SAN ANTONIO | City and Metro News Thread

[SproutingTowers]

Originally Posted by Keegan-B-SATX

I loved the letter and it hit home well. However this is not a gaurentee. The Seattle Supersonic and St. Louis Rams sent out similar letters to there fans. To put these rumors at rest for good I believe the construction of a state of the art NBA Arena (DOWNTOWN) is the long term solution.
The city has 10 years before the lease is up and it typically takes 5-6 years to plan, fund, and build an NBA Arena. Which means the city and county need to start saving and planning now.
The biggest mistake this county and city every did was building the then SBC center in the east side. So many broken promises regarding development and progress. 20 years later and nothing has happened near the arena. The modern NBA game is an experience BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the game. Hotels, shops, Bars, restaurants, clubs, and music are all essential to the NBA experience. And other cities have excelled in bringing that experience to their fans. Dallas is a great example with the level of options they have built around American Airlines Arena. What do the Spurs have to offer? An ocean of parking lots surrounding the arena.
There is nothing to do before and after the game. That's is the cold hard truth. The NBA experience is lacking here in San Antonio. Which is why if we want to keep our SPURS from leaving is time we think and build big.
My suggestion for an Arena location that'll bring the NBA Experience too 100 would be where the current US district court is located next to the Tower of the Americas. With the plans for civic park in play and future development around hemisfair park it makes the most sense. The Hyatt, Marriott and other downtown hotels are all within walking distance. An extension of the Riverwalk from the convention center can bring restaurants and shopping. Other development such as the demolition of the Texan Cultures building (arguably the ugliest building in the city) would allow high density retail, residential, mixed use options to be built. Imagine 10 years from now when the 2032 lease expires the SPURS move into a world class ultra modern multi Billion dollar Entertainment District in the heart of downtown San Antonio. That's what I want to see. And I believe it's time the city it's people and it's leaders start to think big.

San Antonio is on the bottom in fanbase wealth for all NBA franchise locations and may not be able to compete with Las Vegas where they are building a $3 billion arena + complex (casino and entertainment).

The Spurs are trying to attract new fan money from Austin and Mexico. I am waiting to see which company replaces AT&T and how much will they pay to put their name on the building which may determine the future of the franchise. No company will spend $20 million year if the team plans to leave.

If a new arena is to be built then a good location is either near the Pearl along the Riverwalk or at the Rim. But good luck in trying to get voters agree in spending taxpayer money where already heard the AT&T Center is good enough.

Even though the Spurs are building a new training facility it could be sold if the team moves. Those Las Vegas investors have $billions in their pockets. The best for SA is for the NBA commissioner to allow a new franchise to take the heat off the Spurs.

[theOGalexd]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

San Antonio is on the bottom in fanbase wealth for all NBA franchise locations and may not be able to compete with Las Vegas where they are building a $3 billion arena + complex (casino and entertainment).

Curious where you're getting that info from? I have a hard time believing SA is below NOLA/Memphis. From what I'm seeing, the franchise value is middle of the road, between Miami/Portland and Sacramento/DC. The bottom 5 are Orlando, Detroit, Minnesota, New Orleans and Memphis.

They'd be wise to build a new arena either out on the North side where most of the players/wealth are (besides a few players living down at the Pearl) or with the way things are going, somewhere between the Pearl and Downtown where there's plenty of empty lots/abandoned buildings to develop.

There's talks of expansion teams so if Vegas wants one I'm sure they're high on the list. I just don't see the logic to move the Spurs of all teams when there's teams in smaller + poorer markets that don't have the legacy of the Spurs. Just my 2 cents though.

[Spoiler]

I hate to say it, but I think the ITC site is the best location for a downtown arena. Right next to the convention center and Alamodome (actually, tearing down the Alamodome and putting the arena there would be best, but that's never gonna happen), plenty of parking at the Alamodome, connectivity to the rest of downtown with the Hemisfair redevelopment. The ITC could relocate to the west end of downtown at the new UTSA campus. Change my mind.

[theOGalexd]

Originally Posted by Spoiler

I hate to say it, but I think the ITC site is the best location for a downtown arena. Right next to the convention center and Alamodome (actually, tearing down the Alamodome and putting the arena there would be best, but that's never gonna happen), plenty of parking at the Alamodome, connectivity to the rest of downtown with the Hemisfair redevelopment. The ITC could relocate to the west end of downtown at the new UTSA campus. Change my mind.

Might be right with that one. I'd say that or whatever that abandoned looking building/lot is next to SAMA. Who knows what land will be available in 5-8 years tho lol.

