on the drawing board or about to be unveiled — many of which have been spurred on by financial incentives from the city in an effort to attract investment dollars to downtown.

Pakuszewski and Yndo’s East Quincy project, however, is offering something different than the apartment-living lifestyle most ...

Curtain rises on Alameda Theater campaign (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Curtain-rises-on-theater-campaign-3805599.php)

By Elda Silva
Updated 12:37 p.m., Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The nonprofit overseeing the renovation, restoration and expansion of the Alameda Theater is slated to announce a $14.3 million capital campaign at a news conference today.

Renovations of the city-owned theater are scheduled to be finished in 2014, and the historic venue on Houston Street will reopen as a Latino performing arts and film center early the following year.

“I'll be fine if it takes us to 2015 to get (renovations) done, but I'm kind of in a hurry,” said Ernest Bromley, CEO of Bromley Communications and chairman of the nonprofit arm of the theater.

Estimates put the project, which includes the construction of a new 51-foot trap stage and production house, at about $21.4 million.

The Alameda Theater nonprofit has $7.1 million in place, including $6 million in visitors tax money approved by Bexar County voters in 2008 and $1.1 million in certificates of obligation issued by the city.

Under the county's terms, the project must be “in full construction” by Oct. 1 for the theater to retain the funding, Bromley said.

Mayor Julián Castro will be among the speakers at today's event.

“I'm excited that there are plans to restore the Alameda Theatre to its former grace,” Castro said. “The project fits our vision to create a vibrant, 24-7 urban core where the arts thrive and serve as an attraction to local residents and visitors.”

New Tobin Hill Lofts rendering

http://s18.postimage.org/r7zezlz7t/Tobin1_north.jpg
http://www.alamo.edu/sac/Tobin-Lofts/

Pearl Can Plant Apartments video

47601802

1800 Broadway update

http://s7.postimage.org/oef0do32z/561621_426792670700794_1056611904_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/pages/1800-Broadway/351049401608455

City enticing Sigma to move (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/City-enticing-Sigma-to-move-3828882.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 8:17 p.m., Thursday, August 30, 2012

San Antonio-based Sigma Solutions Inc. is close to a deal to relocate its headquarters to the city's core.

City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that awarded Sigma Solutions a $500,000 economic development grant to move downtown. The incentive comes as the city works to reinvigorate the urban core by getting more companies to locate in the area.

Sigma Solutions is under contract to lease space at the former Broadway Bank building at 425 Soledad St., said John Flores, vice president of marketing and business development for the company. It's not certain when the deal will close, but Flores added that as soon as it does, the company would begin the move.

Per the ordinance, the funding will be disbursed over a three-year period. Sigma Solutions is required to lease the property for at least 10 years and to hire an additional 20 employees over the three-year period. Flores expects that the company will fulfill its employment commitment even before making the move, growing from about 40 workers currently to 60.

Sigma Solutions is moving because it has outgrown the space near the airport that it has occupied since the early 1980s. It won't lease the entire 70,000-square-foot space but will move into three floors there, he added.

Plus the company wanted to be a part of the urban revitalization occurring downtown, Flores said.

“It's an opportunity to reinvigorate the whole downtown area, especially around technology.”

When it comes to downtown, there's a deliberate push to bring technology companies to the area, said David Barnett, a strategist at the consulting firm The Simon Group. Already there are various startup companies with offices at the Weston Centre's Geekdom, a collaborative workspace for tech-centric businesses. Other tech companies located in the downtown area include Web and mobile application development firm Sweb Development and the colocation and data center CityNAP.

$100 million Monterrey Village development planned for West San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/08/31/100-million-monterrey-village.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by Tricia Lynn Silva, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, August 31, 2012, 5:00am CDT

Dallas-based private-equity firm Stratford Land is helping to jump start a long-dormant project on the city’s far West Side.

The company is providing a $14 million non-recourse loan to master developer Carlton Holdings that will be used to refinance and reposition its Monterrey Village project — a mixed-use development spanning 182 acres along Loop 410 and State Highway 151.

At build-out, Monterrey Village could boast as much as 500,000 square feet of office space, 600 apartment units, 240 hotel rooms, and anywhere from 10 to 12 acres of retail space and restaurants, according to Walt Busby, president of San Antonio-based ...

Single-family townhomes being built near Pearl (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/For-sale-townhomes-planned-near-Pearl-3842760.php#photo-3412329)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 8:14 p.m., Wednesday, September 5, 2012

http://s11.postimage.org/sf52wy1fn/628x471.jpg
The East Quincy Townhomes are a 25-unit project that will offer 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom homes for sale. The project is south of the Pearl Brewery near the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River. / SA

Rental units around the Pearl Brewery are easy to spot. But people looking to buy something new in the area haven't had any options.

To combat the issue, plans are under way for the East Quincy Townhomes, a 25-unit project just south of the Pearl campus.

“The rental market in that area, at least for now, is pretty well taken care of,” said Steve Yndo, a general partner for the project and real estate broker with King William Realty, the listing agent for the development. “There's enough on the plate right now from a rental standpoint. So the for-sale market was the only thing that has been kind of overlooked so far.”

The nearly 1-acre site at East Quincy Street and Newell Avenue is still under contract, but the deal is expected to close later this year, said Frank Pakuszewski, principal at 1836 Asset Development and a general partner for the development. An automotive paint and body shop currently operates there and the building will have to be demolished before construction can begin. Plus the property will have to be platted so that each townhome sits on its own lot, he added.

Construction is set to begin early next year with completion expected around fall 2013. Although the deal for the property has yet to be signed, there have already been five reservations for units, Pakuszewski added.

Transportation study ready for public consumption (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/09/transportation-study-ready-for-public-consumption/)

Posted on 09/05/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/09/transpo1-600x398.jpg
A roundabout is being considered for the intersection of San Pedro, Main, Navarro and Soledad.

This is the one commissioned by the city and conducted by Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc.

It lists short- and long-term goals, some of which are covered by $40 million from the 2012-2017 bond package allocated for downtown street improvements:

• Market Street realignment, between Bowie Street to I-37
• Frio Street, from Chávez Boulevard to Houston Street
• Commerce Street, between Santa Rosa Avenue to St. Mary’s Street
• Main Avenue & Soledad, from Commerce to Martin streets
• San Pedro, Main, Navarro, and Soledad intersection

For example, Main Avenue and Soledad Street, the study says, no longer push the massive amounts of traffic like they used to. So there is room for some of those lanes to be turned into bike lanes and reverse-angle, parallel parking, and even wider sidewalks.

More on this study soon; stayed tuned.

— Benjamin Olivo

Single-family townhomes being built near Pearl (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/For-sale-townhomes-planned-near-Pearl-3842760.php#photo-3412329)

That looks so nice! I'm jelly! ;)

^^ I was really impressed by it too.

Tobin Lofts project expected to boost San Antonio College neighborhood (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/09/07/tobin-lofts-project-expected-to-boost.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by Tricia Lynn Silva, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, September 7, 2012, 5:00am CDT

The dirt is turning on a new project designed to bring some housing options and other services to the center city.

At build-out, the community, known as Tobin Lofts, will feature 14,000 square feet of retail space, 225 student-housing units and approximately 961 parking spaces.

Tobin Lofts will be located on a 6.3-acre tract at 1415 Main Avenue, just north of downtown, says Daniel B. Markson, senior vice president of development for NRP Group LLC. NRP is being joined on the project by what Markson calls a “steller development team” that includes student housing operator Campus Advantage Inc., Alamo Architects ...

Update

Recap (Thought I'd put things together for confirmed residential projects.)

Proposed/Under Construction in and around downtown

River North/Pearl area

Pearl Brewery Can Plant Apartments - 312 units
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/10/56/74/2289452/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Apartment-construction-boom-under-way-in-San-3157985.php

1800 Broadway - 230 units
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/04/05/1851735/5/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/A-new-luxe-development-near-the-Pearl-2338679.php#photo-1851735

The Mosaic - 120 units
http://www.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mosaic1.png
http://www.themosaiconbroadway.com/home.aspx

1221 Broadway Phase II - 39 units
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2011/05/20110503broadway2.jpg
http://www.lakeflato.com/

River North Multi-Family Project - 256 units
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7756848938_b3059ca1b8_c.jpg

East Quincy Street Townhomes - 25 units
http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/15/01/05/3412329/3/628x471.jpg

Total - 982 units

Tobin Hill

Tobin Lofts at San Antonio College - 225 units
http://www.alamo.edu/uploadedImages/SAC/Business_and_Community/Tobin_Lofts_at_San_Antonio_College/images/Tobin-Hill-Full-View-web.jpg

Total - 225 units

Southtown/South Flores

Big Tex apartments - 320 units
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/13/52/22/3056807/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Council-could-grant-5M-to-Big-Tex-site-3625935.php

1010 South Flores (Formerly The Viceroy) - 46 units
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/11/53/03/2535639/3/628x471.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/The-Viceroy-on-the-way-to-King-William-area-3353623.php#photo-2535639

Steel House Lofts - 67 units
http://www.alamoarchitects.com/projects/historic/Steel-House-Lofts/exteriorview.jpg
http://www.alamoarchitects.com/projects/historic/Steel-House-Lofts/

Lone Star Brewery - 700 units
(No rendering available)

Total - 1133 units

Combined total - 2340 units Proposed or U/C

So the downtown and surrounding districts are gaining some good momentum. All of this plus Graham Weston's plan for downtown, which will be announced in the next few months, will give the core some good growth.

