City unveils Centro Partnership plan for downtown

[KevinFromTexas]

Web Posted: 09/25/2009 12:00 CDT
City unveils Centro Partnership plan for downtown

By Gilbert Garcia - Express-News

The city manager's office Thursday unveiled an ambitious and potentially powerful nonprofit organization intended to oversee the city's downtown revitalization strategy.

Called Centro Partnership, the public-private entity is expected to take over management and operations of the city's downtown parking, purchase property and issue bonds, and work to attract and retain businesses in the center-city area.

It would pull together private business leaders and city and county elected officials.

Centro Partnership has been two years in the making but was presented publicly for the first time Thursday to the City Council's Economic and Community Development Committee.

Read more

[miaht82]

Finally.
Its good to see the passion and emotion that Castro and Wolff have for DT, working together to get things done in DT. With this partnership, I know they will do whatever's necessary to create the right environment for private sector development and investment.
Not trying to jump the gun, but the pieces are really falling into place for some great things to happen.

[jaga185]

I totally agree with your last sentence Miah. Castro seems to have more incentive to redevelop downtown than Hardberger, who was still awesome. But he has the younger blood that this city desperately need, oh man thats exciting.

[sirkingwilliam]

This started with Hardberger, let us not forget. But now we have Castro who comes from a more urban density mindset and a more pro-downtown pov and will potentially have much longer to implement and watch over the redevelopment and growth of downtown.

[miaht82]

The council voted (today) "FOR" the Resolution supporting the creation of the Centro Partnership. All appeared very supportive although I'm not quite sure they all understand the reason or need behind such a partnership. They want too much government oversight over the Partnership, which IMO should be a completely private organization (like DTA) once development gets off the ground. The public side should be there as a supporting factor in the initial stages of the Partnership, for funding and policy making to support the actions of the Partnership.
But what do I know.

[jaga185]

What do you know? You know enough to run that organization!

[KevinFromTexas]

Web Posted: 02/07/2010 12:00 CST
Downtown might come alive

Jan Jarboe Russell - Jan Jarboe Russell

For at least 30 years, San Antonio has been vexed by a frustrating problem: The river that runs through the heart of the city has flourished with development, much of it aimed at tourists, while efforts to attract retail spaces, housing and offices to the street level have largely failed.

Consequently, the core of the city is split. At the river level, we look like Venice. On parts of Houston Street, it feels like downtown Beirut.

Suddenly, the stars may have aligned to heal that split.

Meanwhile, County Judge Nelson Wolff and Mayor Julián Castro are both pushing for a streetcar system.

At Vistana, which is 90 percent leased, 60 percent of the residents are new to downtown. Many are from the North Side.

No doubt there will be opposition to turning over city-owned garages and other public spaces to a nonprofit corporation comprising public and private board members. But this kind of collaboration is the wave of the future. Cities that have done it have seen a reversal in urban decay.

...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/loc...ome_alive.html

[miaht82]

I saw that... there's no arguing that DT renting is going to beat out DT buying, at least in the near short term, and thats a good thing. We get to fill out the buildings and get some people living in DT now. This should be a good sign for the 2 projects going on now in Southtown & SoFlo.
Now that Steel House Lofts are rentable units, its going to bring up the available units by the end of 2010 up to ~400; 245 at Durango Phase of Victoria Commons, ~135 at SHL and the rest at St. B's. These rental projects should beef up the resident amenities in or around DT and help out the "for sale" market. I would've been a bit more worried about SHL's success, but as popular as Judson CF Lofts were, I'm sure they'll do okay. I'm also sure they'll be okay since they teamed up with Johnny Hernandez; a local chef that just recently opened Market Depot at Port SA, plans on opening La Gloria at Pearl (could this be at the location of the "Ice House?") has Mesalegre at the Pearl during the Farmer's Market, and plans on opening Johnny's Culinary Market at SHL.

[alexjon]

Hate to change gears here, but let's hope this means they'll finally pave Dignowity Hill and Government Hill as promised, oh, 15 years ago. Oh, and as started, oh, 5 years ago.

Since we're focusing on neighborhoods inside 410, that is.

[miaht82]

I hope so too.
They've torn up some streets in Tobin Hill and Lavaca too, hopefully they get them all cleaned up soon.