[Onward]

Originally Posted by Spoiler

I hate to say it, but I think the ITC site is the best location for a downtown arena. Right next to the convention center and Alamodome (actually, tearing down the Alamodome and putting the arena there would be best, but that's never gonna happen), plenty of parking at the Alamodome, connectivity to the rest of downtown with the Hemisfair redevelopment. The ITC could relocate to the west end of downtown at the new UTSA campus. Change my mind.

Agreed, I've always thought the Institute of Texan Cultures location made the most sense. Around the Pearl would be ideal, but that ship has sailed I believe. Institute of Texan Cultures would also work on one of those parking lots behind the Crockett Hotel. Right near the Alamo and its new Museum. I believe the new stadium belongs downtown. But If they can get enough land 1604/I-10 or 1604/281 I could see as well.

Hopefully lessons were learned from the AT&T Center. It's a horrible game experience. Even the likes of Memphis or OKC offer more. Truly don't know what they were expecting with that location. SFH homes, a Golf Course, and light industrial. It was never going to become a destination or entertainment zone.

[JACKinBeantown]

I agree with all the assessments above. When I was a kid I went to Spurs games at the Hemisfair Arena. It was right there. We parked across the street (in the garage that is amazingly still there) and walked through that long, big hallway through the convention center passing what was later named the Lila Cockrell Theater, after San Antonio's first female mayor. Before or after a game you could go to the Riverwalk or other downtown bars and restaurants, or up the Tower of the Americas, or take your visiting relatives to the Alamo for the 47th time. The location was perfect, and could be again with the right planning on multiple parts.

[Keegan-B-SATX]

I agree with your statement 100%. The Institute of Texan Cultures building is a fantastic location. I heard someone mention in this thread that taxpayers wouldnt approve the funds for an Arena. The arena would be payed for by hotel occupancy taxes and convention fees not tax dollars. That's why I mentioned earlier that in order to accumulate the necessary funds the city should start saving the money now. That way in about 5-6 years when arena talk gets more likely the money will be there. Especially when in 2025 we'll be hosting the final four again. That's hundreds of millions of potential dollars the city can save.

[Fireoutofclay]

Originally Posted by Texan101

Agreed, I've always thought the Institute of Texan Cultures location made the most sense. Around the Pearl would be ideal, but that ship has sailed I believe. Institute of Texan Cultures would also work on one of those parking lots behind the Crockett Hotel. Right near the Alamo and its new Museum. I believe the new stadium belongs downtown. But If they can get enough land 1604/I-10 or 1604/281 I could see as well.

Hopefully lessons were learned from the AT&T Center. It's a horrible game experience. Even the likes of Memphis or OKC offer more. Truly don't know what they were expecting with that location. SFH homes, a Golf Course, and light industrial. It was never going to become a destination or entertainment zone.

The Spurs chose that location. After leaving Hemisfair Arena for the Alamodome, it was understood that they would only be there for a few years while new home would be made for them later. Then the city (Mayor Howard Peak) and the county (Judge Cyndi Krier) offered competing plans. They chose the county's plan to build on the grounds of the Freeman Coliseum over the city's plan of building next to the Alamodome. They threw their support over the plan that benefited them more.

I was a teenager at the time, so the details escape me, but I didn't understand why the city and county couldn't come together on a plan that was mutually beneficial.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Fireoutofclay

I was a teenager at the time, so the details escape me, but I didn't understand why the city and county couldn't come together on a plan that was mutually beneficial.

Because people in positions of power often like to wave their um... "sticks" around and call attention to themselves whether it benefits the people or not.

[jaga185]

Build it on a lot next to the Alamodome. Build a garage first. Then the arena. Then another garage. Done.

Long-term connectivity would be tear down 37 between Florida/Carolina to Brooklyn/Nolan.

OR the ITC. I've been saying for years one of the lots behind the Alamo would be perfect.

Who has several hundred million lying around for us to get this going?

[SAguy]

Bexar County leader pushes for redevelopment around AT&T Center, sans a housing-prices spike

https://www.kens5.com/article/news/l...tag1=kensshare

[kingkirbythe....]

Drought threatens Edwards Aquifer levels, but SAWS’ diversification could spare San Antonio tighter water restrictions

https://sanantonioreport.org/drought...-restrictions/

Since the San Antonio Water System began keeping records in 2006, the city of San Antonio has never had to declare its most severe drought restrictions for SAWS customers.

The city has issued Stage 1 and Stage 2 drought restrictions, which limits the watering of residential lawns to once per week at specified times, for SAWS customers often over the past 16 years.

But it has so far avoided ever having to declare Stage 3 or Stage 4 drought restrictions, which limit water use even more drastically.

In the midst of an unusually hot and dry May that is likely foretelling an even drier summer, could San Antonio residents soon be facing their first Stage 3 drought restrictions?

