Restorations and Renovations

[Spoiler]

The restoration of old buildings is more interesting to me than new building construction, unless the new construction's design is exceptional. Lately San Antonio has been teeming with both new construction and restoration. It's a good time to be alive and paying attention to what's going on downtown. I've considered making this thread for a few weeks, and originally my intention was to make a single post with several of the larger ongoing building restorations in the greater downtown area. But that's too much effort! Instead I'll just start with what's happening now and post updates of ongoing projects as they happen.

[Spoiler]

Potchernick's Cerveceria

"Potchernick’s Cervecería — led by architecture firm Clayton Korte — will fill a long-vacant downtown building with beer, tacos and an urban path that will lead pedestrians straight from the Historic River Walk up to the downtown streetscape.
The building has been vacant since 1991, when its previous tenant, Potchernick’s Sporting Goods, closed its doors. In anticipation of the new venture, the building will undergo huge renovations including the addition of a covered 185-foot walkway that will connect the interior of the building to the River Walk."

https://www.sacurrent.com/Flavor/arc...box=1605547913



https://claytonkorte.com/work/potchernicks-cerveceria/

How it looks now.
River
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4256...2!8i6656?hl=en
Street
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4256...4!8i8192?hl=en

[JACKinBeantown]

Thanks for creating this thread. Buildings don't need to be new to be good. Often the opposite is true. I look forward to seeing projects posted here.

[Tornado]

Thx for creating this thread Spoiler. This building is directly across the street from St. Mary's where I grew up going to church. If the other hotel gets built, that area will be rockin'

[Spoiler]

Here's a little reminder about probably the most impressive restoration currently happening, the Flats at St. Mary's Building, aka the Hedrick Building, aka the Real Estate Building, at the northwest corner of St. Mary's and Martin.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sananton...high-rise.html


Here's how it used to look.

[AwesomeSAView]

I agree! I am glad this thread was started! Love the Hendricks Building restoration and renovation. Wondering what Weston has in store for the beautiful Milam Building!!! San Antonio is a very historical and old city with beautiful historical buildings waiting to have that second chance of glory!

Other cities with beautiful historical cities that have been renovated to beautiful buildings again include, Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, and Chicago to name a few!

[aggie2008]

Thanks for sharing the Potchernick’s Cervecería story. That is so exciting! I've passed by that spot so many times and never really thought about what it was before or what it could become! The renderings look great and I love the path down to the river.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Spoiler

Here's a little reminder about probably the most impressive restoration currently happening, the Flats at St. Mary's Building, aka the Hedrick Building, aka the Real Estate Building, at the northwest corner of St. Mary's and Martin.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sananton...high-rise.html


Here's how it used to look.

This should be in renovation textbooks. I can't think of a better example of restoring from "why the hell did they do that" to its former glory.

[Spoiler]

The green space being renovated next to Frost Tower opened to the public today.

https://sanantonioreport.org/ideal-g...to-the-public/

Weston Urban recently unveiled the newly landscaped park that sits along Houston Street though without the bustle that came with last year’s opening of the gleaming Frost Tower at a time when downtown streets were busier.

The developer, which owns and manages a number of properties downtown, acquired the languishing 1.2 acres from Frost Bank with the agreement that it would remain a park. Remaking the park coincided with the construction of the bank tower.

“Maybe there is a point where you can have too much activated green space in an urban core, but I haven’t seen it yet,” said Randy Smith, president of Weston Urban. “Not only will it drive value to our other properties, but it’s just what the community needs.”

Before
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4270...4!8i4352?hl=en

[Spoiler]

The Westside Development Corp. chose a potential partner for its renovation of Basila Frocks, a blighted neighborhood landmark.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sananton...alization.html

The 20,000-square-foot building at 502 N. Zarzamora St. was built by the Basila family, which established the Basila Frocks Co. to house garment manufacturers and shops. Over the years, it has served as offices, a grocery store, a ballroom, a boxing gym and a live music space.

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4321...4!8i8192?hl=en

[Tornado]

Does anyone have an interior layout of that building? Like the Milam, I assume those rooms are pretty small.

Also, SanAntonioReport.org had an article on the new real estate projects in downtown (305 Soledad, HEB's purchase of property, & Silver Ventures purchase of property near the Pearl). One nugget that stood out was that Silver Ventures said they would announce the plans sometime next year for the old Samuels Glass building that they've been using for storage.

https://sanantonioreport.org/heb-wes...o-real-estate/

[ahealy]

Man, this is a great thread. One of the things I love most about my hometown is how it's kept the charm and character of itself for decades, even hundreds of years in some parts....and yet, it's becoming a city of the 21st century right before our eyes. It'll be the reason we likely move back from Austin someday

[Spoiler]

Originally Posted by Tornado

Does anyone have an interior layout of that building? Like the Milam, I assume those rooms are pretty small.

I haven't found any floor plans, but the article linked below mentions there will be 36 apartments ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. The top floor will be offices and the ground floor and basement will be retail. The article includes interior shots of the building's restoration. They are clearly spending a ton on this project.







https://www.mysanantonio.com/sa-inc/...photo-19792555

This restoration project also includes the adjacent Voss building, which is also quite lovely.

[Tornado]

I drove by the location of where Potchernick’s Cervecería will be located. The article stated they were in the early phases of construction but there was zero activity when I drove by this morning. Will be a great spot when it does finally open.

[Satxsnkrs]

;

[Satxsnkrs]

Originally Posted by Tornado

I drove by the location of where Potchernick’s Cervecería will be located. The article stated they were in the early phases of construction but there was zero activity when I drove by this morning. Will be a great spot when it does finally open.

I walk from the Pearl to the convention center and back on the River Walk about 3 times a week. No activity to report on the river level of this building. I am so glad something is finally being done with is building. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

[Spoiler]

Originally Posted by Satxsnkrs

I walk from the Pearl to the convention center and back on the River Walk about 3 times a week. No activity to report on the river level of this building. I am so glad something is finally being done with is building. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

That's a really nice walk

Do you have anything to report about the Veramendi project, on the west bank of the river south of Houston Street?

here
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4259...2!8i6656?hl=en

[Satxsnkrs]

Originally Posted by Spoiler

That's a really nice walk

Do you have anything to report about the Veramendi project, on the west bank of the river south of Houston Street?

here
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4259...2!8i6656?hl=en

Not a thing. That covered walk way that was put up for construction along the river walk seems to be the only thing that has happened on the property besides removing some windows. As soon as I see activity, I will note it here!

[codyhannah]

Thank you for creating this great thread. Renovation is the best way to convert an old building into a new building.

[SpiritofSeguin]

Another great renovation job. The most interesting new feature is the addition of an elevator system. The difference

...is night and day.

Also, I guess the concept for the beer-taco alleyway Potchernick’s Cervecería on St. Mary's isn't happening? It's been dead since 2020, but I am astonished the city has allowed it's Riverwalk front to be a mess of overgrown trees and plants with a single link of fence, it looks awful. The landscape needs to all be torn out and made viewable at least, and the actual interior from the street is full of dried feces and trash.