Vistana San Antonio
 

I didn't really want to start a whole thread for this, but seeing in how it's been real quite in San Antonio lately, I thought, what the hell.

Anyway, I don't know if many of you have been down town lately but the building located at the corner of Commerce and Santa Rosa has been torn down. This can only mean that the Vistana project will soon get under way. Its weird because only a week ago I passed by the building and it was still being used. I can't wait for this project to be done, it will be a great addition to that part of town.

For those of you who might have forgotten here is a rendering.
http://img328.imageshack.us/img328/2783/vistanaki3.jpg

Cool.Thanks for the update.

I drove by it last week and the entire lot was shut down (buildings closed) and gated. Which made me think they were getting ready to demolish the building.

Does anyone know when construction will actually begin?

Sweet. I can't wait to see this one to go up.

I remember reading somewhere that construction was going to begin in January of '07. Which would make sense since they already started demolition of the buildings. If I find where I read about the construction start date I will post a link.

Really elmariachi? They started demolition of the buildings? They were quick on that; good to know, I'll have to watch the slow construction of this project while attending school. It's really gonna change the area. Every time there's an event at Market Square they close the road and I have to drive right by Vistana's construction site so I should be able to stay updated on this one. Great apartments and great location, it's really gonna change the area. High quality project; I love it!

BTW...is it just the Amegy Bank building they're tearing down? Or does this project move more far east, to also be built over that street and what's on the other side of it?

Vidorra starting construction, Vistana starting construction next month, the Riverwalk expansion (museum reach/north river reach) starting next month and River North becoming a TIRZ.

Fantastic things are just beginning for downtown.

Sorry,I'm a n00b at all this,but what does TIRZ mean?

:shrug:

It's a TIF.

TIRZ stands for: Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

tax increment reinvestment zone. which pretty much means that developers don't have to pay certain taxes on properties within the established zone. it is to help entice developers to build in an area that the city feels would benefit from such development. vidorra received certain tax breaks and grants because of its proximity to the amtrack rail and the bus terminals.

Also, River North (59 blocks; 150 acres) will be designated mixed-use zoning.

Thanks for the info guys.:cheers:

It'll be amazing to see when the projects start rolling out for River North.

The Vistana heights
 

Thanks to a certain forumer, (you know who you are), I've obtained the heights for The Vistana. Unfortunately, they don't show the entire height, since they don't show the very top height.

The highest height shown is 209 feet, 2 inches. However, measuring the height on a different point and comparing it, it equals 224 feet, and slightly higher than that, maybe by a couple of feet. The 209 foot height on the building is to the bottom of the cylindrical "lattern". Not the entire crown itself, just that cylinder near the very top.

179 feet, 2 inches to the top of the 1st setback in the crown. (First from ground).

The mainroof "floor" is 153 feet, 2 inches high. The parapet, or barrier wall, is 155 feet, 2 inches high.

The top floor, the 14th floor, is 142 feet, 6 inches high.

The 12th floor setback is 125 feet, 0 inches high.

The 11th floor setback is 110 feet, 4 inches high.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/5...istana3ax0.jpg

Not quite. The property does pay taxes but is "reinvested" into that specific area and as more new development is built, the property appraisals go up but the taxes are again reinvested into the area to help pay for improvements, projects and such. That's why it's called a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

Man this building really does it for me. I can get enough of it. Cant wait to see the finished project. Would have been great if it was 10 more floors. But it will do alot for that area as it is.

Okay i know i will hear it, but i have to say it. I think the building is ugly, i see nothing great about it. It looks old and and thats really about it. That is my honest impression based on the rendering. Maybe it will look a lot better in reality. But i just dont like it, Granted they are building up and doing something with the land, which i think is great, i just think they could have gone withe a better design. The last thing i want to do is start a long drawn out episode about this project, but i just had to say it...


:shrug:

Maybe art deco's not your thing. This building has a great "golden-era Los Angeles or Miami" thing going for it, especially with the pink and rose color scheme and the palm trees. I love it.

Complex, I don't think it's that great either. Maybe it will look better when built, but why is thing so long and blocky. Another low rise brown building for San Antonio, just what we need.