Work to begin Monday on Broadway timber-framed office building
by Ben Olivo | Jul 6, 2018 | Broadway, Office, River North
The San Antonio Heron
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For many years now, the segment of Broadway between McCullough and Jones avenues — in downtown's northern pocket — has been dying a slow death. Once known as San Antonio's dealership row, the last of the car salesmen, Cavender Cadillac, left five years ago for Loop 1604. Other, smaller businesses have cleared out leaving building shells and other blight.
Now, the Cavender family has partnered with local developer Hixon Properties to develop eight acres in the area into mixed-use buildings that will include residential units and retail space.
On Monday, it all begins with The Soto, a six-story office building at 711 Broadway, where a plasma donation center last operated. Crews will break ground on the project, the frame of which will be built using laminated timber, the first of its kind in Texas.
"We believe there is demand for a new type of office space – not necessarily what is offered by traditional Class A office," said John Beauchamp, Hixon's chief investment officer. "The demand is driven by companies that compete for talent. In order to recruit and retain top employees, they need to provide a great work environment. This is the opportunity. We think the mass timber construction and the River North neighborhood put our project in position to meet this demand."