delete please

CITY AND METRO > ENTERTAINMENT NEWS



UNIQUE RADIO STATION SERVICE LAUNCHES IN SAN ANTONIO (http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/138260/alpha-media-san-antonio-launches-alternative-103-3)
ALPHA MEDIA BRINGS ALTERNATIVE MUSIC RADIO STATION TO SAN ANTONIO

http://i.imgur.com/p6Sj56S.png


Alpha Media has launched Alternative 103.3 THE APP, which will target millennials ages 18-44. Pat Cerullo will oversee the programming.

“San Antonio is ground zero for the first station using our national service mark; THE APP," Alpha Media EVP/Programming Scott Mahalick said. "Alpha Media continues to innovate by launching the first app with a radio station attached to it. Many stations have an app, but only one app has a radio station attached to it.”

"With 103.3 THE APP, the broadcast paradigm has changed. True convergence has arrived, so much so that it’s our name," Alpha Media VP/Programming Phil Becker said. “Wish you had an original station name? Now there’s an App for that.”

“103.3 THE APP most certainly fills a void in the San Antonio market," Dir./Operations Greg Martin added. "This is a very exciting new sound unlike any heard in this market in many years”.

“I’m thrilled to be programming San Antonio’s exclusive home for Alternative music, 103.3 THE APP!" PD Pat Cerullo said. "So many hit records have been absent from this market over the past few years, but now that is finally going to change. We’ve positioned the station as the first app with a terrestrial FM signal, since prior to our launch, listeners had to seek out this format via other mediums. This is just one example of the forward thinking and creativity that listeners can expect from Alpha Media in 2015.”



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y9J_dmdeUw

please delete

METRO > NEW BRAUNFELS > RESTAURANT NEWS

This news is a little over a month old.


IN-N-OUT OPENING RESTAURANT IN NEW BRAUNFELS (http://www.mysanantonio.com/food/restaurants/article/In-n-Out-Burger-to-open-in-New-Braunfels-5988104.php)

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/in-n-out-logo.jpg


With one spot already open in San Antonio and a second on the way in Windcrest, In-N-Out Burger has plans for another burger joint in New Braunfels.

The restaurant will be located at 106 FM 306, which is right off Interstate 35 in New Braunfels, according to a project filing with the state. Construction is estimated to start in February with completion as early as August, the filing states.

In the San Antonio area, In-N-Out Burger has a restaurant at 10918 Culebra Rd. Another restaurant is expected to open soon at 8202 North Interstate 35, records show.

DOWNTOWN FROM THE PEARL
http://i.imgur.com/FT1yuAy.jpg

CITY > MIDTOWN > THE PEARL > RESTAURANT NEWS


SOUTHERLEIGH TO OPEN NEXT MONTH AS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST BREWPUBS (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/02/12/southerleigh-to-open-next-month-as-one-of-nation-s.html?ana=twt)
GREAT ADDITION TO THE PEARL DISTRICT

http://i.imgur.com/i5e9WLq.gif

http://southerleigh.com/img/coin-worn.png (http://southerleigh.com/)



W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal

The delicate transformation of the original Pearl Brewery building into Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery is nearly complete. The new restaurant and brewpub is now slated to open in late March.

Southerleigh will be one of the largest brewpubs in the nation, and it will feature a modern twist on what owner and executive chef Jeff Balfour refers to as Texas' "cross-cultural cuisine."

The newest player in San Antonio's emerging craft beer industry has big plans for the historic site.

"We could not be in a better space to brew beer," Balfour said about the Pearl building, which has not housed brewing operations since 2002.

That long hiatus is about to end. Southerleigh will have a 15-barrel brew house, six serving tanks and an extensive firkin/wood barrel-aging program. Southerleigh brewmaster Les Locke plans to plans to develop nearly two dozen craft beers that will be available on tap — by the glass or in a growler. Southerleigh will offer several dining areas, including a private room housed in one of Pearl Brewery's original grain silos.

In October, I asked Balfour, who left a chef position at Hotel Valencia to take on the Southerleigh project, about the process of developing a new restaurant and brewpub in the original Pearl brewhouse.

"I'm still amazed by the history that you see in the building," he said. "My understanding was, when it closed, it closed. There was a lot of stuff that looked like it probably did when (Pearl) stopped using it."


http://www.webresizer.com/session/Elkp6N9LKFw1cq2TUnO48RhYWd5bV0lL/result.png?1423817614.64879

URBAN > RIVER NORTH > MIXED-USE



RENDERINGS FOR ALAMO RIVERWALK, FORMERLY KNOWN AS 111 W. JONES (http://www.okctalk.com/other-communities/35797-san-antonio-%7C-deep-heart-16.html#post847873), IN RIVER NORTH

http://i.imgur.com/EJb2a0w.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/H5M7kgz.png?1

SITE CURRENTLY
http://i.imgur.com/jrH3m2x.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/2i0gkDv.jpg?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/zluK5BH.png

DOWNTOWN FROM THE PEARL
http://i.imgur.com/FT1yuAy.jpg

Love that view!

TIME WARNER CABLE ROLLING OUT ULTRA FAST INTERNET AND TV IN SAN ANTONIO (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/02/18/time-warner-cable-to-introduce-ultra-fast-internet.html)

http://i.imgur.com/WvNswpk.jpg



Time Warner Cable plans to launch its ultra-fast TWC Maxx Internet and television service in the San Antonio market beginning in March. The first phase of the rollout will affect some 75,000 TWC customers, who will get Internet access up to six times faster than what they currently receive.

Time Warner Cable officials said the new service will be available to all area customers at no extra charge by the end of July.

The advanced TV experience will include an Enhanced DVR, which allows customers to simultaneously record up to six different programs, and the ability to save 150 hours of high-definition programming on its 1TB (terabyte) hard drive — twice the storage capacity of the largest current model. Customers will also have access to an all-digital lineup and an expanded On Demand library of more than 19,000 titles.

In addition, Time Warner said it plans to introduce new TWC WiFi Hotspots in the San Antonio area later this year.

The list of communities and neighborhoods that will be included in the first phase of the TWC Maxx roll out include:

• Balcones Heights

• China Grove

• Far North East Side

• Huebner Road (between I-10 and Bitters)

• Kirby

• Pecan Valley

• Shavano Park

• Somerset

• South Side (west of I-35 between Highway 90 and Loop 410)

• West Side (including areas around Woodlawn and Commerce streets)

• Windcrest

Internet speed upgrades: 15x1 to 50x5, 20x2 to 100x10, 30x5 to 200x20, 50x5 to 300x20


I also expect San Antonio to be in the next round of Google Fiber cities announcements later this summer.