You also forgot the redevelopment of Hemisfair Park. That will easily add another 1,000 plus units.

This one is called Avenue A River Residences as of now.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7756848938_b3059ca1b8_c.jpg

Here are some more images:

http://i.imgur.com/N3Kr4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6UrtF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZHEbY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MVHDS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Ugc4e.png

Christus plans for children’s hospital still a go

http://i.imgur.com/J5GsL.jpg

Christus Santa Rosa Health System says it remains committed to redeveloping the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio on the site of its City Center campus.

The nonprofit hospital system issued a statement on Friday afternoon, reconfirming its plans to spend $135 million to transform the downtown campus into a free-standing pediatric facility.

In addition, Christus officials say Texas Children’s Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, have agreed to explore an academic affiliation with the San Antonio organization.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/09/christus-plans-for-childrens-hospital.html

More info on Tobin Lofts

Bulldozers start transformation of Main Avenue "Strip" (http://www.qsanantonio.com/gayborhood2.html)

QSanAntonio.com, September 8, 2012

A week ago today, loyal customers of Luther's restaurant on North Main Avenue gathered to celebrate the gay eatery's last day in its present location.

On Monday, bulldozers started moving in to begin the process of clearing two blocks on the West side of Main Avenue to make way for apartments, retail spaces and a parking garage being built by San Antonio College.

The construction on North Main will greatly change the face of San Antonio's infamous "Strip," with over 200 apartments, 14,000 square feet of ground level retail space and a parking garage.

The development will span the two square blocks from Crockett Park at Laurel Street on the South, to the site of the parking lot on Evergreen Street to the North, and to Howard Street to the West.

Once the construction is complete, Luther's Cafe will move into a new space at the corner of North Main and Evergreen where it will serve as an anchor tenant in a ground floor space.

One of Luther's neighbors in the new building will be the Ricardo Chavira Film Center, a seminar and screening room for students and various events. It will be flanked by a community gallery that will feature work of local artists. Additionally, meeting space is being provided for the Tobin Hill Community Association.

The estimated completion date of the first phase is the Fall 2013 semester, with the second phase of residential units wrapping the parking garage to be completed by the Spring 2014 semester.

South Texas Medical Center Transit Center

http://www.viainfo.net/images/Planning/MedCtr.jpg

http://www.viaprimo.com/images/Construction/STMCTCCanopyStructure.jpg

http://www.viaprimo.com/images/Construction/STMCCCCampus.jpg
http://www.viaprimo.com/Involvement/Construction.aspx

Currently under construction at the corner of Medical Drive and Babcock, the 7.51-acre site will serve as a transit center and park and ride for bus service and the site for VIA’s future bus rapid transit service, Primo. The facility is designed in keeping with the aesthetics of the surrounding area while providing a state-of-the-art facility.

http://www.viainfo.net/Planning/STMCTC.aspx

Downtown Dispatches: Convention Center in spotlight (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Downtown-Dispatches-Convention-Center-in-3866872.php)

By Benjamin Olivo, Express-News columnist
Updated 12:41 a.m., Saturday, September 15, 2012

Until now, Convention Center expansion has been but a blip on the city's radar.

My guess is that the expansion, a huge $325 million project paid for by the hotel occupancy tax, will start to gain notice when construction begins next year on Market Street. Realignment of the west-east thoroughfare is the crucial first step in the five-year project.

On Thursday, it enters the spotlight.

The City Council will consider a $304 million contract with Hunt-Zachry — a partnership between national builder Hunt Construction Group and S.A.-based Zachry Corp. — to design and build the eastern expansion.

It also will consider an $8 million contract with Project Control of Texas, Inc., to assist the city-led management team in all aspects of the job from design and construction oversight to environmental assessments.

The city's Capital Improvements Management Services department, which will manage the project, has declined comment until after the vote.

And Hunt-Zachry released this perfunctory statement: “Our team of local- and internationally-renowned professionals worked diligently to provide a creative concept for this Convention Center expansion that reflects San Antonio as a 21st Century City and to build a partnership with the City to finish the project on-time and on-budget to allow for the vision of HemisFair renovation to be achieved by 2018.”

The expansion is expected to take four years to build. In the fifth year, the original Convention Center structure at Market and Alamo streets is to be demolished so the land can be incorporated into the HemisFair Park redevelopment.

When complete, the Convention Center would include at least 500,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space.

With the HQ relocation of the Fire Department to the new Safety HQ, the old Fire Station Number 1 that housed the SAFD HQ is being transformed into a museum centered around the history of the SAFD. There will also be a children's educational wing in the museum.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

http://i.imgur.com/lWhd8.jpg


Interior rendering

http://i.imgur.com/AypbS.jpg


Exterior rendering

http://i.imgur.com/upMzr.jpg


Comparison renderings

http://i.imgur.com/s6IV1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/g4FtN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vJKdb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Fizef.jpg



Copy and Pasted from SSP. Credit to SKW.

Asian Town Center
1-ilA-RgGRg

1800 Broadway's updated website
http://www.1800broadwayapts.com/

Asian Town Center
1-ilA-RgGRg

What exactly is "Asian" about this development? :nuts:

Seriously they should change the name to something else.

The Alliance of Asian Cultures is supposed to be behind this "Asian Town" development which will be centered on Asian businesses, restaurants, events, etc.

An old article about it


http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Feeling-at-home-in-S-A-1342354.php

A new one is the Alliance of San Antonio Asian Cultures, which is planning to build a multicultural center off Bandera Road outside Loop 1604, where the Asian community has blossomed. Gehring is its president.

She is also a partner in Davila Novelo Developer Construction, which is behind the planning of the 81.8-acre mixed-use development that will include a hotel, condos, offices, retailers and even a 40,000-square-foot bowling alley meant to attract an international tournament.

“We're really planning on creating an Asian town,” Gehring said.

If completed, the project would be another draw for Asian migration, and San Antonio would benefit, Gehring and others said.

“To me, Asian growth is happening because San Antonio is a good place to be,” said Mitsu Yamazaki, a board member of the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce. “It's positive growth for San Antonio ... If we are getting any piece of that, anytime, it's great for the community.”

Centro Partnership CEO has grand plans for downtown (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/09/14/centro-partnership-ceo-has-grand-plans.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by W. Scott Bailey, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, September 14, 2012, 5:00am CDT

It’s taken roughly two years for Centro Partnership San Antonio to appoint a leader.

But downtown stakeholders believe the organization’s new CEO, Pat DiGiovanni, can help bring monumental change to the center city.

It’s a tall order. The Alamo City skyline hasn’t changed much over the last two decades, except for the addition of new hotels. But while San Antonio has positioned its downtown as a popular tourist destination, DiGiovanni says Centro Partnership will pursue a more diverse game plan in an attempt to bring more businesses and residents back to the heart of the city.

City Council green lights convention center expansion (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/09/city-council-green-lights-convention.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by W. Scott Bailey, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 2:24pm CDT

San Antonio City Council has approved the awarding of a $304 million contract to a joint venture involving Hunt Construction Co., Zachry Construction Co., Populous Inc. and Marmon Mok Architects, for the expansion of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

That expansion will include 280,000 square feet of new exhibit space and the construction of a 55,000-square-foot ballroom.

“This project will put San Antonio at the forefront of the nation’s convention industry for many years to come and help lead a renaissance at HemisFair Park with enhanced green space,” says San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro.

KGBTexas plans to relocate its headquarters downtown (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2012/09/21/kgbtexas-plans-to-relocate-its.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by W. Scott Bailey, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, September 21, 2012, 5:00am CDT

KGBTexas has bought into the expectation that San Antonio’s center city is on the precipice of a renaissance.

The 18-year-old marketing and communications agency, which has maintained a North Side presence since its beginning, plans to move its headquarters to the downtown Pearl development in November.

The move will occur on the heels of some significant business wins that could reshape the direction of the agency long-term. KGBTexas says it has been named agency of record for the Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau and Valley International Airport.

What exactly is "Asian" about this development? :nuts:

Seriously they should change the name to something else.

That's my fault on not giving backstory on the development.

VIA passes $177 million budget (http://www.mysanantonio.com/traffic/article/VIA-passes-177-million-budget-3894157.php)

By Vianna Davila
Updated 10:09 p.m., Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The VIA board adopted a $176.9 million operating budget for fiscal 2013, almost $8 million higher than 2012. That increase is partly because of VIA's rollout of bus rapid transit service in December and adoption of a new paratransit taxi program.

