NEW ESSEX MODERN CITY RENDERINGS
https://i.imgur.com/NmabjgF.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/PEoqGBF.png?1

https://i.imgur.com/H2tEKJm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/y6sLFoy.jpg


ALREADY POSTED ESSEX MODERN CITY RENDERINGS
https://i.imgur.com/yuqA7Gz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/4R3SdRx.jpg

VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO

https://i.imgur.com/13j4x4u.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dXwQmrQ.jpg

NEW ESSEX MODERN CITY RENDERINGS
https://i.imgur.com/NmabjgF.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/PEoqGBF.png?1

https://i.imgur.com/H2tEKJm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/y6sLFoy.jpg


ALREADY POSTED ESSEX MODERN CITY RENDERINGS
https://i.imgur.com/yuqA7Gz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/4R3SdRx.jpg

Essex Modern City is planned for a neighborhood east of downtown called Denver Heights. The near east side has historically been a poor area, there are three main neighborhoods that make up the near East Side. The largest and closest to downtown proper is Dignowity Hill. Then there is Government Hill which is north of Dignowity Hill. Lastly, there is the aforementioned Denver Heights, it is south of Dignowity Hill.

In terms of transformation or as some would deem “gentrification”, Dignowity Hill was the first of the three near east side neighborhoods to begin experiencing gentrification. Now it is Government Hill seeing major changes thanks to momentum from the Pearl.

Denver Heights has been slow to the gentrification table, but in the last year things have begun to ramp up.

Here are home values for all three neighborhoods from 2015 to 2019. The spike is in value is nothing short of astonishing.

https://i.imgur.com/Vn7SNEI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1SviJ86.jpg

UTSA is expanding it's downtown campus (its main campus is 15 miles northwest of downtown) and this is the just released rendering for how the planned 10 year expansion will look for the west side of Downtown San Antonio. White buildings in the first rendering is new development for the school. Phase 1 of 2 for this overall expansion is already funded and will be over 300 million dollars.


NEW RENDERINGS OF UTSA'S DOWNTOWN EXPANSION (https://saheron.com/utsa-campus-to-connect-to-west-side-community-in-universitys-expansion-plan/)


https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/utsa-expansion-may-6-2019-1-768x383.jpg


https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/utsa-expansion-may-6-2019-5-1024x588.jpg


The plan would quadruple the size of the current campus in 10 years, and eventually serve 10,000 students. It would unfold in two phases—the first phase, which is projected to cost north of $300 million, would include the construction of new schools on Dolorosa Street just south of City Hall.

The expansion is being funded by a combination of public money available to UTSA, including from the UT System Board of Regent’s Permanent University Fund, and some philanthropic help, such as $15 million from philanthropist and developer Graham Weston.

We knew this when UTSA first made the expansion announcement last fall.

What’s new in this latest version of the plan is how the second phase—on property west of the existing university campus footprint currently owned by the city—connects to the near West Side via Buena Vista and West Commerce streets. Buena Vista, in particular, would have a pedestrian bridge that runs level with the vehicular bridge that connects downtown with the West Side.

There also looks to be an elevated park that hangs over a street-level promenade, and basketball courts outside a recreation and wellness center that presumably would be available to West Side residents.


https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/utsa-expansion-may-6-2019-uses-1-1024x576.jpg
https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/utsa-expansion-may-6-2019-uses-2.jpg

josh - is there a good forum like OKCTalk for San Antonio?

josh - is there a good forum like OKCTalk for San Antonio?

Not a solely dedicated one like OKCTalk. Not that I know of. The Skyscraperpage San Antonio forum (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=447) is what I’d suggest,

Really cool video of Spurs player Patty Mills and his fiancé discussing their living in the urban core. Patty moved from the outside 1604 suburbs to the urban core last season.


https://streamable.com/qls7m

Not a solely dedicated one like OKCTalk. Not that I know of. The Skyscraperpage San Antonio forum (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=447) is what I’d suggest,
Thanks, josh.