ALAMO HEIGHTS GIVES CONDITIONAL APPROVAL TO MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT (http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2015/02/17/alamo-heights-apartment-complex-gets-conditional-approval.html)

http://i.imgur.com/v1l4WIe.jpg


A proposed 150-unit apartment complex is one step closer to becoming a part of Alamo Heights.

Local developer enters fray over controversial Alamo Heights project
On Tuesday, the city's Architectural Review Board voted to give "conditional approval" to go forward with the project.

During Tuesday night's meeting, the majority of Alamo Heights residents who got up to the make a comment said they were are ready for a change.

"You just see development all around San Antonio," said Lawson Jessee, Alamo Heights resident. "You see San Antonio growing and improving and you haven't' seen that in Alamo Heights. So, this is a really great start for that."

Jessee said he is in support of a proposed mixed-use development at 5514 Broadway.

"It's a challenging project," said Rich Archer with Overland Partners Architects. "It's controversial. I think we got to hear from a lot of citizens who came out in support of the project, who really believe it's the best thing for the city."


LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/R0eSL9p.png

DOWNTOWN FROM THE PEARL
http://i.imgur.com/FT1yuAy.jpg

Exact opposite view.


NORTH SIDE FROM THE PEARL
http://i.imgur.com/ReEeu83.png

TRAFFIC ON LOOP 410
http://i.imgur.com/HFEmeOy.jpg?1

I though Google already announced SA was getting Fiber?

I though Google already announced SA was getting Fiber?

San Antonio was named a Google Fiber finalist but has yet to land Fiber as the first round of cities given fiber accrued two weeks ago and only included four southeastern cities.

This seems to stem from Google having limited technicians who can install Fiber, hence their only choosing four in a southeastern cluster.

The next round of cities will be announced in the summer. Which is when I believe San Antonio will be announced.

DOWNTOWN AT DUSK

http://i.imgur.com/QW19gaC.jpg

USAA TO BREAK GROUND ON $47 MILLION DOLLAR PHASE II OF THE RESIDENCES AT LA CANTERA (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/02/19/construction-set-to-begin-for-next-phase-of-la.html)


http://i.imgur.com/1nsP4f2.jpg?1
PHASE I OF THE RESIDENCES AT LA CANTERA


Construction for the second phase of the Residences at La Cantera is slated to begin this May, bringing the development one step closer to its goal of becoming a resort-like destination.

USAA Real Estate Co., with more than $12 billion in assets under management, is the principal developer for all of the new properties within the master-planned community, which include retail, office, hotel and residential space. The estimated $47 million, four-story, 300-unit multifamily residential building has a permit to break ground this May. The project should be completed in two years.

Once finished, the Residences at La Cantera will feature studio to three-bedroom Class A floorplans, ranging between 553 and 1,785 square feet. Amenities will include a clubhouse, cyber café, fitness center, yoga classroom, resort-style pool and Jacuzzi.


LA CANTERA MASTER PLAN
http://i.imgur.com/CGO7V1A.jpg?1
RESIDENCES AT LA CANTERA │ PHASE I │ PHASE II


LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/LeohrRl.png

DOWNTOWN AT DUSK

http://i.imgur.com/QW19gaC.jpg
That's amazing and such a beautiful skyline. I talked to a lady today in Dallas for hours and we talked about San Antonio for quite some time. She told me she likes it better than Dallas because it has so much character and charm whereas Dallas is more cookie cutter type. I can't wait to visit. I might end up spending more than a day there. I was thinking of doing Sea World and Fiesta. How would you rank the Six Flags there? Is it good?

Six flags is great. It's adding new rides and it was built inside a former quarry so it has a unique look to it.

You'll like it.

Also, if you look at the La Cantera master plan you'll see where six flags is in comparison to the shops, Elian and the rim.

Here's a rendering of the master plan for the Forest Park Medical Center in far northwest San Antonio. Located at the southeast corner of Loop 1604 and I-10, the upscale/high-end medical center will have an adjacent multi-family housing development, which is nearly complete. The largest building in the rendering is also complete (http://1pmdid68pfb2chosp4588po1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/San-Antonio-TX.jpg) and future phases are planned for the rest of the medical facilities shown.


http://i.imgur.com/WJwY2NW.jpg?1


The Forest Park Medical Center is directly across from Landmark Centre, a mixed-used development with several mid-rise buildings planned as well retail, 900-unit residential development, and a high-rise hotel. Landmark Centre also features the high end Victory Medical complex.


LANDMARK CENTRE SITE PLAN
http://i.imgur.com/JQ3bpo3.jpg

LANDMARK CENTRE OFFICE BUILDING
http://i.imgur.com/nZF0lLb.jpg?1
BROKE GROUND LAST MONTH
http://i.imgur.com/nStCK9N.jpg

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/PANYkZL.png

CITY > ENTERTAINMENT


SAN ANTONIO NAMED A TOP TEN CITY FOR FILMMAKERS (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/02/27/san-antonio-named-a-top-10-city-for-moviemakers.html?page=all)


http://i.imgur.com/dNYRmfT.jpg?1


San Antonio has been named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the "Top 10 Large Cities to Live and Work as a Moviemaker."

This is the first time San Antonio has made the Top 10 list, according to the city's Department for Culture & Creative Development. It's now in a group that includes such places as New York City, San Francisco and Atlanta.

It would be a stretch to proclaim San Antonio as the Hollywood of Texas. But the Alamo City is grabbing more attention — and business — from the motion picture industry, according to Drew Mayer-Oakes, film marketing manager for the department, who told me, with other cities locking up crews and resources, "San Antonio is looking more attractive to filmmakers."
See Also

Local producers, he said, are helping, by spreading the word about the resources and opportunities available in San Antonio. Local leaders are also spreading the word about San Antonio — nationally and internationally.

"This year at the Sundance Film Festival, I literally brought back two scripts on the plane and have received three more because of our presence," said Mayer-Oakes about the Utah event.

There are other factors capturing the industry's attention. San Antonio leaders have, for example, made it easier to film in the city than some markets, who have more challenging permitting processes.

CITY > TECHNOLOGY

Another telecom company bringing ultra fast internet to San Antonio.


