I repeat because I want to know what it is:

In the Canopy web cam you can see a big crane just beyond the USAA rehab... around Avenue B and Brooklyn. What is that?

https://app.oxblue.com/open/sundt/hiltoncanopy

That looks to be the CPS parking garage under construction. I don't know of any other plans for that area.:shrug:

That is great news AwsomeASView! & please keep posting, I dig the enthusiasm!

I think you're right.
https://therivardreport.com/hdrc-app...-headquarters/

It looks kinda gross in the rendering here. How disappointing.
https://www.jakegroth.com/projects/a...cture/cps.html

It looks pretty clear that the garage has no ground level retail along that long block of Avenue B or anywhere. Not good for the revitalization of the area. Somebody please happily surprise me otherwise.

https://forum.skyscraperpage.com/sho...=208843&page=6

The plans they sent to HDRC include retail on the corner of Brooklyn and Ave B

And they're opening a Chillers! :cheers:

4-story hotel planned for 1211 East Commerce Street. This would be replacing a vacant lot caddy corner from the Sunset Station.

https://sanantonio.legistar.com/Legi...tions=&Search=

Map

https://www.google.com/maps/place/12...!4d-98.4771612

Wow - that's a fairly blah looking hotel. For those that complain about the HDRC, this is a perfect example of what they sometimes have to deal with - an out-of-town architect and developer who thinks San Antonio buildings must have beige fake stucco.

Agreed that the hotel is blah looking. But I don't understand the rest of your post. Downtown is full of blah beige hotel buildings that HDRC has already approved.

It is pretty blah. But it has retail!

:fireworks::banger::thankyouthankyou::pimpdaddy::baby::lock:

The HDRC LOOOOOVES beige!!

The HDRC does not decide what color these developers choose. The HDRC is also not a single person.

Yes - because they don't have the power most people think they have. My point is that while the HDRC can help mold or guide a project's design, it is in only limited ways. When a developer comes in with a mindset that "beige is good," the HDRC really can't disapprove it as the city's design guidelines are really basic.

Now, I'm not saying I want them to have MORE power, but I think they get a bad rap too often for things out of their control. I don't always agree with their decisions (especially when I have a personal or professional stake), but I respect their dedication to trying to elevate the level of design in San Antonio.

I think the issue people have is not with HDRC's following guidelines. Their issue is when HDRC does not follow the guidelines and imposes their subjective views on a project based either on their own opinions or because they are swayed by public opinion.

For instance, when a developer follows all of the city's guidelines on a project and should by all rights have the project approved, but HDRC denies approval because some vocal NIMBY members of the neighborhood (and more often non-members) don't like the project for some reason. In that instance, HDRC is not following the guidelines and is instead acting as the arbiter of a popularity contest in contravention of their mission.

That all may be so, but they also sure LOVE beige!!!

That may be, but I'm pretty sure the bigger issue is developers love cheap building materials and quick ROI's.

San Antonio missed the building boom of about the thirties on, where audacious monuments to family names were the name of the game.

That, and the idea that San Antonio is a poor city, leads to blah buildings, that are relatively cheap, with cheaper entry points for rent or ownership. That's a big reason why I like the idea of locally owned businesses, like USAA, moving DT and having that presence.

I'd like Valero and Tesoro and others to follow suit, but they have fairly new HQ's built outside of 1604, so that may not happen for awhile.

Again, this is just completely untrue.

Renovations to the Tropicana Hotel
 

While I'm excited about the restoration back to its original mid-century look, I also saw this note in the description of work:

"EASTERN WING DEMOLITION – The applicant has noted the demolition of the eastern portion of the historic structure, which is original, to provide additional space for future new construction."

Hmmm...

https://sanantonio.legistar.com/Legi...E-210527DDE2C8

Very nice presentation drawings complete with appropriate font selection reinforcing the mid-century aesthetic.

The HDRC is streaming their meetings online, and in fact today's meeting is streaming right now.

https://www.sanantonio.gov/DSD/Boards/MeetingVideos

Work continues on the Hedrick Building
https://i.imgur.com/qBEncvb.png

https://i.imgur.com/d9KfRRt.png

Work continues on the Light Building
https://i.imgur.com/NYXo9UO.png

https://i.imgur.com/2J9mlVL.png

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

Meanwhile, Weston's Sunshine Laundry property waits patiently.
https://i.imgur.com/w12LKT0.png

https://i.imgur.com/2u70fRh.png