The agency projected $187.5 million in revenue, most of which comes from a sales tax.

VIA will spend about $106.7 million on capital projects during the next year, including planned transit centers and the start of a downtown streetcar line, which is set to open in 2017.

Not mentioned Tuesday was the possibility of higher fares, although VIA's five-year financial plan assumes fare increases this year and in fiscal years 2015 and 2017. VIA officials said the public will get to weigh in before the board votes on any changes.

Would you guys say that these housing projects will greatly increase density within the city?

Good little article with video about the projects on Broadway. The video in the article shows some nice shots.

Broadway corridor morphs with influx of 1,500 new residents (http://www.kens5.com/news/Old-neighborhood-morphs-as-1500-of-new-residents-move-into-Broadway-corridor-171427151.html)

by Brian New / KENS 5

Posted on September 26, 2012 at 6:34 PM

Updated today at 5:55 AM

Growth in San Antonio is taking a new direction - heading down Broadway.

In the next few months, hundreds of new residents are expected to move into one of four new luxury apartment developments: Can Plant at the Pearl, 1800 Broadway, Mosaic, and 1221 Broadway.

Developers estimate in the next year 1,500 new residents will call the Broadway corridor between Josephine St. and Jones Ave. their home.

“It’s changed a lot,” said Anne Ng, owner of the new Bakery Lorraine located a block off of Broadway.

Her specialty gourmet bakery and coffee shop opened last Tuesday along Grayson St. in what just a few months ago was a condemned house.

Now other vacant houses along Grayson are being remolded into retail spaces for restaurants and boutiques.

"We are really excited to be a part of the trailblazing group over here," Ng said.

Homeowners in Tobin Hill, Government Hill, and Westfort neighborhoods along Broadway have seen their home values increase while Anthony Puente said the crime has decreased.

"Crime did go up here for awhile, but lately it's come down," he said. “The neighborhood has cleaned up quite a bit.”

For as much as the area has changed in the past two years, developers said in the next six months with hundreds of new residents moving in, it will change even more.

Would you guys say that these housing projects will greatly increase density within the city?

It will be difficult to curb typical suburban growth, but you can see with trends in the city, as with much of the country, apartment construction is taking off. Town centers are not like the true urban centers in many downtowns, but I applaud areas like La Cantera for building more dense projects such as Eilan and the Residences at La Cantera.

Regarding the urban core and neighborhoods surrounding it, the density being added is very intriguing in my opinion. One reason is that, in areas such as lower Broadway, there wasn't much there to begin with. Now with the recent construction, I think you will see a significant increase in density in those parts of town. What is even more amazing is the domino effect that these projects are setting off; effects we have yet to hear about in detail.

To sum up what I'm trying to say, and address your question, yes I think it will effect the density of the city. We have yet to hear of many projects, so my answer could change in months or a few years. Depending on the context of "greatly", I honestly think it will be a good amount in the coming years. Will it be Manhattan density? Probably not, but I think you will see some nice urban neighborhoods evolve in and near the urban core. Especially considering the multifamily construction picking up I think it will be inevitable.:)

This is an old article, but I thought I'd repost it. The story shows that Pearl Brewery is yet to be finished and to give an idea at the potential density.

Owner of Pearl Brewery buying up land across river (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Pearl-Brewery-adding-properties-940252.php)

By Valentino Lucio
vlucio@express-news.net
Published 12:00 a.m., Thursday, January 6, 2011

http://frontporchagent.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Pearl-properties.jpg
Photo: Express-News Graphic

The future of the Pearl Brewery looks brighter — and bigger. Silver Ventures, the owner of the historic brewery, confirmed it is cobbling together about 5 acres of land across from the 22-acre site and along the San Antonio River to possibly expand the urban village.


The East Quincy Townhomes will be located diagonally from the #3 piece of land. River North is just south of that. River North and Pearl area developments complement each other. Hopefully we can see more development connect these two.

The firehouse is amazing! How many other old gems in San Antonio await such a cool ass rebirth?

I'm excited about the firehouse renovation and the children's hospital, they will both add to the city's art and architecture!

Would you guys say that these housing projects will greatly increase density within the city?

Very much so. In the central core there are anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 residential units under construction with another 2,000 or so residential units planned/proposed.

Terminal A primed for upgrades (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Terminal-A-primed-for-upgrades-3916479.php)

By William Pack
Updated 1:02 a.m., Thursday, October 4, 2012

Nearly two years after the city unveiled a spacious new terminal at San Antonio International Airport, renovation work will start on its older and busier partner, 28-year-old Terminal A.

A $35.6 million, phased renovation project is set to begin on Terminal A in the middle of October and be completed in April 2014.

Over that time, the 378,000-square-foot terminal will get new flooring, furnishings, wall covers and lighting, and its 12 public restrooms will be redone. Plans call for six escalators to be replaced and fixtures removed.

“I think it's going to be a significant improvement, not only in appearance, but in how the terminal functions,” said Aviation Director Frank Miller.

He said the terminal will get the same monitors that the newer Terminal B already has showing flight information for each of the airlines. Terminal A will take on a more open look once light fixtures are cleared away.

Pearl looking good

http://sanantoniorealestate365.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Can-Plant-Exterior.jpg
http://sanantoniorealestate365.com/can-plant-apartments-at-the-pearl/

Senior Living in Alamo Heights

http://s12.postimage.org/7gl84xc7h/1336764297wdg_Alamo_1.jpg
WDG Architects (http://www.wdgarch.com/portfolio/projects/alamo-heights)

One great thing about Siclovia press in the paper is that there are new construction shots of Broadway Street development.

Síclovía's thousands of movers and shakers greet fall weather (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/S-clov-a-s-thousands-of-movers-and-shakers-3926900.php#photo-3559193)

By Colin McDonald
Updated 7:42 p.m., Sunday, October 7, 2012

http://s10.postimage.org/hs5rb0b5l/628x471.jpg
People ride, walk, run, and skate through the intersection of Broadway Street and E. Grayson Street on Sunday Oct. 7, 2012 during Siclovia.
Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News / © 2012 San Antonio Express-News

For Betina Almendarez, the success of Síclovía is in the numbers.

The free health fair and street party last fall had about 15,000 attendees at its inaugural edition. Sunday's closure of a portion of Broadway and Alamo Street to cars and trucks drew an estimated 45,000 on foot, bikes or skates.

As someone who has been to Colombia (where the Ciclovía or Síclovía was started) I must say it is a great concept, and I am glad to see San Antonio adopt it.

It looked like a pretty fun event.

Serbian beer coming to South Flores

Family's distilling tradition kept alive (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Family-s-distilling-tradition-kept-alive-3927105.php#page-1)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 9:44 a.m., Monday, October 8, 2012

Kalusevic and business partner Chris Mobley are finalizing plans to open Dorćol Distilling Co. (pronounced door-chole), a boutique distillery along South Flores Street in the burgeoning SoFlo district just south of downtown.

Dorćol

The company's name was taken from Dorcol, an urban area in Belgrade where Kalusevic and his family lived.

Financing has been secured and the site for their 2,700-square-foot facility has been purchased.

The process was slowed as they awaited a zoning change that was approved last month. Plus, they're waiting for the completion of their 400-liter copper still, being built in Serbia.

They're looking to get construction started before the year's end, and the operation could be producing a variety of spirits, including grain alcohols by early next year, Mobley said.

“I hope (my grandfather) can see it firsthand when it opens,” Kalusevic said.

What's in store at Dorćol is a production facility with a 400-square-foot tasting room and a courtyard for outdoor events. They chose an undeveloped lot after being impressed with the area's activity and liveliness after attending a Second Saturday, an art walk that occurs once a month at various galleries along South Flores Street.

Aside from distilling grain alcohols and other specialty batches, they plan to open the tasting room for Second Saturdays and various special event tastings, Mobley said. They will have the capacity to produce about 40,000 bottles but will probably start at around 10,000, Kalusevic said.

Another 1800 Broadway

http://s14.postimage.org/zc72l424x/550667_442516249128436_1585482879_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=442516249128436&set=a.380448275335234.83519.351049401608455&type=1&theater

My

1800 Update

http://s8.postimage.org/l15m8je91/016.jpg

Mosaic Update

http://s9.postimage.org/aixnd78jj/021.jpg

http://s15.postimage.org/ixe3z14vv/022.jpg

Terramark Urban Homes is planning several townhome developments in and near the core.
Here are the couple with the most info so far.

Ogden Modern (http://www.ogdenmodern.com/)

http://s10.postimage.org/l3snzfdex/Plan_1025.jpg

http://s15.postimage.org/99ewkhv5n/Plan_1218.jpg

Experience the Perfect Urban Living Environment at Ogden Modern

Ogden Modern is an inventive collection of unique, single family homes in the epicenter of San Antonio and within close proximity to Downtown San Antonio. Located in the Tobin Hill neighborhood – home to the critically-acclaimed Pearl Brewery complex, the Culinary Institute of America and the Museum Reach portion of the San Antonio Riverwalk - this Energy Star certified development includes eleven properties, each with its own modern flair and excellent amenities package including custom cabinetry, designer kitchen appliances, stained concrete floors, vaulted, second-story ceilings, private, landscaped yards, and gated entries. The community’s prime location and the quality construction of each home make an investment in Ogden Modern a solid financial decision.

