SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread

[sakyle04]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

I think a 25-30 story apartment high-rise would definitely work downtown. There's not too many downtown apartments even with Vistana.

I would love to see it....

I would also love to see the economics that make it work. I guess Cross figured out a way. That's all that matters.

[miaht82]

If there are any qualified indiviuals on SSP that want to get on the HDRC or Downtown Advisory Board, apply here.
You can serve on two boards concurrently. I was just received a letter about the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) there were over 65 applicants yet there is a vacant slot for the HDRC District 7.

Residents see updated River North plan
By Jennifer Hiller - Express-News

Plans for the redevelopment of downtown's River North area continue to look like the family Christmas tree — basically the same as last year, but with a few new ornaments and updates.

The plan still hopes to create a walkable, urban community with a mix of residential, retail and office space along a northern stretch of the San Antonio River. And the basic framework of last year's plan from California-based Moule & Polyzoides still is evident.

But in the past several months a 29-member city committee has worked to reach a consensus on the specifics of how to transform a heavily industrial area into a hip, mixed use neighborhood — without upsetting property owners who need to buy into the idea for it to work.

Area residents and owners got a chance Monday night to see and comment on the updated master plan for River North.

“The concepts in general really haven't changed,” said Patrick Howard, assistant director of the city's Planning and Development Services Department.

But a few key specifics have.

Developer George Geis, a critic of the original master plan, said one of the biggest issues for property owners had been plans that initially showed public parks where private property now sits. Owners worried their land would be taken by eminent domain.

That's one of the issues that's been settled by the 29-member committee, which made clear that the River North plan is not a launching pad for eminent domain fights.

But Geis and others said they have not read the full plan and the changes.

“This is all very important for the city,” he said. “We need time to make sure this is what we've reached consensus on.”

Others worried that the plans don't include enough green space to provide relief from an urban environment, while one man wanted to know if the city had a strategy on how it might tap into President-elect Obama's proposed stimulus package, which promises public works spending on a grand scale.

“It's one way we could fuel some initial investment in the area,” said Adrian Lopez, economic development manager for the city of San Antonio's Neighborhood Action Department, who noted that the city has had some preliminary talks about how the projects might fit into the new president's plans.

The committee meets again Monday to consider adopting the master plan or reviewing it more. After that, it would go to the planning commission and later to the City Council.

Residents got their first peek at River North plans a year ago with Moule & Polyzoides' first master plan. The city took over the planning process in mid-2008 when some property owners in the area complained that they were being ignored or that some owners were favored over others.

“Has it really been a year?” asked District 1 Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros at the beginning of Monday's presentation. “It has.”

The rezoning process — another extensive public process — could start as early as March.

The city's existing zoning likely would be replaced with form-based zoning, which focuses on the look of a property instead of its use.

I was reading through the plan and proposal for building heights;
Along the river in the Central Zone, the building heights would be 5 story min. and 20 story max.
Along Broadway and the other zones, 2 story min. and 6 story max.
No drive-thrus, road facing parking lots and minimal industrial storage, just to name a few of the guidelines.

[KevinFromTexas]

I would totally love to see a 30-story Vistana II. Maybe not an exact copy of the crown, but a variant of it, maybe even more grand than the existing one.

[sakyle04]

Originally Posted by miaht82

I was reading through the plan and proposal for building heights;
Along the river in the Central Zone, the building heights would be 5 story min. and 20 story max.
Along Broadway and the other zones, 2 story min. and 6 story max.
No drive-thrus, road facing parking lots and minimal industrial storage, just to name a few of the guidelines.[/FONT]

good to see the minimums in the central zone. wish the minimum was at least 3 stories in the other zones...

[alexjon]

What about the River North Streetcar?

[sakyle04]

http://downtownsanantonio.org/pdf/CH...%20CATALOG.pdf

river north charrette pdf...

worth the download - answers a lot of questions...

[alexjon]

Is that the same one from months ago?