The answer appears to be no — at least, not for SAWS customers.

While San Antonio is facing the most significant drought it has experienced since 2014, thanks to the diversification of SAWS water sources, the utility is well stocked to supply its customers through a torrid summer, said Karen Guz, director of water conservation at SAWS.

“We’ve had almost 30 years now to prepare for this,” Guz said.

Over the past two decades, the utility has expanded the number of water sources San Antonio relies on beyond the Edwards Aquifer, which supplies about half the water San Antonians use.

Today, SAWS’ portfolio also includes water from the Carrizo Aquifer, the Trinity Aquifer, and Vista Ridge, plus water stored underground, said Anne Hayden, SAWS’ communications manager.

It’s a different story for Edwards Aquifer Authority, however.

[kingkirbythe....]

San Antonio hotel business is rebounding, but still not back to pre-pandemic 2019 levels

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sa-inc/...t-17160782.php

San Antonio’s hospitality industry is still climbing out of the hole caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but spring break revelers helped push March to a record.

The rebound is coming with planned construction of hotel rooms at the highest level in a decade.

The average occupancy rate during the first three months of this year was 60.6 percent, according to STR, a data firm that tracks the hospitality industry.

That was up from 49.9 during the same period in 2021 and 54 percent in 2020 — but still below 66.4 percent during 2019’s first quarter.

“San Antonio’s hotels continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic,” said Daryl Cronk, director of hospitality analytics, south, at CoStar Group.

[kingkirbythe....]

San Antonio spending extra $700K to keep Tower of Americas standing

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...P-CP-Spotlight

San Antonio City Council is adding over half-a-million dollars to an existing architectural services agreement to upgrade the Tower of the Americas main shaft. Here's what you need to know.

The city council is set to add $700,000 to an existing contract with Beaty Palmer on May 19, according to city council agenda documents. The additional funds are for structural improvements to the 750-feet tall tower that makes up San Antonio's iconic skyline.

The additional funds bring the total 2020 contract to $1.5 million. Improvements will be made to the concrete vertical shaft to "preserve the structural integrity of the building" that was built in 1968.

Agenda documents do not make mention of the any ongoing issues with the Tower of Americas, but the "on-call" contract allows the city to call on the contractor for improvements when needed.

[kingkirbythe....]

San Antonio's Tower of the Americas adds Build-A-Bear Workshop to its legacy

https://www.mysanantonio.com/enterta...o-17176871.php

The Tower of the America's, perhaps the most iconic figure in the San Antonio skyline, has just attached a fuzzy new addition to its legacy. You probably didn't know you needed a Build-A-Bear Workshop embedded inside the historic World's Fair-era structure, but on Friday, May 13, the mid-aught's mall staple made its Hemisfair debut.

[kingkirbythe....]

Simple but elegant.


HDRC approves plans for center focused on San Antonio Missions

https://sanantonioreport.org/hdrc-wo...onio-missions/

On vibrant clay tiles in the tradition of San Jose Pottery, a wall map at the planned World Heritage Center will show visitors where each historic mission is situated along the San Antonio River, and just beyond the arched doorways, a trail will lead them there.

Those plans moved a step closer to reality Wednesday when the Historic and Design Review Commission approved issuing a certificate of appropriateness for the project.

The commission gave conceptual approval for the project in 2021. Construction is scheduled to start later this year and work is expected to be completed in late 2023.

The World Heritage Center is designed to serve as a gateway to the San Antonio Missions Historical Park, designated in 2015 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the only one in Texas.

Through self-guided tours, visitors will learn more about the history, art and culture of the community around the missions as well as hear the stories of the people who have lived there throughout history to the present day.

The center will be located at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., adjacent to the Mission Marquee Drive-In, the Mission Branch Library and the Harvey E. Najim YMCA.

The 10,077-square-foot structure with indoor and outdoor space was designed by Dunaway Associates, a planning and landscape architecture firm with offices throughout the state, and Muñoz & Company, the San Antonio firm behind the Mission Branch Library.

The $9.5 million project is being funded through two propositions in the 2017 bond and with an $845,000 gift from the Tricentennial Commission for the art, design enhancements and interpretive elements of the center.

The City of San Antonio will own and operate the center and Witte Museum staff will design and oversee the interpretive plan, which details the visitor experience, exhibitions, opportunities for interpretive programs and facilities.

The World Heritage Center is planned as an experience unique from the visitor center at Mission San José, which is operated by the National Park Service, and another under development at Mission Concepción run by the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

The center is scheduled to open in 2024.

[Rynetwo]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

Simple but elegant.