GRANDE TO BRING ITS 1 GIGABIT INTERNET SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/02/27/grande-introducing-its1g-broadband-service-to-san.html)

http://i.imgur.com/JoIdZXv.jpg



Mike W. Thomas
San Antonio Business Journal

Grande Communications Inc. will roll out new high-speed Internet options for some parts of San Antonio on March 3.

The San Marcos-based broadband communications company plans to deploy 1-gigabit, or 1G, Internet service to the Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills neighborhoods. The new service will cost $64.99 per month. Other tiers are priced as follows:


15 Mbps for $29.99
50 Mbps for $34.99
200 Mbps for $44.99
300 Mbps for $54.99


Grande is one of the first service providers to bring 1G speeds to San Antonio. GVTC, the Smithson Valley-based telephone cooperative, upgraded its services to 1G late last year, but its local coverage area only extends to parts of far north San Antonio. The balance of the company's service territory extends outside the city limits and throughout the Hill Country.

"Grande's deployment of 1G service in San Antonio along with the new Internet speeds are part of our customer care commitment and continuing effort to offer the fastest Internet speeds and loaded bundles at the best value," said Matt Rohre, senior vice president of operations and general manager for Grande. "Upgrading our network, improving reliability and offering fast Internet speeds that are available to everyone in our service area truly illustrates our desire to be here for our Texas customers."

Alamo Beer's new brewery complex is open for business

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7621/16134506463_eea0b78340_b.jpg


By W. Scott Bailey
March 6th. 2015

It's taken Eugene Simor several years to move his new Alamo Beer Co. brewery from conception to completion. But on Friday, in the spirit of Texas independence, Simor will mark the opening of the East Side brewery, beer garden and beer hall with a ceremonial keg tapping and cannon fire.
As part of the landmark event, Alamo Beer is expanding its product line and will introduce three new craft beers to the public to complement the company's signature Golden Ale.

Alamo Beer's new brewery complex is open for business, slideshow - San Antonio Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/03/06/alamo-breweryis-open-for-business.html?full=true)

Alamo Beer Brewery Company is the first domino in a long line of dominoes set to fall for the Near East Side/Dignowity Hill/EastPoint area.

I like these pictures of the Brewery from the Rivard Report (http://www.therivardreport.com/photo-gallery-alamo-brewery-open-business/).


VIEW FROM THE HAYS STREET BRIDGE
http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/scottball_alamobrewgrandopen2.jpg

http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/scottball_alamobrewgrandopen20.jpg

http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/scottball_alamobrewgrandopen22.jpg

MAYOR IVY TAYLOR (RED DRESS) AND DISTRICT TWO COUNCILMAN ALAN WARRICK (PURPLE BOWTIE)
http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/scottball_alamobrewgrandopen1.jpg

ALAMO RE-ENACTORS SHOOT A CANON TO MARK THE GRAND OPENING
http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/scottball_alamobrewgrandopen7.jpg

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/vymXDru.png

SAN ANTONIO TO SERVE AS TRAINING CAMP HOME FOR U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMERS (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/03/05/san-antonio-to-serve-as-training-camp-home-for-u-s.html)

http://i.imgur.com/XVNOtQ9.jpg?1



W. Scott Bailey
San Antonio Business Journal

USA Swimming said Thursday that it has selected San Antonio as the domestic training site for the next Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. team will stage its camp at San Antonio's Northside Swim Center July 13-21, 2016.

The U.S. will hold its Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska next year. Athletes who qualify at those trials to represent the U.S. in Brazil will prepare for the 2016 games in San Antonio, which will host the 2015 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships.

USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch said San Antonio is home to "one of the top swimming facilities" in the nation.

The Northside Swim Center opened in 2013. It features a 50-meter, Olympic-sized outdoor pool and a 25-meter diving and warm-up pool. The swim center can accommodate 2,400 spectators for competitive events.'



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

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/GpctMQU.png

DOWNTOWN FROM RIVER NORTH

http://i.imgur.com/GeTvqSK.jpg?1

TWC Maxx has debuted in San Antonio.

Wednesday TWC rolled out their Maxx service to several different areas of the city to the tone of 75,000 homes, including mine. This was the first phase of their roll out. By July, the entire city will have Maxx internet speeds.

This picture is of my internet speed as of Wendesday night. My speed went from 30 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload to 200 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, free of charge,


http://i.imgur.com/Fn8VMxp.jpg?1

Found this really cool highway project. This is badass!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfowpaCwjE8

Found this really cool highway project. This is badass!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfowpaCwjE8

Yeah, that is looking like a for sure project. Will be cool to have another two level freeway in San Antonio, as there are already three others in San Antonio.

HEMISFAIR SEEKING PARTNERS FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT (http://therivardreport.com/hemisfair-seeking-partners-for-mixed-use-development/)

http://i.imgur.com/IXrRKTL.jpg?1


The Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment team released some bold new renderings Wednesday that represent what mixed-used buildings could look like in the urban park as part of a request for qualifications from area real estate developers. Hemisfair is seeking partners to enter into a public-private agreement to construct a mixed-use development totaling 500-750,000 sq. ft. in the park’s northwest quadrant.

The project will include more than 800 parking spaces to accommodate park visitors and others utilizing future residential, office, hotel, retail and restaurant facilities. This development will be adjacent to the Civic Park, “the largest and most iconic of the three parks being built,” stated a press release.


http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/developable-parcels-hemisfair-update-march-2015.jpg


Also on Wednesday, Hemisfair CEO Andrés Andujar briefed City Council during B Session on the transformative progress being made on the original site of the 1968 World’s Fair in the city’s core. The presentation included a first look at Hemisfair’s new tagline, “Where San Antonio Meets,” and a new logo, designed by local design firm Heavy Heavy of #KeepSAreal fame.


http://i.imgur.com/VozILH5.png?1


Andujar hopes to achieve several goals via public private partnerships: achieve a balance between parkland and developed parcels; separate and protect green spaces; and use lease revenues from new mixed-use development to pay for maintenance and operation.

One proposed mixed-use development for Water Street is in the negotiation phase. This development would boast more than 160 mixed income residential units; a structured parking garage with 418 spaces, including more than 250 public parking spaces; a 3,200-sq. ft. neighborhood commercial space; and 6,500 sq. ft. of work-live space.

The iconic Hemisfair Park archway on South Alamo Street came down in February to make way for improvements. The removal sparked an uproar, although many were unaware the archway was not original to HemisFair ’68, and actually was installed in 1988 and thus was not eligible for historic designation.