DALLAS DEVELOPER PROPOSES DUAL 24-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWERS FOR DOWNTOWN


https://i.imgur.com/JzfxF1w.png

https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/jmj-two-towers-map-2017-0725-b.jpg

Those will be great if they get built. Removing surface parking and adding height. Very jealous.

One of the buildings will replace a surface parking lot next to the Riverwalk. The other will replace a structure that was demolished.

PHOTO UPDATE ON A FEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE URBAN CORE


https://i.imgur.com/9CQFiD3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/saxgyuk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MFlPzb2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/pRDMG2T.jpg

DOWNTOWN DURANGO APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT INCREASES HEIGHT

A 12-story, 134 foot tall apartment development planned for downtown San Antonio reviewed approval last week to have its height increased to 15 stories and 178 feet as well as increase the number of residential units.


BEFORE

https://i.imgur.com/DMzTjmz.png?1

AFTER

https://i.imgur.com/NiHFHgY.png

TWO NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENTS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK

A ten story residential buiding next to the Pearl in Midtown, Elmira at Myrtle, was announced this week as well as a 6-story mixed use development and brewery on the near East side called East End.


ELMIRA AT MYRTLE

https://i.imgur.com/Dp8bSRo.png

https://i.imgur.com/k0YDhOn.png

https://i.imgur.com/859ZOkT.png

https://i.imgur.com/t3gG3Fk.png

https://i.imgur.com/W7JCUh5.png

https://i.imgur.com/C5i9Bm8.png

https://i.imgur.com/tWGBmyy.png


EAST END

https://i.imgur.com/LdvRM8U.jpg?1



MAP OVERVIEW

The orange square is ELMIRA AT MYRTLE.

The red square is EAST END.

The green squares are the UTSA downtown campus expansion (https://i.imgur.com/rMKGbqO.jpg).


https://i.imgur.com/JIQyiAe.jpg

Josh have you seen any rumblings about HSR? With the Dallas to Houston corridor likely to come into play, Houston and Austin are mulling expansions of their LRT system. San Antonio doesn’t have any LRT. I hope they go big and propose a massive LRT system. Thankful TxDOT builds amazing roads and they seem to be improving more roads in the area.

In terms of transit, a lot is happening right now with funding. Moves are being made to increase local funding for VIA Transit, our local mass transit authority. In terms of rail, local leadership is moving away from trying to build a local rail system as they feel it’s an outdated mode of transit and that they want to plan for the future with modes of transit that don’t have a fixed route. They’re hedging their bets on trackless trains as well as BRT, last mile options and other things.

SA should focus on a starter subway network with feeder BRT routes to major centers IMO.

SA should focus on a starter subway network with feeder BRT routes to major centers IMO.

Subway? That’s be nearly impossible due to cost and because of the limestone bedrock under the entire city and metro area. But, trackless trains with dedicated lanes, expanded BRT routes, the planned HOV lanes, elevated highways planned, etc will do a lot of good for the city.

I’m sure other cities have built subways in bedrock like SA has. But I can’t say for certain. Either way some sort of fixed guideway is necessary and hopefully they don’t cheap out with a street car. The elevated freeways are great and I’m very happy to see TxDOT invest in mega freeways in SA. I can only hope OkDOT does the same for OKC but I won’t hold my breath.

TxDOT has seemingly underinvested in SA for too long.

I’m sure other cities have built subways in bedrock like SA has. But I can’t say for certain. Either way some sort of fixed guideway is necessary and hopefully they don’t cheap out with a street car. The elevated freeways are great and I’m very happy to see TxDOT invest in mega freeways in SA. I can only hope OkDOT does the same for OKC but I won’t hold my breath.

TxDOT has seemingly underinvested in SA for too long.

TxDot has underfunded SA for a long time but mostly because Houston and Dallas take the two biggest slices of the funding pie.