City View Modern (http://www.cityviewmodern.com/#)

City View Modern is a contemporary and fresh collection of homes designed for today’s urban dweller. Comprised of twelve detached, three-story dwellings, City View Modern’s unique design elements include ten foot ceilings, open floor plans, expansive windows, stainless steel appliances, enclosed garages with ample storage space. These two and three bedroom floor plans with their innovative interior finishes, round out the well-chosen amenities package.

Located just north of downtown San Antonio, and minutes from the critically-acclaimed Pearl Brewery complex, the Culinary Institute of America, and the Museum Reach portion of the San Antonio Riverwalk, City View Modern is also within walking distance to San Antonio College, Methodist Medical Center, San Pedro and Crockett Parks, local nightlife and restaurants.

With homes starting in the low $200’s, City View Modern is the clear choice for the urban homeowner who desires uncommon quality at an excellent price point.

Downtown Dispatches: Courting food trucks for Wolfson (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Courting-food-trucks-for-Wolfson-3944061.php#photo-1643016)

By Benjamin Olivo, Express-News columnist
Updated 1:01 a.m., Saturday, October 13, 2012

A year since a fire left the 1800s Wolfson building at Main Avenue and Commerce Street in ruins, plans for the property's temporary use may be finalized soon.

The vision is for the 16,870-square-foot parcel of land just north of Main Plaza to be converted into a food truck court — similar to the Alamo Street Eat Bar in Southtown or Boardwalk on Bulverde on the North Side — complete with seating, shade, parking and (maybe) restrooms, depending if owner Paul Carter plans to sell alcohol there.

Carter has not decided what to do with the property in the long term. He and the city chipped in for Alamo Architects to draw permanent plans for the site.

Carter prefers to build about seven Brownstone-style homes with a corner coffee shop in the historic style of the Wolfson building. But other options include a mixed-use building and an office high-rise.

This is not far from Tobin Lofts

Methodist kicks off $50M expansion (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Methodist-kicks-off-50M-expansion-3929516.php)

By Patrick Danner
Updated 1:50 p.m., Tuesday, October 9, 2012

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/15/45/65/3562855/3/628x471.jpg
Work starts Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012 on a $50 million expansion at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital. The project will include an 85,000-square-foot Intensive Care Unit Tower that can accommodate 48 beds. The new ICU will be built over East Laurel Street and connect the hospital with the parking garage.
Photo: Courtesy Illustration / SA

Work starts today on a $50 million expansion of the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital in downtown San Antonio.

The expansion includes a seven-story, 85,000-square-foot Intensive Care Unit Tower that will accommodate 48 beds. The new structure also will house an operating-room recovery area and a gastrointestinal lab.

“The growth that's occurring both in downtown San Antonio and south of San Antonio has created the need for more beds,” said Greg Seiler, the hospital's new CEO. His hiring was announced last week.

Seiler expects that the recent closing of adult services at Christus Santa Rosa Health System's downtown hospital also will create more of a need for other hospitals in the area. Methodist Healthcare System started plans for the expansion before Christus announced its decision, however.

Christus plans a larger downtown children's hospital.

Rivercenter Mall back on Agenda

Judging by the pdf, they seem to be pursuing Urban Outfitters, Armani Exchange, H&M, some new restaurant and entertainment options, and a new hotel.

http://s17.postimage.org/ykm9xmxyn/Untitled2.png

http://s18.postimage.org/wgdcpdbax/Untitled3.png

http://s7.postimage.org/xjhe7j4tn/Untitled4.png

http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_16_849_E_Commerce_Rivercenter_Mall.pdf

San Antonio Childrens Museum

http://s13.postimage.org/5m512qp5j/Untitled6.png

http://s10.postimage.org/rfmva5jc9/Untitled5.png

http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_8_2800_Broadway_SA_Childrens_Museum.pdf

Check out the video of the new Steelhouse Lofts. It will also have a new 22ft. stain glass water tank on top which will light up different colors.

http://www.ksat.com/news/Old-steel-warehouse-recycled-into-apartments/-/478452/17064068/-/wxsq9y/-/index.html

Also check out the revitalization of the Woodlawn Theatre.

http://www.ksat.com/news/A-sign-of-neighborhood-revitalization-at-Woodlawn-Theatre/-/478452/17065490/-/8ah27s/-/index.html

Monument to those who serve and protect unveiled

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/15/63/76/3620752/5/628x471.jpg

Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News
Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Department for Culture and Creative Development unveils the city’s largest public art project Saturday night — a sculpture located at the new Public Safety Headquarters at 315 South Santa Rosa Ave., in an area called Unity Plaza.

A monument to fallen police officers and firefighters, at night it’s lit with 2-mile-high beams of light that change from red to white to blue.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Monument-to-those-who-serve-and-protect-unveiled-3968310.php

Pearl

http://s15.postimage.org/fjntdo28r/293850_10151064088085938_430756747_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151064088085938&set=a.72628820937.86000.61940585937&type=1&theater

Developers add student housing, follow growth to South Side (http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/Developers-add-student-housing-follow-growth-to-3971548.php#page-1)

By Melody Mendoza
Published 1:18 p.m., Monday, October 22, 2012

When Dan Markson, senior vice president of NRP Group, a full-service developer, began planning higher quality housing on the South Side in 1985, others questioned whether such projects could be successful.

Today, NRP Group is in the planning stages of its sixth South Side housing unit; this one marketed as Texas A&M-San Antonio's first university housing option. The unit, located on University Way, is expected to be open by summer 2014.

The housing complex is one of the three projects in the first phase of Verano Land Group's 2,500-acre master plan. Verano donated 694 acres in 2007 for the construction of the university, which will break ground for two more buildings on Nov. 3.

As a Southside developer and San Antonio-resident, Markson said Brooks City-Base and Verano Land Group have the best shot of competing, he added cautiously, with the Stone Oak community.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Central Academic Building is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio spokeswoman Jillian Reddish confirmed that the two buildings are expected to be open for classes in fall 2014.

Location of the housing project is slated for the second block of University Way and also is expected to open for incoming fall 2014 students.

The unit mix will offer 498 beds in 236 total units with four options.

Also a part of the first phase of development is a 75,000-square-foot building and 100 townhomes.

The 75,000-square-foot building will be directly across main campus building and south of the housing complex. Bartlett said it was too early to disclose information about the building's use.

The townhomes will be located in the middle block of University Way east of the bridge and will be marketed to the general public and workers in the region.

Bartlett said the groundbreaking is expected to be in early 2013 and will take about 12 months to complete.

“We're trying to keep up with the university as they create critical mass,” Bartlett said, “to make it more attractive for students to go to A&M-San Antonio.”

This is the southern portion of the San Antonio River focused on the natural landscape.

Mission Reach stretching south (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/article/Mission-Reach-stretches-farther-south-3972063.php)
New segment opening today; project's end expected by August.

By John W. Gonzalez
Updated 9:35 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2012

http://s11.postimage.org/3xz4e9183/628x471.jpg
People use the new section of the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project of the San Antonio River Monday, July 2, 2012. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News / © 2012 San Antonio Express-News

http://s12.postimage.org/4pnjp52fh/628x472.jpg
Photo: Express-News Graphic

Construction on the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River is several months ahead of schedule, and today's opening of another segment puts the project in the homestretch as it moves toward completion next year, officials said.

The newest trail segment runs six-tenths of a mile on the river's west bank, from East Theo Avenue south toward Mission Road.

With the addition, about four miles of paths, picnic areas and other amenities now are completed on the 8-mile Mission Reach ecosystem restoration project, with its revitalization of the river channel.

If the weather continues to cooperate, the $245 million Mission Reach will be mostly finished in April. By August, the entire makeover, including landscaping, will be done, providing pathways from Lone Star Boulevard south of downtown to Mission Espada near South Loop 410.

Combined with river improvements downtown and on the Museum Reach north of downtown, project costs shouldered by Bexar County, the San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio and others exceed $350 million, with more than half coming from the county. In all, 13 miles of paths eventually will be connected from Brackenridge Park to Mission Espada.

Tobin Lofts now have their own website


http://www.livetobinlofts.com/images/main-banner.jpg

Study time. Down time.

Tobin Lofts takes other apartments to school, with luxe features and a right-in-the-action location. Here, there is no need for compromise. You can have the gym, the pool, and the room of your choice. Get in-district tuition at San Antonio College and use the extra green to amp up your living situation. Get your own place or share a loft. Either way, you’re on your own lease. At Tobin Lofts, you’re right above Luther’s and other go-to spots. But when you’ve got places to go, our huge garage has your parking needs covered.


http://www.livetobinlofts.com/

A story with video on it as well.