“The archway had to be deconstructed to make way for the development of the streets project, which seeks to restore historic context to the district with beautiful park streets that are safe for biking, walking and with greatly reduced vehicular speeds for safety,” Andujar said last month. “Hemisfair recognizes that the archway holds fond memories for many in San Antonio and so our current plan is to dismantle and store the archway until we can agree on a new place for it at Hemisfair. The arch isn’t going away for good – it’s being removed and relocated to make way for an important part of the Hemisfair redevelopment.”


YANAGUANA, CIVIC, AND TOWER PARK TIMELINES

http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/park-timeline-hemisfair-update-march-2015.jpg
COMPLETION YEARS FOR YANAGUANA, CIVIC AND TOWER PARKS IN HEMISFAIR



HPRC is a nonprofit overseeing the redesign and redevelopment of the downtown park, which Andujar said will be central to achieving the city’s objective of placemaking – a multifaceted approach at managing public spaces around the urban core. The project is designed to leverage public funds, committed so far from the city’s voter-approved 2012 bond, and private money in the way of new development.

Yanaguana Garden, an educational playscape for all ages marking the first phase of redevelopment of Hemisfair Park, could be open to the public as early as July, city officials said Wednesday.


http://i.imgur.com/9UCwSfW.jpg?1
YANAGUANA PARK RENDERING


The city envisions Yanaguana Garden as a colorful, landscaped, vibrant place for adults and children of all ages and abilities, who will get to enjoy and learn through a variety of games, outdoor amenities and other interactive recreational activities, he said.

“This is truly something for all San Antonians,” Andujar said. “It’ll do a good job to attract locals as well as visitors. We believe this will have a community-wide impact.”

Local art, culture, history, as well as energy- and water-efficient features will be part of the park, which is being developed at the corner of South Alamo Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

“When the park opens, you’ll be able to see six or seven public art works throughout the park, from murals to installations,” Andujar said.

Two other parks are slated to be completed by 2020. Civic Park, a working title, should open in 2018, just in time for San Antonio’s tricentennial and the 50th anniversary of the World’s Fair. Civic Park will be located at the corner of Market and South Alamo streets, north of Yanaguana Garden. It will also be the biggest in the new Hemisfair, featuring more than eight football fields worth of open public space for both large-scale gatherings and casual visits.


http://i.imgur.com/REiLCsg.jpg?1


Construction of Civic Park will involve demolition of the northwest corner of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, scheduled for next year.

“As we go forward and bring in the private sector to make investments, we want their developments to be well suited for the Civic Park’s design,” Andujar said.

A third park, called Tower Park, will encompass the Tower of the Americas in the center of the redevelopment. It’s scheduled to open in 2020.

The conversion of existing streets in and around a redeveloped Hemisfair, meant to incorporate a historical context, is a crucial component in the overall project. According to Andujar, the objective here is to protect and restore any historic properties while acting as a catalyst for future public and private development.

Another goal, Andujar said, is to have a new Hemisfair serve as a physical and symbolic link to La Villita and downtown and adjacent neighborhoods such as Southtown, Lavaca, and the near Eastside, including St. Paul Square.

DRIVING THROUGH HEMISFAIR


The streets inside and surrounding the new Hemisfair will have sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, storm water capture elements, and low-impact development (LID) design and technologies. The streets running through Hemisfair’s interior also will feature very low-speed limits to increase pedestrian safety and accommodate a complete street design. The first phase of roadwork here affects East Nueva Street from South Alamo through Water Street. East, Nueva, Water and South Alamo streets surround Yanaguana Garden.



http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/streets-through-hemisfair-update-march-2015.jpg


“When this street opens in 2016, you’ll be able to drive around the entire block,” Andujar said, adding that Hemisfair studied other large communities with streets stretching through their major urban parks.

Another aspect of Hemisfair’s redevelopment efforts is philanthropy. Last year the Hemisfair Conservancy was launched as a separate nonprofit to help raise private investments and endowment dollars. The money raised will go toward park improvements and maintenance. Donor recognition is key for raising capital, Andujar said. The goal for the conservancy is to raise $2 million this year and tens of millions of dollars in the following years. The objective is for Hemisfair to be self-sustaining and free of public funding by 2021. Andujar said achieving the fundraising goals has been a challenge.

“It’s hard work ahead from a philanthropic perspective. It’ll take all that we have,” he said. “We’re looking to successful completed projects such as the Tobin (Center for the Performing Arts) as a model.”

Council members were impressed with the confidence that Andujar has for the success of the overall project.

“This will be a transformational project for our city,” said Mayor Ivy Taylor.

District 2 Councilman Alan Warrick II asked whether the new Hemisfair would somehow make it easier to attract pedestrians and bicyclists from the near Eastside and other neighborhoods that border Hemisfair and the downtown sector.

Andujar said Hemisfair is working with the city on a signage and “way-finding” master plan, so that it will be easy and alluring for locals and visitors from all points to find Hemisfair, and guide themselves with relative easy upon arrival.

“We want to incorporate a strategy for way-finding from all directions,” he added.


ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF HEMISFAIR

http://i.imgur.com/iKjTsir.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/ysVYVFI.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/RjvNVRl.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/SlZYlZz.jpg?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/12LtLNa.png

COULD HEMISFAIR BE THE NEXT PEARL FOR SAN ANTONIO? (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2015/03/could-hemisfairs-redevelopment-be-san-antonios.html?page=all)

http://www.ggnltd.com/files/projectgallery/ggn-02-perspective-source_sd.jpg



Katie Burke
San Antonio Business Journal

The push for downtown development continues, and this time, it will look a lot like the Pearl.

I was able to hear details about the Hemisfair Park Redevelopment plan at the CCIM luncheon I attended earlier today, where Omar Gonzalez, the director of planning, operations and development for the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corp., spoke about some of the plans and goals for the project. And they're big.

If and when this plan shapes up to be what many are hoping, the plan's impact on the rest of San Antonio's downtown environment will be enormous.

Here are just a few of the project's components:


19 acres of usable dedicated park land
2,000 residents in multifamily structures
3,000 parking spaces
Concert venue
Plazas, courtyards, art, cafes, restaurants, and shops


Gonzalez said the mantra for Hemisfair will be "no big names - no Chilis and definitely no Starbucks." But the ultimate goal for the site will be to create an everything-for-everyone-at-anytime environment.

"It's seven at night and this is where you'll come," Gonzalez said. "This will really help activate this area."

