SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread

[adtobias]

I think it adds density to d/t but sa needs height

[The Model]

Hello Mopac,
Did you stay at the Drury Inn, or is the swimming pool accessible?
I want to know someone who can get me up there.

Vidorra has a twilight construction tour last week, I got to attend.
They told me that the second tower, is about a five year process.
Its not in the historical district, so it may be taller then the first one.
Also the design can be different. I hope so.

[jaga185]

^^^ I can get you up there, my uncle is the manager.

[sirkingwilliam]

The Model, that's some great information on Vidorra. Funny how the second tower can look different and be taller. That shows you how screwed up the HDRC is. lol

From what time point is it a five year process? From right now or from when they first broke ground on tower one a couple years ago?

[KeepSanAntonioLame]

http://www.sanantonio.gov/pdf/SAIDAReport.pdf

This was posted on the city website. It's a report on downtown by the International Downtown Association.

[Paul in S.A TX]

Originally Posted by KeepSanAntonioLame

http://www.sanantonio.gov/pdf/SAIDAReport.pdf

This was posted on the city website. It's a report on downtown by the International Downtown Association.

A intersting article, I wonder what the Phoenix Downtown director has to say about the CBD of Phoenix?

[oldmanshirt]

What does Phoenix have to do with anything??


Anybody catch this on page 5?
"One vacant and graffiti-marked older high-rise is a true civic eyesore, detracts from the skyline, and hinders nearby development. This building owner should be held accountable for code compliance."

Hmm, I can't imagine which high-rise they're talking about. . .

[sakyle04]

Originally Posted by oldmanshirt

What does Phoenix have to do with anything??


Anybody catch this on page 5?
"One vacant and graffiti-marked older high-rise is a true civic eyesore, detracts from the skyline, and hinders nearby development. This building owner should be held accountable for code compliance."

Hmm, I can't imagine which high-rise they're talking about. . .

[miaht82]

I'm glad all of these observations were finally "officially" put on paper. I was driving around yesterday and was just thinking about everything that our "downtown" lacked; and it was alot of thinking. There aren't many regular (not tourist driven) restaurants downtown; Sushi Zushi, Quizno's, Domino's, McDonalds and Fuddruckers at street level. There are plenty of fat wallets during the day in the area, and with the visibility of modern day conveniences, people will consider living downtown. The only reason I couldn't talk my girlfriend into living downtown is what she said, "it really isn't like downtown," and I had to agree. Living in McLean, VA before, I had more conviences within a 1 mile radius than some might have in a 5 mile radius here. I had a Safeway, and Giant within walking distance, and a Trader Joes and Whole foods a few more blocks away. Sad to say, but downtown Arlington and Alexandria , VA had more to offer the average citizen as far as conveniences go than our "touristy" downtown.

[The Model]

I work downtown, and I agree, not enough places to eat, except tourist spots. I would do anything for a whataburger down here.

As far as the Vidorra, I think it has to be 70% sold, before tower 2 goes into considerations, then there has to be a certain amount of sales for that tower as well. They think it will be a five year process.

JAGA185, let me know how I can get the hook up, the views are great up there.

[Paul in S.A TX]

Of course it's touristy, it's San Antonio, one of the top visited cities in this country. What city's downtown doesn't need some improvement? I wouldn't say it's all tourist driven, because of a few out of towners downtown giving their short lived observation, one from Phoenix of all places. Phoenix, the epitomy, of what kind of downtown a city doesn't wanna have. The other two from the Dallas Ft.Worth area, need i say more. Why would any city want a critique from panelist representing those cities? I would give some regard to Ft.Worth and moreso to the D.C. panelist. They need to be more concerened about their downtown's, than San Antonio's.

Anyhow, when I was at the Riverwalk a couple of weeks ago, the waitress asked if we were from out of town, I said, "yea.. Leon Valley", she chuckled, and said, sometimes it's hard to tell whom is a tourist and whom isn't. I use to go downtown a lot more in the past, my ex has a family business downtown. Of course it's more tourists, and will always be that way, since San Antonio is a popular destination. Hopefully, with River North, Main Plaza, and all the other new hot spots, the downtown area will have more of a balance of livliness-pedestrian traffic. Main Plaza is definitely more locals than tourists.

These panelist probably missed all the residential that exsists in historic conversions, conversions that have no labels as being a dwelling. They may have walked by the South Texas Building, Majestic, Casino, The Granada, and the scores of other historic buildings that have residences. It's easy to see that San Antonio's downtown resident population isn't comprised into new construction, but, certainly moreso in historic conversions.

River North should change any negative opinions of downtown.

Great article.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...0dca_html.html

[KeepSanAntonioLame]

I think the first sentence sums it up: "Downtown San Antonio is a study in contrasts"

[Paul in S.A TX]

Originally Posted by miaht82

I'm glad all of these observations were finally "officially" put on paper. I was driving around yesterday and was just thinking about everything that our "downtown" lacked; and it was alot of thinking. There aren't many regular (not tourist driven) restaurants downtown; Sushi Zushi, Quizno's, Domino's, McDonalds and Fuddruckers at street level. There are plenty of fat wallets during the day in the area, and with the visibility of modern day conveniences, people will consider living downtown. The only reason I couldn't talk my girlfriend into living downtown is what she said, "it really isn't like downtown," and I had to agree. Living in McLean, VA before, I had more conviences within a 1 mile radius than some might have in a 5 mile radius here. I had a Safeway, and Giant within walking distance, and a Trader Joes and Whole foods a few more blocks away. Sad to say, but downtown Arlington and Alexandria , VA had more to offer the average citizen as far as conveniences go than our "touristy" downtown.