[jaga185]

This one is different, I think not unless I missed some stuff, and it looks awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[The Model]

Sorry to bust any bubbles, and I would love to see another high rise come out of Vistana, but one of my friends who worked on the project of Vistana, said that a Vistana II is just a dream at this point. He did mention unless, Cross has plans for Vistana II and he isn't going to use the same design firm on the second addition.

[NBTX11]

Not Downtown, but didn't know where to put these. Took a couple of pics of the Randolph "Taj" building.

[JACKinBeantown]

Nice! I love that building.

[sakyle04]

REZONING FOR ARTS DISTRICT GETS CLOSER

Story here:http://www.mysanantonio.com/communit...ts_closer.html

[sakyle04]

from: http://recenter.tamu.edu/mnews/newss...NEWS&CID=44863

While the market may not be booming with new residential projects these days, there are still opportunities to be had in San Antonio's housing market. And many of those opportunities are located within the city's emerging urban sector. According to a recent analysis prepared by Stephen W. Yndo, San Antonio is on track to deliver 1,813 market-rate residential units by the year 2011. These communities - a mix of rental and for-sale projects - will be located in downtown San Antonio, and in the neighborhoods just north of the city's center. The new housing is being spurred by what Yndo calls the "rise of the urbanites" - an ever-growing demographic that is attracted to the energy that an urban environment provides. These buyers also demand efficiency - both in their living spaces and in their daily activities. Of the 1,813 housing units presently under development within the heart of the Alamo City, 1,223 of those are rental units. The remaining 590 units that are being marketed to potential owners include several redevelopment projects. The former Judson Candy Co. building on South Flores Street is gaining new life as a condominium community. A total of 68 condos are up for purchase in the project. Owners will be able to start moving in next month. Another project offering for-sale units is St. B's - a 66-unit condo community that is being created on the former site of the St. Benedict's Hospital and Nursing Home.

*Vistana, 247 units, 2009 completion date;
*Pearl Brewery, 11 units in 2009;
*Judson Candy, 68 units, 2009;
*St. B's, 67 units, 2009;
*Vidorra, 140 units, 2009;
*Alteza, 147 units, 2009. Down the road projects:
*Durango, 245 units, 2009 construction start, 2010 delivery date;
*Artisan Park, Phase II, 30 units, 2009 start date, 2010 delivery date;
*Big Tex, 200 units, 2010 start date, 2011 delivery date.

[jaga185]

Is this the "tower" at Durango we were discussing earlier, or just the new buildings going up?

[Xeelee]

looks nice

[sakyle04]

Originally Posted by jaga185

Is this the "tower" at Durango we were discussing earlier, or just the new buildings going up?

245 units is a lot. consider that vistana needed an entire city block to fit 247units into 10 stories (not counting parking/retail). the amount of space that it would require for 245 units to be placed into 3-4 story buildings would be much too large for the amount of land they have left down there...

i would have to think that 245 would be a tower.

[jaga185]

^^^ Excellent, I hope it looks amazing. I'm excited.

[miaht82]

Actually guys, it is going to be a 4-story complex. Artessa at Quarry Village has 280 units in a similar design, so it is possible on that lot. Not trying to sound negative, believe me, I'd rather have something like this in that area and the hemisfair.

Here is a link for a story today on the news.
here is how they will go on the lot, leaving the corner of labor and durango for the 4th phase.

renderings are here.
Here is the webpage for the 3 phases, the Refugio Apartments, Durango Phase and Artisan Townhomes.
The 4th proposed phase would be 120 or so in a "high-rise" type building

[JACKinBeantown]

Looks like a great project in a great location. I remember seeing that area from the Tower many times as a kid. Plus, the mixed income aspect is great... that's one of the big ways that large buildings get reduced taxes etc. from the city in New York. Usually it's either 10% or 20% of the units must be for low income families. It gives everyone a chance to live together in a nice place and promotes understanding and all kinds of stuff like that. The mention of retail is a necessary plus too. Bravo, SA!

[Keep-SA-Lame]

Though the first pic would be nice, really anything at that location is good. There's nothing to draw pedestrians down Durango currently. Visitors to the ITC generally cut through Hemisfair to get there.