And if the Pearl is any indication of how a new destination can change a neighborhood, Gonzalez is right. Already, HemisFair Park officials are in talks with a local multifamily developer to begin construction on a 160-unit, mixed-income multifamily complex, which will also include 3,200 square feet of commercial space, 6,500 square feet of live/work, and a parking garage for more than 400 vehicles.

Gonzalez said the entire project was designed to be multi-use, appealing to everyone from kids to seniors, but mainly to millennials. The biggest question leading the project, Gonzalez said, has been this: "How do we attract San Antonians to Hemisfair, and how do we get them to stay here?"

The redevelopment corporation also is looking at bringing in a microbrewery, coffee, juice bar, among other tenants that could help answer that question. But with $400 million in public investment, Hemisfair is going to need more than a green juice to propel the area forward.

The first phase of the redevelopment — the Yanaguana Garden — will open this July, and Gonzalez said that once people see what it will bring to the city, "it will make the project more real."

"Once the gardens open and people are able to experience it, that will only add to (the project's momentum," Gonzalez said.

With the amount of potential this project has for changing San Antonio's downtown dynamic, here's to hoping he's right.


LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/12LtLNa.png

A tasty little nugget from Ben Olivo's latest column (http://www.expressnews.com/business/business_columnists/benjamin_olivo/article/How-development-will-work-at-HemisFair-6146443.php).


I’m not sure people realize the magnitude of changes coming to HemisFair Park.

Park designers are not putting lipstick on a pig. Instead, they’re making a new pig.

By far the most ambitious aspect of the multimillion-dollar project is the construction of new buildings by private developers, mostly near the intersection of Alamo and Market streets. They’re talking about six new midrise structures being added to downtown in the coming years.

He's just speaking to the northwest quadrant talked about in the Rivard Report article.


http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/developable-parcels-hemisfair-update-march-2015.jpg

There are multiple other mid-rise buildings planned for Hemisfair. Including the 160-unit residential project planned for Yanaguana Park talked about in the previous column comparing Hemisfair as the next Pearl.


LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/12LtLNa.png

Btw, Ben Olivo obviously has no clue what exactly the expression "lipstick on a pig" means. lol

Been quite busy but still updating. Here's a new batch of development news.

23 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES PLANNED FOR NEAR EAST SIDE VACANT LOT


http://i.imgur.com/auDmiZX.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/USBecX2.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/uPraS5i.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/NzrKfVo.png?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/sbzpb6e.png

delete

NEW SOUTHTOWN ICE CREAM SHOP TO SELL BOOZY TREATS

http://i.imgur.com/srz54FJ.jpg?1


The House, an ice cream shop that will sell alcoholic ice cream flavors, plans to open in Southtown later this month.

In all, The House will have a rotating selection of about 10 ice cream flavors, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, made in-house. Ice cream flavors include the Aztec (chocolate with amaretto) and the Blue Hawaiian (coconut cream, pineapple, rum and blue curacao).

There also are plans for a small drink lineup that includes local beer and wine as well as frozen daiquiris and margaritas, said co-owner Robert Nickle.

The House will be located at 732 S. Alamo St., next door to La Frite Belgian Bistro.


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

305-UNIT, 6-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING PLANNED FOR RIVER NORTH

WITH GROUND LEVEL RETAIL


http://i.imgur.com/cuvBcSF.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/9Mxtygg.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/Lq9yCyo.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/BSUtT1x.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/V7uuDB1.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/wAMrINm.png?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/FZStQN4.png"]http://i.imgur.com/FZStQN4.png

San Antonio has so many projects going on in the city! Are they still exploding to the North and Northwest as well? How about out towards New Braunfels?

21-STORY AC HOTEL PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN
SECOND PHASE INCLUDES HIGHRISE RESIDENTIAL


A Dallas developer has big planned for downtown San Antonio in the form of a two phase mixed-use development. Phase One include a 21 story hotel, AC Hotel, as well as a Riverwalk level restaurant. Phase II called for a residential and office mixed-use tower.

This is planned for an area that will see massive highrise development in the next several years including a new skyline changing headquarters tower for Frost Bank.

You can see in the second rendering (night time) that there's a translucent structure. That is the scale and size of the second phase building.


http://i.imgur.com/IYtuPDX.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/KJxRxia.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/eM61v3d.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/39ESxGi.jpg?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/tPYEmCL.png

San Antonio has so many projects going on in the city! Are they still exploding to the North and Northwest as well? How about out towards New Braunfels?

Exploding is an understatement to be quite honest. Development in the far north side and far northwest side is insane. Housing, retail and office going up at record levels. You can't go anywhere in those areas of the city and not see any kind of construction, including freeway construction.

The far northeast corridor going towards New Braunfels is massively developing as well with a handful of master planned communities under construction. New Braunfels is getting a ton of new to market retail options as well as a lot of new housing. That includes Veramendi (http://www.veramenditx.com/), a massive master-planned community by an Australian company.


http://www.veramenditx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/new_Masterplan_June12-1-480x360.jpg

CPS ENERGY LOOKING FOR SITE FOR NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/04/13/cps-energy-looking-for-site-for-new-corporate.html)

http://i.imgur.com/8fCAuno.jpg


CPS Energy is looking for a new home and they're looking for it fast.

The growing municipally-owned utility company has been working with commercial real estate consultant DTZ to evaluate key assets in its real estate and facility portfolio.

CPS Energy is comparing its needs, versus the space it has at their current corporate headquarters at 145 Navarro Street in downtown San Antonio.

It's not clear what will happen to their existing building or downtown property, but CPS Energy is looking to close on land for their new headquarters by the 2nd or 3rd Quarter of 2015.

DTZ is inviting property owners and investor-developers to submit real estate locations, which will serve to qualify sites to construct the proposed development.

CPS Energy is looking for the following:


An office building totaling approximately 200,000 – 300,000 square feet

Associated parking to accommodate 1,200 to 1,300 vehicles

Proximity to public transportation (planned and existing) is considered favorable

Land sites must allow for suitable due diligence period, and an anticipated closing of Q2/Q3 2015

Anticipated land sites for the office building must be at least 3.0 acres and fee-simple ownership is preferred


Anticipated land sites for the parking structure must be at least 2.0 acres and can be contiguous with the land for the office building (preferred) or separated from the office site by one public thoroughfare. Diagonal separation across two intersecting streets is discouraged.

All submissions are due by 5:00 PM CST on Monday, April 27, 2015.

What is going on economically in SA that warrants this explosion of development; corporate relocation? Population increases? Never been there but am curious to check it out someday.

What is going on economically in SA that warrants this explosion of development; corporate relocation? Population increases? Never been there but am curious to check it out someday.