Oh please, with all the 100's of dining options downtown, who cares if tourists patron some of them, not so bad food and some great people watching nonetheless.
San Antonio's has more potential than most downtowns, can't wait to see it all come together.
Oh wow, a Whole Foods and a boring Safeway, I guess a grocery list, is urban and more exciting these days. I guess life would stop if one would have to drive a mile for a boxed chain, as if they could carry it all walking back from the corner or a few blocks.
I would say Musuems, world class cultural venues, great plazas and parks really shape and make a downtown. Downtown San Antonio doesn't have anymore chain grocery stores, since Handy Andy but has a few mom and pop groceries downtown. We do need a upscale large grocery store though. Hopefully we may see one in the River North area or Vistana.


Lucky's Food Mart
119 E. Commerce

Maggot Grocery
1314 E. Commerce

Alamo Food Mart
1900 N/ St. Mary's

El Azteca
623 S. leona

American Discount Channel
139 E. Commerce

McCullough Grocery
1616 McCullough

Picnic Food Mart
201 Saint Mary's

Stars
311 S. Saint Marys

Touduze Market
800 Buena Vista

Hippos
226 Dyer

CVS
Riverwalk

[verbl]

Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX

Oh please, with all the 100's of dining options downtown, who cares if tourists patron some of them, not so bad food and some great people watching nonetheless.
San Antonio's has more potential than most downtowns, can't wait to see it all come together.
Oh wow, a Whole Foods and a boring Safeway, I guess a grocery list, is urban and more exciting these days. I guess life would sieze to exsit if one would have to drive a mile for a boxed chain, as if they could carry it all walking back from the corner or a few blocks.
I would say Musuems, world class cultural venues, great plazas and parks really shape and make a downtown. Downtown San Antonio doesn't have anymore chain grocery stores, since Handy Andy but has a few mom and pop groceries downtown. We do need a upscale large grocery store though. Hopefully we may see one in the River North area or Vistana.


Lucky's Food Mart
119 E. Commerce

Maggot Grocery
1314 E. Commerce

Alamo Food Mart
1900 N/ St. Mary's

El Azteca
623 S. leona

American Discount Channel
139 E. Commerce

McCullough Grocery
1616 McCullough

Picnic Food Mart
201 Saint Mary's

Stars
311 S. Saint Marys

Touduze Market
800 Buena Vista

Hippos
226 Dyer

CVS
Riverwalk

LOL @ pinic food mart.... not funny at the time but kinda now in a weird way, but my mom and dad were robbed at gun point there when I was little.

[Paul in S.A TX]

Originally Posted by verbl

LOL @ pinic food mart.... not funny at the time but kinda now in a weird way, but my mom and dad were robbed at gun point there when I was little.

I was car jacked at a HEB on the southside 10 years ago, very scary.

[ooo0mercury0ooo]

I dont really think Downtown S.A. lacks Chain restaurants and services in Downtown. I think that Chain bussiness belong in the suburbs of San Antonio. Keep our downtown UNIQUE not the coockie cutter we are used to see in the suburbs. Like one of our friends here says "KEEP SAN ANTONIO LAME". In a good way of speaking of course

[miaht82]

Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX

Oh wow, a Whole Foods and a boring Safeway, I guess a grocery list, is urban and more exciting these days. I guess life would stop if one would have to drive a mile for a boxed chain, as if they could carry it all walking back from the corner or a few blocks.....
.....We do need a upscale large grocery store though. Hopefully we may see one in the River North area or Vistana.

So if life wouldn't stop if we had to drive a mile, why would River North need an upscale large grocery store?

I never said there weren't places to eat downtown or that they were bad, just that there are few outside of the Riverwalk and tourist driven not local. I'm sure there are plenty of locals that eat on the Riverwalk, I do too, but what if someone wanted some fast food for breakfast or lunch?

[KeepSanAntonioLame]

I hope Whole Foods doesn't come downtown. It needs to be an HEB or similar, since many, if not most, of DT area residents are either low-middle income and live in subsidized housing.

[KevinFromTexas]

Southtown wants a walk-in grocery
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/loc...destrians.html

[alexjon]

Originally Posted by Paul in S.A TX

Oh please, with all the 100's of dining options downtown, who cares if tourists patron some of them, not so bad food and some great people watching nonetheless.
San Antonio's has more potential than most downtowns, can't wait to see it all come together.
Oh wow, a Whole Foods and a boring Safeway, I guess a grocery list, is urban and more exciting these days. I guess life would stop if one would have to drive a mile for a boxed chain, as if they could carry it all walking back from the corner or a few blocks.
I would say Musuems, world class cultural venues, great plazas and parks really shape and make a downtown. Downtown San Antonio doesn't have anymore chain grocery stores, since Handy Andy but has a few mom and pop groceries downtown. We do need a upscale large grocery store though. Hopefully we may see one in the River North area or Vistana.

Oh lord, what about the people who live downtown? They need grocery stores, period. Upscale boutique grocery stores are insufficient. Of course a grocery list is urban and more exciting-- unless you expect that everyone who lives downtown is fine with the mark-up of a smaller grocery store or upscale grocery store.

San Antonio's downtown is unfriendly to non-tourists, simple as that.