Crews break ground on Tobin Lofts student housing (http://www.kens5.com/news/Crews-break-ground-on-Tobin-Lofts-student-housing-175882281.html)


by Kens5.com staff
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 6:26 PM

SAN ANTONIO -- Construction got underway on Thursday on the first on-campus housing project for students at San Antonio College.

The Tobin Lofts are going up along Main Street — just north of downtown.

Robert Zeigler, president of San Antonio College, said the housing will be an affordable and contemporary living option.

"This is open to all college students in San Antonio," he explained. "So a student could start at SAC and say transfer to Trinity or UTSA, continue to live here ... and be very close to the four-year school. It's a great opportunity."

The $45-million project is expected to house 550 residents with single, double and four bedroom layouts available.

The complex will also include apartments, a 1,000-space parking garage and retail space along Main Avenue.

Student housing will be available for the fall semester of 2013.

More on San Antonio's A&M University and Verano development

Developer plans 236-unit apartment complex on University Way (http://www.mesquite-news.com/developer-plans-236-unit-apartment-complex-on-university-way/)

Posted by: Melody MendozaPosted date: October 25, 2012In: Campus, Comunidad, Featured-Stories
http://www.mesquite-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/housing_MM1.jpg
A master plan of phase one construction shows future development of university housing, a 75,000 square foot building and 100 town homes on land owned by Verano Land Group, located at Zarzamora Street and Loop 410. The three projects are expected to be complete in 2014. Courtesy of NRP Group

By Melody Mendoza

When Dan Markson, senior vice president of NRP Group, a local developer, began planning high-end, market-rate housing on the South Side in 1985, others questioned whether it would be successful.

Today, NRP Group is in the planning stages of its sixth South Side housing unit in San Antonio; this one marketed as Texas A&M-San Antonio’s first university housing option to be located on University Way.

The project will offer students and employees four floor plan options spanning 236 total units with costs ranging from $625 for a 1-bedroom to $1,527 for a 3-bedroom unit. The complex is expected to open summer 2014.

The university housing complex is one of the three projects in the first phase of Verano Land Group’s 2,500-acre master plan located at Zarzamora Street and Loop 410, including 100 townhomes and a 75,000 square foot building.

Markson said he was one of the first developers to build on the South Side even though others said residents wouldn’t pay for higher-end housing.

But with his success so far, Markson said Brooks City-Base and Verano Land Group has the best shot of competing, adding cautiously, with Stone Oak, a high-end housing community at 281 north and Loop 1604.

Markson repeated questions posed by those who step onto land owned by Verano Land Group: “Where are we and why are we here?”

To those skeptics, he replied, “The answer is you’re at Texas A&M-San Antonio. You are the campus that will be the second to College Station; a flagship school that will eventually have a division of the core.”

Hopefully this means more demand for housing downtown.

High-rise living is up in San Antonio's downtown area (http://www.kens5.com/news/High-rise-living-is-up-in-the-downtown-area-176334571.html)

by Eric Gonzales / KENS 5
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Updated today at 6:33 PM

If you’re ready to dish out a few million dollars, the sky is the limit for high rises in downtown San Antonio.

The Alteza Residences sit on the top floors above the Grand Hyatt downtown. They began selling off 147 units including several penthouses in late 2010.

Chris Roberts works for the property and also lives there as a resident. He says a one bedroom starts in the high 200s.

“Penthouses start at just under a million and go up to just over 3.1 million," Roberts said.

San Antonio is joining the trend of other major cities pushing for downtown high rise living.

Chris Roberts says that units are selling at a faster rate since San Antonio’s housing market is doing better than average.

More people are also looking for convenience.

Views of the Tobin Center (http://www.mysanantonio.com/slideshows/slideshow/Views-of-the-Tobin-Center-51574.php#photo-3664915)

http://s14.postimage.org/dt9ioxgtt/untitled.png
A sample of the metallic exterior that will be used on the performance hall during construction on the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Monday Oct. 29, 2012. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News / San Antonio Express-News

http://s11.postimage.org/rx2pu4mqb/628x471.jpg
A view of construction on the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Monday Oct. 29, 2012. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News / San Antonio Express-News

Design talks move forward on Convention Center (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Design-talks-move-forward-on-Convention-Center-3994575.php)

By Neal Morton
Updated 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, October 30, 2012

As the design phase moves forward on the Convention Center expansion, designers have proposed increasing the size of a new ballroom and planned exhibit space before construction begins next year, city officials said Tuesday.

Before City Council launched the $325 million project last month, the city outlined its minimum expectations for the facility's east end, including adding at least 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space to the current 200,000 square feet. City officials also wanted the Convention Center to house a new 50,000-square-foot to 80,000-square foot exhibit ballroom.

However, designers have gone “above and beyond” what Michael Sawaya expected.

Sawaya heads the city's Convention, Sports and Entertainment Facilities department and said possible changes to the initial design would retain the 500,000 square feet of exhibit space requirement and increase the ballroom's size to about 90,000 square feet.

Under a contract not to exceed $304.8 million, Hunt-Zachry Joint Venture will design and build the Convention Center expansion, the largest capital project in San Antonio's history. Construction is set to begin next September and should be complete in 2016.

Have they released models or drawings of the convention center expansion designs?

No official design/renderings has been released yet but there are some conceptual drawings.

Renderings of town homes in Verano neighborhood of Texas A&M SA.

Developers add student housing, follow growth to South Side (http://www.veranocommunity.com/?p=360)

October 25, 2012
by Verano

http://s12.postimage.org/hs8dr6fjh/verano006b_cropped_930x300.jpg

Also a part of the first phase of development is a 75,000-square-foot building and 100 townhomes.
The 75,000-square-foot building will be directly across main campus building and south of the housing complex. Bartlett said it was too early to disclose information about the building’s use.

The townhomes will be located in the middle block of University Way east of the bridge and will be marketed to the general public and workers in the region.

Bartlett said the groundbreaking is expected to be in early 2013 and will take about 12 months to complete.
“We’re trying to keep up with the university as they create critical mass,” Bartlett said, “to make it more attractive for students to go to A&M-San Antonio.”

The only other article that gives a little more info on the commercial space within Tobin Lofts

Community College Adds Housing, Arts Hub (http://www.studenthousingbusiness.com/latest-news/2193-community-college-adds-housing-arts-hub-student-housing.html)

Last Updated ( 10/31/2012 14:17 )

San Antonio, Texas — A mixed-use development is blending a touch of Hollywood with a 552-bed student housing project.

The iconic Luther’s Cafe, a local fixture by the campus, is confirmed as the first anchor tenant in the commercial space.

The development will include 14,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space as well as a film and media center. Actor and San Antonio native Ricardo Chavira, whose credits include roles in "Desperate Housewives" and "Six Feet Under," served as an advisor in the design of the Ricardo Chavira Film Center, which will be located in the development. Additionally, he will program the space for media arts students and the public.

Embrey planning new luxury apartments in San Antonio (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/10/embrey-planning-new-luxury-apartments.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by Tricia Lynn Silva, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 1:11pm CDT

San Antonio based development firm Embrey Partners Ltd. has closed on the purchase of a 29-acre site on West Avenue, along the planned Wurzbach Parkway extension.

Plans call for a 360-unit, Class-A, urban-infill community. The complex will feature a mix of luxury townhomes, and one- and two-bedroom flats. The dwellings will range in size from 613 to 1,830 square feet — complete with back yards and two-car garages.

The clubhouse — which is set to open next fall — will boast a 24-hour, state-of-the-art fitness center; an aqua lounge; and a resort-style swimming pool.

The first units will be ready for occupancy in early 2014. Rental rates for the project were not disclosed.



http://media.heraldonline.com/smedia/2012/10/30/12/30/901-6xuiu.AuSt.55.jpeg

Leon Springs Mixed Use development to break ground next year

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/boernestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8f/a8f8e0c4-e365-11e1-9364-0019bb2963f4/5025d3527295e.image.jpg

Nice...

Amazon building 1.2 million square foot warehouse at a cost of 150 million dollars in the suburb of Schertz.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Amazon-com-to-open-warehouse-in-Schertz-4012883.php

^^ good news for Schertz, I used to live there during the early 80's when my dad was stationed at Randolph A.F.B. :cheers:

^^ good news for Schertz, I used to live there during the early 80's when my dad was stationed at Randolph A.F.B. :cheers:

Early 80's? I'm guessing then Schertz was a few farms with barns. lol

Schertz has grown like weeds in the last 10 years.

^^ From what I can remember, I believe Schertz was pretty developed for its size back then, especially along FM-78. I think its close proximity to Randolph and I-35 really helped the city to grow into one of the largest suburbs in metro S.A.

I believe you're thinking of Universal City.

City seeks to transform West Commerce District (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/11/city-seeks-to-transform-west-commerce-district/#8392-4)

Posted on 11/10/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

http://s7.postimage.org/71rk2hj57/Screen_shot_2012_11_11_at_9_50_42_AM.png

A version of this column ran in the Express-News on Nov. 10, 2012

Penner’s, the men’s clothing store on West Commerce famous for its enormous collection of guayaberas, might as well exist on an island.