Our economy is booming. Our population is exploding and has been for the past ten years or so.

What's kept a lot of downtown residential development from happening is the high price of land in downtown. Price of land is so high and rent has historically be low in the downtown area that it never made financial sense to build residential high-rises in downtown. But in the last five years the urban core neighborhoods around downtown have seen a boom in residential development. Those neighborhoods include Tobin Hill, The Pearl, Lower Broadway, River North, Southtown, SoFlo, Cattleman Square and Dignowityt Hill.

In just the River North/Pearl/Lower Broadway area north of downtown, since 2011, over 2,000 units have been built, another 1,000 are currently under construction and another 700 are planned to break ground this year.

But because of all that, rent has risen enough that developers now want to build vertical residential in downtown proper.

I'll create a map of downtown and all the other urban neighborhoods.

21-STORY AC HOTEL PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN
SECOND PHASE INCLUDES HIGHRISE RESIDENTIAL


A Dallas developer has big planned for downtown San Antonio in the form of a two phase mixed-use development. Phase One include a 21 story hotel, AC Hotel, as well as a Riverwalk level restaurant. Phase II called for a residential and office mixed-use tower.

This is planned for an area that will see massive highrise development in the next several years including a new skyline changing headquarters tower for Frost Bank.

You can see in the second rendering (night time) that there's a translucent structure. That is the scale and size of the second phase building.


http://i.imgur.com/IYtuPDX.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/KJxRxia.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/eM61v3d.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/39ESxGi.jpg?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/tPYEmCL.png

Damn, we got the shaft on our AC hotel.

This isn't a complete urban neighborhood and districts map but covers the places I talked about earlier. Also Southtown is a district composed of two different neighborhoods: King William and Lavaca. Tobin Hill, Pearl, Lower Broadway and Five Points are all neighborhoods that belong in the district of Midtown.


URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD AND DISTRICTS MAP

http://i.imgur.com/wH08WZh.jpg?1

Recent pictures of the Cellars residential tower being built at the Pearl in Midtown San Antonio.

Also pictures is the soon to open, later this year, Kimpton owned Hotel Emma (http://www.thehotelemma.com/).



http://i.imgur.com/G0I3GAx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/86SkeIL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Ch9EgUh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BFtMfV4.jpg

Credit to STLtoSA at SSP.

$175 MILLION SAN PEDRO CREEK PROJECT RECEIVES DESIGN APPROVAL (http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2015/04/15/san-pedro-creek-project-takes-another-step-forward.html)
TWO MILE CREEK REDEVELOPMENT WILL REMOVE 40 ACRES FROM DOWNTOWN FLOODPLAIN


Bexar County Commissioners have approved nearly half of the designs for the $175 million San Pedro Creek project.

"(San Antonio) really grew up first around the creek before the river, so it has a great history," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

The transformation would take place along the creek from Fox Tech High School to Cesar Chavez. The plan calls for the construction of a new amphitheater, foot and bike paths, and other amenities for tourists and residents to take advantage of.

"You're going to see housing. You're going to see some retail, office space, and some hotels along the creek," Wolff said.

San Antonio city staff will recommend that the City Council vote in favor of donating city-owned property to the San Antonio River Authority, which is leading the design process, for the project. SARA is working with other downtown organizations and the public to further develop the project.

"This is an opportunity to infill, develop (and) create another place for all of San Antonians to enjoy and to see economic prosperity along this particular corridor in our downtown and even surrounding neighborhoods," said Centro San Antonio President and CEO Pat DiGiovanni. "This has the opportunity to really change the west end of our downtown and really be more of a locals gathering place and a revitalization area of our city."

Officials hope to have the first phase of the project complete by May 2018, just in time for the city's 300th birthday.



SAN PEDRO CREEK REDEVELOPMENT
http://i.imgur.com/xpZcNWf.jpg?1

Please watch the video to the end!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=162&v=KOUnJFC17aw

http://i.imgur.com/pfyiSXT.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UEM3MGk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/L91agFn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/v86yZLY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Q5SqOYn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bSurZPR.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/7Ce6fyr.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/3EjNFlR.png?1

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http://i.imgur.com/oxYCXKi.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/PrNgREW.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/b5b5PJH.png?1

Damn, I love what San Antonio is doing.

Wish I could edit the post and remove a few images. I think I took too many screen shots of the Tree of Life. lol



$175 MILLION SAN PEDRO CREEK PROJECT RECEIVES DESIGN APPROVAL (http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2015/04/15/san-pedro-creek-project-takes-another-step-forward.html)
TWO MILE CREEK REDEVELOPMENT WILL REMOVE 40 ACRES FROM DOWNTOWN FLOODPLAIN



SAN PEDRO CREEK REDEVELOPMENT
http://i.imgur.com/xpZcNWf.jpg?1

Please watch the video to the end!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=162&v=KOUnJFC17aw

http://i.imgur.com/pfyiSXT.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UEM3MGk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/L91agFn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/v86yZLY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Q5SqOYn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bSurZPR.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/7Ce6fyr.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/PrNgREW.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/b5b5PJH.png?1

H&M TO OPEN A THIRD SAN ANTONIO STORE
THIRD STORE WILL BE LOCATED AT NORTH STAR MALL


http://i.imgur.com/cVMbIkj.jpg


Price-sensitive shoppers may soon have a bit more to celebrate now that European retailer H&M is looking at opening yet another San Antonio location.

H&M is looking at North Star Mall on San Pedro Ave. for its newest store. According to a state permit filing, the retailer would open after spending $1.6 million remodeling retail space, which is expected to begin in July and be completed by October of this year. That's in addition to a $1.75 million construction project for a new store at the Rivercenter Mall, which is on schedule to open this August.

Improvements at North Star Mall will include new storefront systems, interior walls, flooring, finishes, ceiling, fixtures, and possibly most important, ADA-compliant toilets. The existing elevator and stairs in the space will be reused. According to Dustin Christensen, marketing manager for North Star Mall and the Shops at La Cantera, the mall isn't able to confirm any opening for the retailer since it is still something "in the works" and negotiations are still in play. However, typical leases are 10 years.

"(H&M) would be a great addition anywhere they go," Christensen said. "They have been a great addition to the Shops at La Cantera, and since it shares a lot of the same customers with North Star Mall, we would expect it to be very successful there as well."

By the end of 2015, H&M will have three stores in the city, with the first opening at the Shops at La Cantera a little less than a year ago. The three stores will give the retailer an expansive footprint throughout San Antonio, starting up in the Northwest, moving through North Central and stretching downtown.