But a lot is planned and currently under construction. Major expansions of I-10, 281, 1604 and 35 with all four getting HOV lanes. Three stack interchanges are under construction right now. All that and none of it will be tolled. San Antonio will continue to be the only major Texas city with no toll roads and with Texas banning future toll roads, San Antonio drivers will never will be forced to pay tolls to drive our freeways.

Glad to hear about the tolls. Drives already pay the highest user fees of any mode of transport and tolls are a slap �� in the face.

Glad to hear about the tolls. Drives already pay the highest user fees of any mode of transport and tolls are a slap �� in the face.

Yeah, it’s awesome that unlike Dallas and Houston drivers, San Antonio drivers will never have to pay a toll to drive on freeway lanes.

If you’re interested, there’s a local man who covers San Antonio freeways. History, construction, data, etc.

His site (http://texashighwayman.com/sanfwys.shtml) is quite the read and resource.

DREAM HOTEL BRAND PLANNING DOWNTOWN HOTEL

https://i.imgur.com/b9Qtseq.jpg

DREAM HOTEL BRAND PLANNING DOWNTOWN HOTEL

https://i.imgur.com/b9Qtseq.jpg
I love that!

I love that!

This is a very exciting project, because it’s part of a larger development that will include an office and residential building.


Conceptualized by renowned architecture and design firm CUBE3 Architects, Dream San Antonio is poised to become a new catalyst for the area and an integral part of the "new" downtown San Antonio scene. When open, the boutique hotel will be the centerpiece of a large mixed use development that includes office space and private residences, transforming a full city block into a communal gathering place for hotel guests and locals alike.

Rendering of UTSA’s new National Security Collaboration Center and School of Data Science planned for downtown.

https://i.imgur.com/MNNx801.jpg

8-STORY RESIDENTIAL PLANNED FOR SOUTH END OF DOWNTOWN

https://i.imgur.com/t9xQ7iM.png

https://i.imgur.com/sV6QChK.png

That building is being built in an area that is quickly becoming dense with residential buildings. Also planned for this area of downtown are two twin high rise residential towers, and a 15-story residential building.

This mixed-use development is currently under construction on the north side of San Antonio, about 8 miles from downtown.


https://i.imgur.com/R0T6rss.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TuVyY66.jpg

NINE STORY KIMPTON HOTEL PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN

https://i.imgur.com/18xLBPT.png?1

https://i.imgur.com/DeTkll2.png?1

https://i.imgur.com/cIqxOfU.png?1

The same developer bought the Marriott next to this planned hotel and plans to renovate it into an Otis Hotel, part of the high end Marriott Autograph Collection.

RENDERING FOR 30-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER

https://31s4zs2j0qniriqt32xerd6a-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BA-Architects-Villita-Tower-e1580184816426.jpg

Planned for the south end of downtown near La Villita.

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT WITH TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS PLANNED FOR MIDTOWN

https://i.imgur.com/7qeio7O.jpg

Will have retail and two mid-rise residential buildings. This is planned two blocks west of the Pearl in the Tobin Hill neighborhood of Midtown.

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT WITH TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS PLANNED FOR MIDTOWN

https://i.imgur.com/7qeio7O.jpg

Will have retail and two mid-rise residential buildings. This is planned two blocks west of the Pearl in the Tobin Hill neighborhood of Midtown.

Something like that would be awesome for the Bob Howard lot between the parks!

I sure hope we can get a more impressive development than that on the Bob Howard site.

Floodgate luxury tower now underway

https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/floodgate1.jpeg

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2020/03/27/enter-the-floodgate-luxury-17-story-apartment.html

For those not too familiar with San Antonio or the Texas hill country. This is drone footage of one of San Antonio’s big lakes. Medina Lake, enjoy!


https://youtu.be/x7y54et41JM

Are the lakes always so low?

Are the lakes always so low?

That’s not really low. There was a point were Texas has a drought so bad that Medina lake was at like 20 percent capacity, then after years of a drought we had a typical week long monsoon like weather system that provided do much rain the lake filled past capacity and nearly over spilled its dam. This was almost ten years ago or do and since then it’s been pretty relatively at 80-90% full.

