SAN ANTONIO | Hard Rock Hotel | 18 FLOORS | Proposed

[kmack]

There was an article about this in the Houston Chronicle also:
https://www.chron.com/real-estate/ar..._medium=social

[Montirob]

Originally Posted by kmack

There was an article about this in the Houston Chronicle also:
https://www.chron.com/real-estate/ar..._medium=social

You'll find that the Chronicle and Express News share many articles... but it IS interesting that they felt there would be interest in Houston. Perhaps the Alamo redesign has caused an increase in San Antonio news.

[PDG91]

I seriously thought that the whole "putting a high rise hotel on top of the Joske building" was put to rest years ago. I'm all for new high rise buildings in DT, but I really don't see using the Joske building as an addition/platform for a tall and modern building.

[Fryguy]

Originally Posted by PDG91

I seriously thought that the whole "putting a high rise hotel on top of the Joske building" was put to rest years ago. I'm all for new high rise buildings in DT, but I really don't see using the Joske building as an addition/platform for a tall and modern building.

But that is what it was built for, with the intention of a future hotel in the middle of the mall. So I don't know why it has taken so long to happen, nor why people get shocked as to the height of it.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by Fryguy

But that is what it was built for, with the intention of a future hotel in the middle of the mall...

I'm not so sure about that "fact."

[Montirob]

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

I'm not so sure about that "fact."

While I can't find an article to specifically back it up, I do believe that Fryguy is correct.

When they gutted the building in 2013 (removing 100 yr old beams), only the façade remained. A completely new foundation, structure, and roof were installed with, in my opinion, the intention that additional stories could be added later.

Basis for my opinion: The April 2013 HDRC request included both the "renovation" of the existing interior AND the tower. The tower was rejected, but since the renovation continued, I believe that the owners would not have re-engineered and revised the plans. The sketches of the Hard Rock hotel also shows the SAME L-shaped layout as the previous tower.

[sirkingwilliam]

Originally Posted by Montirob

While I can't find an article to specifically back it up, I do believe that Fryguy is correct.

When they gutted the building in 2013 (removing 100 yr old beams), only the façade remained. A completely new foundation, structure, and roof were installed with, in my opinion, the intention that additional stories could be added later.

Basis for my opinion: The April 2013 HDRC request included both the "renovation" of the existing interior AND the tower. The tower was rejected, but since the renovation continued, I believe that the owners would not have re-engineered and revised the plans. The sketches of the Hard Rock hotel also shows the SAME L-shaped layout as the previous tower.

Here is a 2016 article that details future plans.

Rivercenter has laid plans for even more changes, including “very possibly” an expansion on land it owns downtown, said Chris Oviatt, the mall’s general manager. The new Joske’s is designed to support a structure about 14 stories tall, he said. The owners don’t have plans to add more floors any time soon, he said.