The North Star Mall location will be the 13th Texas storefront for the retailer, but based on the rapid expansion it has demonstrated here, is unlikely to be the last for San Antonio.

WESTON URBAN AND CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AGREE ON NEW TOWER DEAL (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2015/04/frost-tower-deal-reached/)

http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/scottball_westonurban-4.jpg


The city of San Antonio, Weston Urban and Frost Bank have finally agreed on the details of a complicated downtown land swap that will likely bring the first office tower to downtown in more than 25 years.

In the deal, Weston Urban builds a $142 million, 400,000-square-foot tower in which Frost Bank will occupy 250,000 square feet as its headquarters. That leaves 150,000 square feet of Class A office space for third party tenants.

Aside from the tower, the agreement yields at least 265 new residential units, 20,000 square feet of new retail space and 732 new public parking spaces available on nights and weekends.

“It’s a complicated project, a complicated transaction, that’s taken several months to work through the details,” City Manager Sheryl Sculley said of the public-private partnership.

The deal, conceived by Weston Urban three years ago, goes to the Planning Commission May 20. A public hearing is scheduled for May 28. And the City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal June 4.

The new tower

In the deal, Weston Urban, backed by Rackspace chairman Graham Weston, will build the new office tower at the northwest corner of Houston and Flores streets — on a parking lot and motor bank currently owned by Frost and that’s cater-cornered to Frost’s current headquarters at 100 W. Houston St.

The design and height of the tower has not been determined.

In the next couple of months, Weston Urban will hold a national and international design competition, company president Randy Smith said. A prominent national or international architecture firm will ultimately be paired with a local firm to complete the design team.

After a 12-month design process, building the skyscraper (Weston Urban is teaming with Dallas developer KDC) will take about 30 months, Smith said.

Local officials spoke about the synergy they say the new tower will create when coupled with million of dollars of infrastructure upgrades to San Pedro Creek project — a literal stone’s throw from the new tower — and West Commerce Street.

Weston said he hopes the building will become the tallest downtown.

“San Antonio needs a thriving business district and this is the beginning of the next era,” Weston said. “If the city is going to change its image, it needs to change its skyline.”

Frost chairman and CEO Dick Evans admits he’s already heard a lot of comparisons between the potential new tower and Frost’s recognizable skyscraper in downtown Austin.

“I don’t think it’s about comparing them,” Evans said. “It’s about having a new iconic building. Just because it’s been so many years (since an office tower was built), I think there’s going to be a lot of excitement.”

The city’s part

For approximately $80 million, the city would purchase and upgrade Frost’s old headquarters (the attached parking garage is included in the purchase) at 100 W. Houston St. and consolidate 1,200 center-city employees into 12 of its 18 floors, parts of the ground floor and the basement.

The Bexar County Appraisal District appraises the properties at $32.9 million. But, during negotiations, the city and Frost conducted their own appraisals of the properties, which came in at $47.5 million and $54 million, respectively.

The two sides settled on $51 million as a purchase price for the properties.

Another $32 million will be needed to upgrade the building: $6.7 million in HVAC and sprinkler systems and asbestos removal and $26 million to remodel the 12 floors from Frost’s office-oriented format to an open desk layout.

To fund the project, the city plans to acquire two debt issuances — one for the purchase and the other for the improvements.

The city estimates the entire deal to be a net positive of roughly $1 million over the 30 years of the debt. City officials described that as a conservative estimate. The variables include a $3.5 million annual savings from not having to pay leases at four existing locations and — when the city takes over the Frost — to revenue generated from leasing the remaining six floors and 17,000 square feet of new street-level retail facing Houston and Commerce streets.

“When you talk about $80 million of investment, that’s over time (30 years),” Sculley said. “And the (lease) savings that we achieve over time cover all of those costs and more. So it comes out net positive to the city. This was all part of the negotiation. Given the use of the building, the tenants of the building, what we need to accomplish, we think it’s a fair price.

“And we’ll have an asset at the end of it.”

Revenue from the 732 public parking spaces on nights and weekends will serve as another stream to help pay the debt, officials said.

And when city employees are centralized into the Frost building, city-owned downtown buildings will become available for sale. That’s exactly what the city wants to do with the former Continental Hotel, 322 W. Commerce St. In the next few years, when MetroHealth moves into the Frost, city officials want to sell it to a developer.

In about a year, after Weston Urban has designed and secured financing for the new skyscraper, the city will purchase the current Frost building. The city then will master lease the space back to Frost while the bank waits for its new home to be built.

In the meantime, the city’s Center City Development & Operations and Economic Development departments, already located in the current Frost building, will lease space from Frost at a discounted rate.

Over the course of the next three years, as Frost moves out its employees, the city will be able to move in other departments at no cost. City officials estimate a savings of at least $1.9 million, which they plan to apply to the initial improvements to the current Frost building.

Rest of the deal

For $6.4 million, Weston Urban will purchase from the city the Municipal Plaza Building, 114 W. Commerce St.; the San Fernando Gym, 319 W. Travis St.; and a parking lot at two blocks north of the Frost.

For an amount that’s being negotiated, Weston Urban will also purchase four properties from Frost the lot and motor bank where the skyscraper will go, two nearby parking lots and the greensward across the current tower.

The real estate company, backed by Rackspace chairman Graham Weston, wants to convert the Municipal Plaza (the original Frost headquarters) into 65 to 75 residential units while adding between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet of retail facing Commerce and Flores streets. City Council chambers and a couple of related rooms will remain untouched and under city ownership.

Weston Urban plans to build another 200 residential units across several of the buildings and lots it’s buying, excluding the tower site and greensward. Urban Weston chief Smith said the company plans to invest heavily in the greensward compared it to Bryant Park in New York.


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/files/2015/04/westontowergraphic425.jpg

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/VU1QXhY.png

FROST BANK CHAIRMAN: COMPANY WILL MAKE 'ICONIC' STATEMENT WITH NEW HQ (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2015/04/27/frost-bank-chairman-company-will-make-iconic.html?page=all)

http://i.imgur.com/cK6lecJ.jpg?1



San Antonio leaders have had plenty of time to imagine what a new downtown office tower might look like in the Alamo City. It’s been more than a quarter-century since the last one was built.

Frost Bank Chairman and CEO Dick Evans has one word for what he envisions in terms of a new headquarters tower for the bank, should City Council members approve in June a public-private partnership proposal that also involves Weston Urban: “Iconic.”