But I’m this area of Texas, esp during the summer, we can have rain systems can flood the area.

Check out what usually happens at Medina Lake and other SA area lakes during the summer.



https://youtu.be/bpO3v2gsgDY

GRAYSTAR PARTNERS BUYS ABANDONED LONE STAR BREWERY (https://therivardreport.com/sale-to-san-antonio-developer-latest-twist-in-lone-star-brewery-saga/)

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/67/35/24/14538009/13/rawImage.jpg

FOUR TOWER DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN

https://i.imgur.com/5lzNAbW.jpg
DREAM HOTEL SAN ANTONIO



Dream Hotel Group LLC's plans for an expansive River Walk development are advancing despite the Covid-19 pandemic that has disrupted travel and construction across the U.S., the company confirmed.

Rather than pull back, stakeholders are pushing forward, firming up equity investment and design plans for a landmark project that a lead official said will be anchored by a Dream San Antonio hotel tower that could reach nearly 30 stories and three other multistory structures housing a mix of river-area office and residential space.

“Everything is advancing. We have land owners, developers working together to move the project forward,” Dream Hotel Group Vice President of Development Christian Glauser Benz told me. “In the sense of priority and importance for us, it’s one of our top three developments in the country right now.”

In late January, Dream Hotel executives, including CEO Jay Stein, outlined preliminary plans for an undisclosed site believed to be west of the San Antonio River near East Martin and Soledad streets. Those talks centered exclusively on a hotel, but the scope of the project, planned for one of the city's Opportunity Zones, is now expected to have a far more significant impact on downtown.

The developers are "refining all of the components" for the four buildings anchored by the Dream hotel, Benz said.

"It’s a very large project,” he said. “We are getting our heads wrapped around square footage and costs," he said.

In March, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic. Since then, Dream Hotel Group has continued to work with investors and general contractors refining development plans and engaging with potential equity partners.

“The last four months for us have been knee-deep work with the general contractors … to get our cost numbers right where they should be. That’s all been done in parallel as we talk with the equity partners,” Benz said.

None of the stakeholders have been dissuaded by the pandemic.

“What is really important here is that all of them are long-term players. They love the city and are very committed to creating a legacy project in this part of town,” Benz said.

The Dream project will take 24 to 36 months to build, Benz said.

Benz believes that Covid-19 should not be an issue by then and that tourism should be fully back on track. He said now is the right time to do preliminary construction work, pricing, plans and architectural designs.

Dream Hotel executives believe San Antonio will emerge from the crisis with more high-profile projects to follow and with greater interest from triple-A capital groups from both coasts.

“Investors know that San Antonio’s time is coming,” Benz said. “This project will put San Antonio on the map. With that comes a lot of responsibility.”

Ground broke a few months ago on Solms Landing in the suburb of New Braunfels. Since then the price tag has increased from 200 million to 500 million and density of the urban town center section has also increased. New renderings have been released.


100 ACRE, $500 MILLION SOLMS LANDING

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX


https://i.imgur.com/LiiqFnc.jpg
URBAN TOWN CENTER PORTION OF SOLMS LANDING

https://i.imgur.com/cnDMHbV.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ceEiQak.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/FFZUoAK.jpg

San Antonio Skyline

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49846100468_e15500613d_h.jpg
By Raul Medina III, on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/raulsphotography/

New renderings of the Canopy by Hilton

https://i.ibb.co/d796cF2/Riverwalk-Canopy-Day-FINAL-v4-2020.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/fSH1NqK/Domingo-Resize.jpg

University Hospital Expansion

https://www.universityhealthsystem.com/~/media/images/about-us/wc-tower-aerial-lg.jpg?la=en

Webcam link below
https://www.universityhealthsystem.com/about-us/expansion/time-lapse

San Antonio leaders vying for U.S. Space Command headquarters

https://www.ksat.com/resizer/HPwsQTn-S1_Vk77sPfbSAlk1ido=/fit-in/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(tr ue):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XUQPVRQ3IJCJNJ3QDTFGYP2AKU.jpeg


August 6, 2020

SAN ANTONIO – A behind-the-scenes push by local and regional leaders has put San Antonio in the running for another major military installation, city officials confirmed on Thursday.