The glory days of west downtown as a retail and cultural hub are long gone, and there isn’t much retail activity in the stretch of Commerce between Interstate 35 and the River Walk, where Penner’s opened in 1916.

But imagine if there were — if on the same block as Penner’s there were a dance hall, such as Gruene Hall or Floore Country Store, and an ice cream shop.

And what if there were a Flying Saucer Draught Emporium or a Best Buy Mobile a few blocks east on Commerce?

A city-commissioned study of the area concluded that the West Commerce District (as it’s called in the report) can support up to 170,000 square feet of additional retail space, a combination of current space and space included in future mixed-use development.

The report even goes as far as to conclude that the area can support 21,000 square feet of grocery store-like space.




Mixed use development for the Convience Shopping Corridor
http://s11.postimage.org/eey9b05v7/Screen_shot_2012_11_11_at_9_49_27_AM.png

Big Tex site ready for reuse (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/11/big-tex-site-ready-for-reuse.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by Tricia Lynn Silva, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Friday, November 16, 2012, 12:05pm CST

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the Big Tex Grain site near downtown San Antonio has received a certificate from the agency signifying that the site has been cleared and ready for reuse.

The 7.5-acre site is located along Blue Star Street, in the King William Historic District. The property lies adjacent to the Blue Star Complex. The site is owned by Big Tex San Antonio LP.


http://www.alamoarchitects.com/projects/urban/BigTex/BigTexSketch1.jpg

Report: Downtown can support 20,000-square-foot grocery store (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/11/report-downtown-can-support-20000-square-foot-grocery-store/)

Posted on 11/16/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

Downtown San Antonio can support a 20,000-square-foot grocery store today, according to a city-commissioned report by national consultants HR&A Advisors.

The report hasn’t been made public, but its key findings were cited in another report the city paid for on the need for student housing development downtown (I will detail that one in another post).

“We do believe there is a demand for a 20,000-square-foot store,” said Lori Houston, director of the Center City Development Office.

The best location for the store would be on the south end of downtown, near HemisFair, La Villita and Southtown, says the student housing report, by Keyser Marston Associates, Inc.

Big Red Dog Teams Up with Aqualand Development on Lone Star Brewery Project (http://www.bigreddog.com/big-red-dog-teams-up-with-aqualand-development-on-lone-star-brewery-project/)

By Chris Weigand
On October 11, 2012

Big Red Dog, Aqualand Development, Sixthriver Architects, Planned Environments, and Core Continuum Group are collaborating on the next marquee project in the growing South Side of San Antonio. The development is at the site of the former Lone Star brewery which opened in 1933 and shut its doors in 1996.
Located directly south of the King William and Southtown area, the brewery site encompasses 23 acres of land. Plans for the development include multi-family units, restaurants, retail spaces, concert venues, and a possible area grocery store. The current plan also calls to revamp the original Lone Star pool area and German Style Beer Garden. Future phases will bring the overall development to 68 acres adjacent to the San Antonio River.

The Brewery is an iconic brand for San Antonio and the State. The development plans to mirror the success seen at the Pearl Brewery and Blue Star Brewery developments, and expand on the recent San Antonio River investments recently made from Downtown to Mission Reach area. The City of San Antonio, its Center City Housing Investment Program, and Inner City Reinvestment Infill Policy all deserve applause for accommodating future downtown development.

At the end of the day, that is why Big Red Dog is excited to be a part of this opportunity. It is an investment in the future of San Antonio.

http://www.bigreddog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/lone_star_site3.jpg

^^ that is awesome! It reminds me of the Gateway Park master plan going on in Fort Worth. This will really transform the area.

So it looks like Trader Joe's is building a grocery store in Southtown (ace supply building) so not only will a grocery store finally return to the downtown area but I'm fairly confident that this will force HEB to finally build a downtown grocery store.

^^ that is awesome! It reminds me of the Gateway Park master plan going on in Fort Worth. This will really transform the area.

After looking at said master plan, they're not very similar IMO. The gateway park development seems to be a park through and through. Lone Star is a mixed use development with housing, retail, etc. It's right along the riverwalk and will feature parkland but it's a commercial development as opposed to a park.

But gateway park looks pretty dang cool.

After looking at said master plan, they're not very similar IMO. The gateway park development seems to be a park through and through. Lone Star is a mixed use development with housing, retail, etc. It's right along the riverwalk and will feature parkland but it's a commercial development as opposed to a park.

But gateway park looks pretty dang cool.

Yeah, I agree. I guess I saw all the green area and got excited about open space. But it is still similar to Fort Worth's Trinity River Project, which also includes the gateway park master plan. Check out the Trinity River Vision, it was modeled with San Antonio's River Walk in mind. I would love to know what you think!

http://www.trinityrivervision.org/Projects

^^ Trinity River Vision is one of my favorite master plans in the country.

Streetcar plan approved (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Streetcar-plan-approved-4046910.php)

By Vianna R Davila
Published 6:29 p.m., Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Texas Transportation Commission approved taking $92 million in state dollars set aside for U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 and putting it toward VIA Metropolitan Transit's downtown streetcar system.

The commission, which oversees the Texas Department of Transportation, unanimously approved the proposal at its monthly meeting Thursday.

Now, Bexar County plans to take $92 million in Advanced Transportation District sales tax revenue originally set aside for streetcars and use it to help pay for U.S. 281 and Loop 1604.

$92 milllion set aside for San Antonio streetcar.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Streetcar-plan-approved-4046910.php

The Mosaic on Broadway updated their website. Check it out.

http://www.themosaiconbroadway.com/index2.html#/HOME-01-00/

Westside Multimodal Transit Center

http://i45.tinypic.com/auy1r8.png
http://www.ktsa.com/VIA-Awarded--15-Million-Grant/11721105

That's looks so awesome!

^^ Trinity River Vision is one of my favorite master plans in the country.

Streetcar plan approved (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Streetcar-plan-approved-4046910.php)

*sigh*

Another city getting streetcars before us.

I like that transit center, btw.

^^ agreed... I gotta admit that I'm a little jealous of San Antonio for the streetcars... DFW has got to get with the public transportation program!

^^ agreed... I gotta admit that I'm a little jealous of San Antonio for the streetcars... DFW has got to get with the public transportation program!

Well it's really Fort Worth that has to get with the program. Dallas already has the DART light rail and the McKinney Avenue trolley with some more streetcar projects such as the Oak Cliff extension, on the drawing board.

^^ agreed... I gotta admit that I'm a little jealous of San Antonio for the streetcars... DFW has got to get with the public transportation program!

Yeah, it really is just Fort Worth that's the problem.

Hell, our city buses aren't even on point.

B-Cycle expands South Side reach

http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/16/27/71/3767897/3/628x471.jpg

By Mark D. Wilson
November 20, 2012

San Antonio's newest B-Cycle bike sharing stations opened Friday at six new locations around South San Antonio.

The new stations — located at Roosevelt Park, Concepcion Park, Mission Concepcion, Mission Road Street Connection, VFW River Trail Access and Mission San Jose — provide yet another way for residents and visitors to explore the ever-expanding Mission Reach and the San Antonio missions.

Mayor Julian Castro said San Antonio has a vibrant cycling community, and hopes to make the city the friendliest city for cyclists in the nation. “We want to create a fitness culture in the city so we have folks making the decision to be healthy,” he said. “We are very proud to be the first city in Texas to adopt this sort of bike share program.”

Bob Burns, a 17-year veteran of the cycling industry and CEO of B-Cycle said the company has locations in 14 cities nationwide. “Using a bike sharing system is easy,” he said.

Burns explained that bike sharing systems help bring bicycle infrastructure to life, and contributes to healthier and more environmentally beneficial lifestyles.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/B-Cycle-expands-South-Side-reach-4050709.php

Mixed-use complex weighed (http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Mixed-use-complex-weighed-4065651.php)

By Jennifer R. Lloyd
Updated 10:13 a.m., Monday, November 26, 2012

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/16/36/50/3795503/4/628x471.jpg

Fresh from turning the dirt on a housing development at San Antonio College, Alamo Colleges administrators have resurrected a controversial idea to consolidate the district's administrative facilities, which are spread across the city, into a new central site at the former Playland Park location off of Broadway.

In mid-December, the board may vote on issuing a request for qualifications for a developer/architect to join them in their second public-private partnership, this one to develop the approximately 12.5-acre Playland Park site at 2222 N. Alamo St., which the district bought in 2008, said John Strybos, associate vice chancellor of facilities.

Though the site now is used as overflow parking for SAC, he said future designs could include housing and commercial space as well.

“What the Alamo Colleges needs is 200,000 gross square feet of office space, including conference space,” Strybos said. “And what it's going to look like is going to be a lot up the developer.”

Univision site downtown under contract (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Univision-site-downtown-under-contract-4075043.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Published 6:14 p.m., Wednesday, November 28, 2012

What is now home to a Spanish-language television station could soon become a home for San Antonio residents.