The city has negotiated a deal that would have San Antonio acquire the existing Frost Tower on Houston Street and an adjoining 732-space parking garage for $51 million. The transaction would allow the city to eliminate nearly $4 million in annual rent payments, while consolidating its downtown operations.

Weston Urban would, in turn, acquire real estate from the city and from Frost. It would then develop a new headquarters tower for the bank on a site at Flores and Houston streets.
Evans said the new tower will house at least 400,000 square feet of space.

“This will be a catalyst for further redevelopment downtown,” he said.

Weston Urban co-founder Graham Weston said the new tower could become one of San Antonio’s signature buildings. But a number of factors, including its eventual design, will dictate just how much of the San Antonio sky this structure scrapes.

Weston suggested there could be an international design competition for the new Frost tower, with a goal of delivering a “flagship building” he said has been needed in San Antonio “for a long time.”

Weston said the tower would be iconic in design and perhaps in size.

“We certainly hope it will be the tallest building in the city,” he said.

City Manager Sheryl Sculley said regardless of the size of the new headquarters building, the proposed deal is a cost-neutral opportunity for San Antonio that comes with a potentially significant upside.

“We expect to save money as a result of this deal,” Sculley said.

Sculley said that while the city would sell the Municipal Plaza Building at 114 West Commerce to Weston Urban as part of the negotiated deal, it would maintain control of the Council chambers space in the facility.

GRAYSTREET MAKES MAJOR DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE PLAY (http://www.therivardreport.com/graystreet-makes-major-downtown-real-estate-play/)

http://i.imgur.com/zXhDWY4.jpg?1


One day after officials announced the City will go forward in partnership with Weston Urban and Frost Bank on the biggest downtown real estate development deal in decades, a second major transaction involving multiple historic buildings on East Houston Street and Travis Park has been confirmed. The sale of seven East Houston Street buildings and a parking lot by Federal Realty Investment Trust of Maryland to San Antonio-based GrayStreet Partners was first disclosed in a story published by the Express-News. The deal under contract has been widely discussed for months, but confirmed only now.

Sources in the development community also are saying that GrayStreet has two other significant downtown properties under contract not owned by Federal Realty, but those rumors appear to unfounded or unconfirmed. Kevin Covey, GrayStreet’s managing partner, and Paul Covey, his father, did not return calls or respond to emails.

One of the additional properties is the now-vacant San Antonio Children’s Museum at 305 E. Houston that became available with the construction of the new DoSeum on Broadway, set to open in June. DoSeum Executive Director Vanessa Lacoss Hurd said GrayStreet is one of three entities interested in the building, but there have been no offers to date.

The Children’s Museum is the only remaining property in play on the north side of the 300 block of East Houston Street not under contract to GrayStreet, which will now own the properties on both sides of the museum.

The second property is the Travis Park Plaza building and parking garage at 711 Navarro St., a seven-story Class B office tower built in 1970, that has been for sale since late last year. It includes a six-story, 799-space parking garage, a major asset. The building’s name tenant is Jefferson Bank, which also has a motor bank on the property. The rest of the building includes law firms, foundations, the San Antonio Symphony and others.

One major tenant, the Strasberger & Price law firm, moved to the former ButterKrust Bakery building on Broadway north of the Pearl one year ago. The 1940s-era Deco building is now the corporate offices and test kitchens of C.H. Guenther & Sons, which owns Pioneer Flour Mills. Travis Park Plaza is on the county tax rolls at $10.5 million, but developers said it probably would sell for substantially more.

Real estate sources said the total value of the GrayStreet deal likely will exceed $100 million and that financing for the GrayStreet acquisition involves Houston billionaire Fayez Sarofim, 86, and his son, Christopher, 51. Fayez is part owner of the NFL’s Houston Texans, the founder of the investment firm Fayez Sarofim and Company, which is said to have more than $30 billion under investment. Fayez is a philanthropist and prominent supporter of the performing arts in Houston. He was born into one of Egypt’s wealthiest families, and was educated at UC-Berkeley and Harvard. Both father and son have been favorite gossip column targets in Houston where their respective marriage breakups and the ensuing financial and social aftershocks have made for salacious headlines.

Various commercial real estate brokers have been wooing institutional capital sources outside of San Antonio to invest in downtown properties, reasoning that rising prices in Dallas, Houston and Austin have made San Antonio a more attractive target. With the City’s new Vacant Building Ordinance that went into effect on Jan. 1, developers and brokers also expect more vacant and underutilized properties coming on to the market, as well as some of the downtown’s many undeveloped parcels.

The two announced deals have energized the urban core development community, long frustrated at the lack of big projects and outside interest in downtown San Antonio, which has lagged among all major Texas cities in central business district redevelopment. Suddenly, the market is heating up, amid rumors of more to come.

Another residential development planned for River North. This one will abut the Riverwalk and feature 220-unit.



http://i.imgur.com/vy2rOoj.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/j5qybe8.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/YahsTWY.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/UyMNMGo.png?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/Nox9m5Q.png

Wow, surprised to see some cool stuff in this thread. As a side note, I'd be more inclined to stop by here if the thread title wasn't a bad tourism marketing pitch... "San Antonio Developments" would get many more clicks from me.

Been quite busy but still updating. Here's a new batch of development news.

23 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES PLANNED FOR NEAR EAST SIDE VACANT LOT


http://i.imgur.com/auDmiZX.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/USBecX2.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/uPraS5i.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/NzrKfVo.png?1

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/sbzpb6e.png



By the way, this, urban development is not.

Wow, surprised to see some cool stuff in this thread. As a side note, I'd be more inclined to stop by here if the thread title wasn't a bad tourism marketing pitch... "San Antonio Developments" would get many more clicks from me.

Good thing I'm not pandering to just you. You know what this thread is about. Title shouldn't keep you from doing anything. But your maturity, as we've seen, isn't great to begin with.

By the way, this, urban development is not.

As you can see, theyre being built in a old single family housing neighborhood just east of downtown.

The homes are designed to be more urban compared to the other homes in the neighborhood.

A rendering of Southtown Flats. Currently under construction in the Southtown neighborhood.


http://i58.tinypic.com/2copisn.jpg

LOCATION
http://i.imgur.com/YAEfxQK.png?1

Plutonic, I sent you a PM.

New renderings of the 9th and Riverwalk development.


http://cdn.therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bodnarpedview.jpeg

http://therivardreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bodnarriverview.jpeg