The Air Force is searching for a permanent headquarters for the U.S. Space Command, a recently established military command that is charged with war efforts in space. Currently, its operations are based in Colorado Springs.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Governor Greg Abbott and members of the San Antonio congressional delegation have written letters to Air Force leaders at the Pentagon within the last two months asking that the Alamo City be considered. Abbott also nominated Houston and Fort Worth.

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/08/06/san-antonio-leaders-vying-for-us-space-command-headquarters/?outputType=amp&fbclid=IwAR1lyNb54qoUnA-NvGyZVw3qkNaSn3RGYc1ZsiMsZjzSiYEUdmhZ3e9W_xM

San Antonio leaders vying for U.S. Space Command headquarters

https://www.ksat.com/resizer/HPwsQTn-S1_Vk77sPfbSAlk1ido=/fit-in/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(tr ue):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XUQPVRQ3IJCJNJ3QDTFGYP2AKU.jpeg



https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/08/06/san-antonio-leaders-vying-for-us-space-command-headquarters/?outputType=amp&fbclid=IwAR1lyNb54qoUnA-NvGyZVw3qkNaSn3RGYc1ZsiMsZjzSiYEUdmhZ3e9W_xM

i would be shocked if this does not end up at Peterson SpaceForceBase

FIVE TOWER DEVELOPMENT, RIVERPLACE, PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN

https://i.imgur.com/VSFzGDY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2gzTHoT.jpg

Building 3 is about 25 stories in height for reference.

In a bit of news. San Antonio is number 2 in the nation for new multi family development since the beginning of 2020.

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR MIDTOWN NEAR THE PEARL

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11841148/20200820-logo1.jpg

Renovated The Light building getting its signage.

https://i.imgur.com/wIBqX6x.jpg

Foundation has started on The Floodgate

Renderings
https://saheron.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/floodgate1.jpeg

This tower will also feature a AGV automated parking system which will be the first in Texas.

https://parkplusinc.com/projects/floodgate-tower-agv/

Rendering of Durango Apartmens
https://i.imgur.com/seWXv75.jpg


From SABJ:

A $25 million permit for construction of a luxury apartment tower in downtown San Antonio led August's largest permits for work valued at $2 million or more, according to city of San Antonio records.

The Durango apartment project, which has been proposed since 2017, could finally move forward with the permit. The project by Laney Development at 215 E. Cevallos St. received final approval from the San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission in summer 2018. The project was last recorded as a 13-story apartment tower estimated at $25 million, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/

Updated image of the Wurzbach parkway land bridge under construction connecting Hardberger Park in north central San Antonio.

https://i.imgur.com/DXRmy9f.jpg

Potential concept for terminal expansion at San Antonio International Airport.

https://i.imgur.com/t5zZ2vP.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E95Dgrk.jpg

32-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN


"The project will include the construction of a 32-story apartment structure consisting of ground floor lobby and shell retail, parking garage (levels 2-6), and residential (351 units) with amenity spaces, as well as entry drives and associated site improvements."

It’s expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2021. A general contractor has already been awarded the project.


https://i.imgur.com/tqDOvms.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tP9JR9d.jpg

The Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge now open


https://youtu.be/-r7JR5x3-eY

https://www.ktsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Robert-L.B.-Tobin-Land-Bridge-640x400.jpg

https://www.philhardbergerpark.org/land-bridge

UPDATED RENDERINGS OF 32-STORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

https://i.imgur.com/MtvKBnP.jpg

I’m happy to see SA get some taller buildings. Hopefully a super tall or two is proposed by 2030.

12-STORY MIXED-USED PLANNED FOR WEST END OF DOWNTOWN

Renderings for 12-story The Continental mixed-use development.


https://i.imgur.com/AQwqc4d.jpg