A development firm is under contract to purchase the Univision site downtown with plans for a multifamily project there, said Phil Crane, a principal at Providence Commercial Real Estate Services, the firm representing Univision in the deal. Citing a confidentiality agreement with the developer, Crane did not offer any specifics, including the identity of the development firm or the number of units proposed. He did mention that the deal is recent and that he anticipates it could close by the summer.

It's expected that the developer will have to demolish the existing buildings on the 4.3-acre property to build the riverfront units. The potential cost of the deal was not disclosed, but the parcels that make up the property at S. St. Mary's Street and E. César E. Chávez Blvd. are assessed at about $8.2 million, according to the Bexar Appraisal District.

East Quincy Townhomes on the Agenda

http://s8.postimage.org/81he975f9/quincy.png
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_15_1120_E_Quincy.pdf

Blue Star II residential project gains Bexar County incentives (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Blue-Star-II-residential-project-gains-Bexar-4090436.php#photo-1094243)

By John W. Gonzalez
Updated 9:38 p.m., Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Bexar County gave a valuable boost Tuesday to a $41 million residential and retail development near the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in Southtown.

The county approved a tax abatement worth about $485,000 to go along with city incentives of more than $5 million for Blue Star II.

The 7.5-acre site on the banks of the San Antonio River south of downtown is the former Big Tex Grain industrial site. Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified the idle site as “cleaned and ready for use.”

The NRP Group project is slated for completion in 2015, adding 320 one-bedroom units to the burgeoning Southtown neighborhood.

“It's going to be really transformative,” NRP senior vice president Daniel B. Markson told commissioners.

“This is going to be 500 more people in this neighborhood,” he said.

Some of the site's existing structures, including silos, will be repurposed, and entries will integrate the location with surrounding neighborhoods and businesses, including restaurants, Markson said.

It's good to see the bike culture grow so much in the inner city.

B-cycle likely to expand by 50 percent in ’13 (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/12/b-cycle-likely-to-expand-by-50-percent-in-13/)

Posted on 12/05/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

An amended contract for B-cycle, the bike share program introduced here in March 2011, would allow it to expand by 50 percent in 2013, with kiosks as far north as Brackenridge Park. The new contract with nonprofit San Antonio Bike Share, the entity created to run the program, would increase by $1.05 million to $2.6 million, according to an agenda item at this week’s City Council meeting.

By September 2013, the B-cycle network is expected to expand from 30 stations currently — from the Pearl on the north end to Mission San Jose on the south — to 45 stations. A new cluster would occupy points up Broadway, at the San Antonio Zoo and near the Witte Museum. And a handful more would be added to downtown proper.

Nice article in the NY Times on Pearl Brewery that also give a little info on the proposed hotel

Giving an Old Brewery a New Life, and Cuisine (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/us/for-pearl-brewing-company-a-second-life.html?ref=texas&_r=0)

By STIRLING KELSO
Published: December 8, 2012

Nearly 12 years ago, the Pearl Brewing Company in downtown San Antonio emptied its tanks and moved the production of its beer to Fort Worth. It left behind a historic but derelict 22-acre complex, anchored by a towering brew house. It looked like the property was destined to be razed.

Silver Ventures renovated the historic structures, added some stylish lofts and worked with the city to clean up the adjacent river. Now, a haute designer hotel is in the works.

Aside from the C.I.A., perhaps the biggest coup for the Pearl project was the Roman and Williams-designed hotel (the team behind the Ace Hotels), scheduled to open in mid-2014. The property will occupy the main brew house, keeping architectural features like the building’s turn-of-the-century brew tanks and huge round pillars.

Peanut plant near campus to become lofts (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2012/12/peanut-plant-near-campus-to-become-lofts/)

Posted on 12/11/2012 by Benjamin Olivo

Less than a month after a city-commissioned report concluded there was a demand for student housing in west downtown, South Side-based 210 Developers have confirmed plans to refurbish a former peanut processing plant at 1025 S. Frio St. into an apartment building and build other structures just to the west to total 98 new units — half of which could be student housing.

The project, known as the Birdsong Peanut Factory Lofts, is five blocks south of the UTSA Downtown Campus and will cost 210 Developers $10.082 million to build.

The 19,000-square-foot, circa-1912 building is the former Birdsong Peanut Factory, which processed and packaged peanuts. It has four stories and a basement. The developers also own a parcel of land just west, in which more apartment structures will be built. Lake|Flato Architects has been hired by 210 Developers to do the design work.

^^ what a great way to get rid of some blight in the city! I love these "adaptive reuse" projects that aim to keep some of the original character of the historical buildings in tact.

Peanut Factory Lofts

http://i50.tinypic.com/1eqlqf.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/zwlthf.jpg

Peanut factory to become housing (http://www.ksat.com/news/Peanut-factory-to-become-housing/-/478452/17754730/-/format/rss_2.0/-/14wghg6/-/index.html)

Plan to include student housing

Author: Charles Gonzalez, Reporter, Anchor, cgonzalez@ksat.com

Published On: Dec 12 2012 06:33:47 PM CST Updated On: Dec 12 2012 09:50:37 PM CST

SAN ANTONIO -
Thanks to tax incentives and a $400,000 improvement loan, the Birdsong peanut factory at 1025 S. Frio will become a 98-unit housing complex after sitting vacant since 1986.

More than half of those units will be dedicated for student housing.

The factory will be converted to up to 24 rental units, including possible condominiums in the four silos.

Construction is expected to begin in February 2013 and tenants could move in by August 2014 in time for the Fall semester. UTSA Downtown sits half a mile away from the property.

"It converts a closed-down old peanut factory into a new use. It cleans up a piece of property and it catalyzes redevelopment in the surrounding area," added Houston.

The days now are numbered for troubled Wheatley Courts (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/The-days-now-are-numbered-for-troubled-Wheatley-4116392.php#photo-3889837)

By Karisa King
Updated 8:47 am, Friday, December 14, 2012

The neighborhood surrounding the Wheatley Courts apartment complex will undergo a major redevelopment with the awarding Thursday of a $29.7 million federal grant that seeks to use housing subsidies as a catalyst for community revival.

The San Antonio Housing Authority plans to raze Wheatley Courts, one of its oldest and most problematic properties, and redevelop the East Side neighborhood with mixed-income apartments.

Also planned: improved bus routes in the area, including a direct link to St Philip's College; better street lighting; expansion of a health center; and construction of a “safe house” to smooth the transition back to the community for ex-convicts.

Geekdom excited about Year 2 (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Geekdom-excited-about-Year-2-4116938.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 8:53 pm, Thursday, December 13, 2012

They grow up so fast.

Geekdom, a collaborative workspace in downtown San Antonio, has turned one. Since its inception, it has become a haven for hundreds of tech enthusiasts, a startup incubator and an education promoter.

As it enters its second year, Geekdom is looking to broaden its reach by launching more educational programs as well as an effort to create a community downtown where tech geeks and entrepreneurs can live, work and play.

Taking that idea a step farther, Longo talked about a startup village to be created near Geekdom. He envisions a residential corridor where startups from around the world could come and launch their businesses. Companies would operate there rent free and receive a monthly stipend.

Conversations about where the residential units would be located have started, Longo said, but nothing has been solidified. He hopes to launch the startup village soon.

Here are a couple of items on the agenda next week

Big Tex Grain

http://s17.postimage.org/67ctlxtcv/bigtex1.png

http://s10.postimage.org/6x12lh81l/bigtex3.png

http://s11.postimage.org/kdxkkor2b/bigtex2.png
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_4_300_Blue_Star_Big_Tex_Grain.pdf

Wyndham Garden Hotel River North is on for signage but there are some shots of its construction

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2012/01/paradigm3.jpg

http://s17.postimage.org/ru5m86w2l/hotel.png
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/Docs/HDRC/Case_18_103_9th_St.pdf

The days now are numbered for troubled Wheatley Courts (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/The-days-now-are-numbered-for-troubled-Wheatley-4116392.php#photo-3889837)

The brief summary used doesn't include the over 60 million in private investment for the Wheatley redevelopment.

That's a new 100 million dollar development for the east side. The Wheatley area is prodomenitly black and prodomenitly poor, so hopefully this helps change that area for the better.

^^ I had no idea that Wheatley Courts was still around these days. Back-in-da day, I remember that used to be one of the roughest areas on the Eastside.

^^ It's still a very dilapidated area. Hopefully these changes work and make the area come around.

We have some more info on Graham Weston's plans

Ballpark envisioned as part of upgrades downtown (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Ballpark-envisioned-as-part-of-upgrades-downtown-4122784.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 12:50 am, Monday, December 17, 2012

Graham Weston isn't interested in owning a ballpark, but he is looking to play ball.

The billionaire co-founder of Rackspace Hosting Inc. wants to be a catalyst who spurs more residential development in and around downtown. And he has identified at least one area where he'd like to start.