HDRC approves plans for center focused on San Antonio Missions

https://sanantonioreport.org/hdrc-wo...onio-missions/

On vibrant clay tiles in the tradition of San Jose Pottery, a wall map at the planned World Heritage Center will show visitors where each historic mission is situated along the San Antonio River, and just beyond the arched doorways, a trail will lead them there.

Those plans moved a step closer to reality Wednesday when the Historic and Design Review Commission approved issuing a certificate of appropriateness for the project.

The commission gave conceptual approval for the project in 2021. Construction is scheduled to start later this year and work is expected to be completed in late 2023.

The World Heritage Center is designed to serve as a gateway to the San Antonio Missions Historical Park, designated in 2015 as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the only one in Texas.

Through self-guided tours, visitors will learn more about the history, art and culture of the community around the missions as well as hear the stories of the people who have lived there throughout history to the present day.

The center will be located at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., adjacent to the Mission Marquee Drive-In, the Mission Branch Library and the Harvey E. Najim YMCA.

The 10,077-square-foot structure with indoor and outdoor space was designed by Dunaway Associates, a planning and landscape architecture firm with offices throughout the state, and Muñoz & Company, the San Antonio firm behind the Mission Branch Library.

The $9.5 million project is being funded through two propositions in the 2017 bond and with an $845,000 gift from the Tricentennial Commission for the art, design enhancements and interpretive elements of the center.

The City of San Antonio will own and operate the center and Witte Museum staff will design and oversee the interpretive plan, which details the visitor experience, exhibitions, opportunities for interpretive programs and facilities.

The World Heritage Center is planned as an experience unique from the visitor center at Mission San José, which is operated by the National Park Service, and another under development at Mission Concepción run by the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

The center is scheduled to open in 2024.

Love it

[kingkirbythe....]

As development booms around Boerne, the city’s water committee has eyes on Edwards Aquifer

https://www.expressnews.com/news/loc...s-17182103.php

In response to the potential for growing development in Boerne and the surrounding area to stress the existing water supply, officials in the booming city may consider seeking a change to state law as a means to secure more water.

The Kendall County Water Committee is assessing several options for bolstering the city’s water supply in the next few decades. While that supply is adequate now, the committee’s search for other sources to keep up with the rate of development includes the consideration of buying Edwards Aquifer water wholesale from the San Antonio Water System.

It is illegal, however, for Kendall County to buy water that comes from the Edwards Aquifer, as Texas statutes prohibit exporting water from the aquifer to outside the eight Edwards Aquifer Authority counties — Bexar, Medina, Uvalde, Comal, Atascosa, Guadalupe, Hays and Caldwell. Boerne would have to get legislation passed to remove that restriction, an idea that has failed before.

“For right now, we’re just trying to get information on all our options,” said Patrick Cohoon, chair of the Kendall County Water Committee. “All we know is that SAWS has water and that they sometimes sell their water. So should we ask SAWS about that? Right. We’re asking them what this process looks like.”

[Keep-SA-Lame]

Originally Posted by SAguy

Bexar County leader pushes for redevelopment around AT&T Center, sans a housing-prices spike

https://www.kens5.com/article/news/l...tag1=kensshare

It's totally bananas that this wasn't the original plan. We just tossed the AT&T center out there surrounded by a sea of parking and just kind of hoped some development happened around it. Glad someone is at least thinking about it, better late than never. Between the arenas and that shitty golf course across the street, there's a ton of public land there that could host a ton of desperately needed housing. It could be San Antonio's Mueller. The best part is because it's surrounded on three sides by a sea of industrial uses, you could probably just do whatever you want without offending the NIMBYs.

[kingkirbythe....]

These San Antonio ZIP codes saw the most home sales, biggest price increases in 2021

https://www.expressnews.com/sa-inc/a...s-17182916.php

2021 was a record-breaking year for the local housing market, as buyers snapped up homes most prolifically in northwest, west and southwest Bexar County, a booming area.

Meanwhile, the ZIP codes that saw the greatest price increases are scattered throughout the county, including in the city’s urban core.

Four of the five ZIP codes where the most homes were sold last year — 78254, 78253, 78245 and 78252 — are largely outside Loop 1604 and encompass neighborhoods between Bandera Road/Texas 16 and Interstate 35.

A flurry of homes, stores and schools are being built in those ZIP codes, which include Alamo Ranch and neighborhoods near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and Government Canyon State Natural Area. The other top-five ZIP code for sales was 78109, which includes Converse.

Lower price points and good schools are attractive to first-time homebuyers and newcomers moving to the area, said Joel Leos, a real estate agent at Keller Williams Heritage.

“It’s where people want to be, 100 percent,” he said.