Weston and his associates have talked with city and county officials about the possibility of a downtown ballpark as part of a broader discussion of his plans to create a vibrant urban core consisting of residential and commercial space.

The idea is to build a roughly 10,000-seat stadium that could be sized up to accommodate a major league baseball team.

He added: “But this is not just about a baseball field. It's about a greater vision.”

Weston was referring to the area around the Weston Centre. The aim is to create an area of downtown that will act as a hub for tech startups.

Weston Urban's development plan for downtown, he added, will spring from Geekdom and the nearby area — potentially including a baseball stadium and a hoped-for residential and entertainment district growing up around it.

Weston owns three parcels that total 1.4 acres near the downtown high-rise office building bearing his name. There are no immediate plans for development at those sites, except for a tract at East Pecan Street and Main Avenue that will be used for an urban garden.

Weston confirmed that he's in talks with multiple entities about downtown residential developments but said there was nothing firm to announce.

More immediate plans could stem from Geekdom. Smith confirmed that the lobby, the second floor and the river frontage at the Weston Centre will be renovated to support tenant amenities such as wellness-related services, community space and some retail.

Although Weston Urban's plans are in their early stages, Smith said downtown will have a much different look in coming years.


I am all for a baseball park downtown, but, fortunately, Mr. Weston is more concerned with residential development right now. If we piece things together, his idea for a tech hub around his building goes in line with the previous article posted about a startup village.

Loving what I'm hearing from Graham Weston. A downtown stadium capable of expanding to MLB specs is cool too.

I've never been inside the Wolff Stadium, but from what I've seen on the freeway, it looks pretty nice. Could this stadium be retrofitted and expanded to the size necessary for an MLB team? I personally like downtown stadiums, as they tend to enhance city skylines, but I'm wondering where they will find room for it downtown. It seems like the current stadium is in a pretty accessible area.

I think in general, they are looking to build a stadium for at least a triple A team and they are looking at other sites too. They just seem to be more excited with the possibility of the stadium being built near the Fox Tech site, which is also close to the Weston Centre. There have been plans for a new stadium for a little while now. Here is an old article about a baseball stadium downtown. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2011/10/07/downtown-san-antonio-ballpark-pitch.html?s=print

And another one: www.kens5.com/news/Downtown-baseball-stadium-may-no-longer-be-a-field-of-dreams-134720713.html

Those all talk about Double A team stadium at the time, but it was very recently that Wolff expressed a push for triple A.

Racing commission OKs Retama deal (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Racing-commission-OKs-Retama-deal-4128290.php#photo-3547366)

By Patrick Danner
Updated 1:40 pm, Tuesday, December 18, 2012

AUSTIN — The Texas Racing Commission today approved a complicated deal that gives Las Vegas casino gaming company Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. a majority stake in the racing license at Selma's Retama Park.

The transaction ensures that horse racing will continue at Retama Park, which has never made money since opening in 1995.

Under the deal unanimously approved by the commission, Pinnacle will receive a 75.5 percent interest in the racing license in return for $22.8 million. The purchase price is comprised of $15 million in cash for working capital for Retama and $7.8 million for debt securities and other interests.

Pinnacle executives have envisioned constructing a mixed-used development to complement the track facilities. Officials previously have said the project could include an entertainment center with theaters, restaurants and a bowling alley.

Whether a casino will be part of those plans remains to be seen. Gaming currently isn't legal in Texas, and previous efforts to legalize it have failed.

I think in general, they are looking to build a stadium for at least a triple A team and they are looking at other sites too. They just seem to be more excited with the possibility of the stadium being built near the Fox Tech site, which is also close to the Weston Centre. There have been plans for a new stadium for a little while now. Here is an old article about a baseball stadium downtown. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/print-edition/2011/10/07/downtown-san-antonio-ballpark-pitch.html?s=print

And another one: www.kens5.com/news/Downtown-baseball-stadium-may-no-longer-be-a-field-of-dreams-134720713.html

Those all talk about Double A team stadium at the time, but it was very recently that Wolff expressed a push for triple A.

The proposed stadium would be able to expand to MLB specs. That's Wolff's ultimate tenant for a stadium downtown.

Ultimately, yes, but Wolff has expressed that he believes SA is at least ready for triple A if not MLB. I'm hoping with the Rangers games and within the next year or two that SA proves it is ready for MLB so that there is little question about it. However, I'd like to see downtown get some diverse action going on prior to a stadium.

Blue Star Arts Complex seeing influx of retail (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Blue-Star-Arts-Complex-seeing-influx-of-retail-4129184.php)

By Valentino Lucio
Updated 6:13 pm, Tuesday, December 18, 2012

James Lifshutz, owner of the Blue Star Arts Complex, is looking to enliven the 26-year-old Southtown institution, making it more commercially appealing by pulling in new restaurants, bars and other retail to complement the arts scene there.

So far, Blue Star has signed up a tapas restaurant, pizzeria and craft beer bar, a coffeehouse and lounge, and a locally sourced food market, said Jeremy Jessop, the leasing broker for the complex at Probandt and Alamo streets.

But the influx of retail is coming at a price: some long-time arts-related tenants decided to move on due to increasing rents and smaller footprints.

Since the renovations were announced in January, about half a dozen art galleries and theaters have moved, closed up shop or put operations on hold. Currently, there's about 40,000 square feet dedicated to artists, art dealers and arts organizations at the 160,000-square-foot complex.



This story sounds familiar: artists moving out due to expensive rents.

While Nelson Wolff tries to bring a baseball stadium downtown, his son Kevin is bringing an urban grocery store to Lower Broadway.

http://www.plazadearmastx.com/images/stories/urbanmarket.jpg

http://www.plazadearmastx.com/index.php/chisme/121-chisme/2544-a-downtown-grocer-no-ifs-ands-or-butts

This is smack dab in the middle of a residential construction boom for the urban core. Over 1,000 units under construction with a couple of blocks of this new development.

With rumors of Trader Joe's opening a store in Southtown and HEB being close to announcing a store for downtown, things are looking good for downtown and the urban core.

That's awesome! I've always wanted to see that area developed and I'm glad grocery stores are finally giving downtown a chance.

Embrey adding a new element to San Antonio's multifamily market (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/12/embrey-adding-a-new-element-to-san.html)

San Antonio Business Journal by Tricia Lynn Silva, Reporter/Project Coordinator
Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 4:42pm CST

Embrey Partners Ltd. is adding some urban touches, and some townhomes, to the North Central submarket.

The firm’s latest project, The Park at West Ave,, will span roughly 30 acres of land on West Avenue, along the planned Wurzbach Parkway extension.

Plans for The Park at West Ave call for 278 urban flats, and 82 townhomes, according to John Kirk, senior vice president of development for Embrey Partners.

Sundt JV Will Improve Three San Antonio High Schools (http://blog.sundt.com/2012/12/05/sundt-jv-will-improve-three-san-antonio-high-schools/)

http://s8.postimage.org/degxza15x/brackhigh.jpg
An artist’s rendering of the new buildings at Brackenridge High School show how they face the San Antonio River. Inside, the central hallway was designed to mimic the river’s curvature while large windows provide sweeping views of the water.

The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) recently allocated more than $500 million to improve its schools, and the largest single contract has been awarded to Sundt and joint venture partner Guido Construction. The team’s $65 million, Construction Manager at Risk project involves renovations and additions to three existing high schools – Brackenridge, Burbank and Lanier – while they are still open and operating. It is Sundt’s first project for the district.

Starting next May, Guido-Sundt will construct new buildings, recreational facilities and parking areas at the three schools, performing much of the work while thousands of students, faculty and staff are present. Through careful planning and creative scheduling, the projects are expected to be complete in 15, 18 and 20 months, respectively, without a single closure.

On the city of San Antonio's urban design website there are some nice renderings of the Solo Server Project on the same block downtown that I mentioned in the Never Built thread that Piazza San Lorenzo used to be on and now BC Lynd owns.

http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/EasyGalleryImages/8/19/SoloServeProject5resz.jpg

http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/EasyGalleryImages/8/19/SoloServeProject1resz.jpg

http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/EasyGalleryImages/8/19/SoloServeProject2resz.jpg

http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/EasyGalleryImages/8/19/SoloServeProject3resz.jpg

http://www.sanantonio.gov/CityDesignCenter/aboutus.aspx

And this one looks a lot like the design on Robert Yakas website:

http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/EasyGalleryImages/8/19/SoloServeProject4resz.jpg

http://www.robertyakasdesign.com/uploads/1/1/1/4/11147047/4033385_orig.jpg
http://www.robertyakasdesign.com/

Hope we hear something soon.

*Solo Serve Project by the way

This was on the website too.
http://s11.postimage.org/bsz3lgyhf/citydes.png

Have no idea where or what it is but it is :drool:

That is pretty cool! Excited to learn more about the project!

Topping out ceremony for the Tobin Center

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/14499_530825583594504_2049663125_n.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/430866_530827443594318_733919907_n.jpg

http://m.facebook.com/TobinCenterSA?v=photos&__user=1145904752