HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > United States > Texas & Southcentral > San Antonio


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #1  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2016, 4:02 PM
SAtown SAtown is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 99
SAN ANTONIO | Vitré Apartments | 4 FLOORS | Under Construction




Source: Big Red Dog Engineering

Located at 700 W Commerce on the West Side, 242 Units, 5,000 RSF of retail.

210 Development Group and Catamount Constructors broke ground on this in September, according to the article linked below. However, the developer has put the project on a brief hold, but I couldn't get any information on why. When I went here to look, I noticed there wasn't a thread for this yet!

http://www.ksat.com/news/downtowns-v...ground-tuesday
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2016, 5:22 PM
jaga185's Avatar
jaga185 jaga185 is offline
James
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Antonio, Tx
Posts: 2,462
I still think this is a weird location. Like maybe too soon? But who knows, maybe it'll be a catalyst.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #3  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2016, 6:23 PM
Keep-SA-Lame's Avatar
Keep-SA-Lame Keep-SA-Lame is offline
COGSADCAJA- Publicist
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,105
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaga185 View Post
I still think this is a weird location. Like maybe too soon? But who knows, maybe it'll be a catalyst.
I agree. That's still an extremely sketchy area. Not that it doesn't have potential, but I think they may have jumped the gun here.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #4  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2016, 9:29 PM
adtobias adtobias is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 285
UTSA downtown is near.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2016, 10:05 PM
JACKinBeantown's Avatar
JACKinBeantown JACKinBeantown is offline
JACKinBeantown
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 8,822
Wow, it actually has ground level retail. Works for me.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2016, 10:58 PM
jaga185's Avatar
jaga185 jaga185 is offline
James
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Antonio, Tx
Posts: 2,462
Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown View Post
Wow, it actually has ground level retail. Works for me.
I was gonna say that! Lol i didn't notice it had ground retail until a few hours ago, plus one for this project!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 4:18 AM
wwmiv wwmiv is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Austin -> San Antonio -> Columbia -> San Antonio -> Chicago -> Austin -> Denver
Posts: 5,258
This will likely end up with a good number of students, and the ground level retail will be frequented by UTSA students. It is legit right across the street. And I have no idea why y'all think this is still a sketchy area? There are festivals and such under the freeway, Mi Tierra and all that is right across the freeway, the new hospital is just a few blocks north, etc.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 5:34 AM
jaga185's Avatar
jaga185 jaga185 is offline
James
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Antonio, Tx
Posts: 2,462
Quote:
Originally Posted by wwmiv View Post
This will likely end up with a good number of students, and the ground level retail will be frequented by UTSA students. It is legit right across the street. And I have no idea why y'all think this is still a sketchy area? There are festivals and such under the freeway, Mi Tierra and all that is right across the freeway, the new hospital is just a few blocks north, etc.
there is a homeless population about a block away, and i've seen a legit street fight two blocks west...
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #9  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 1:35 PM
Keep-SA-Lame's Avatar
Keep-SA-Lame Keep-SA-Lame is offline
COGSADCAJA- Publicist
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,105
Quote:
Originally Posted by wwmiv View Post
This will likely end up with a good number of students, and the ground level retail will be frequented by UTSA students. It is legit right across the street. And I have no idea why y'all think this is still a sketchy area? There are festivals and such under the freeway, Mi Tierra and all that is right across the freeway, the new hospital is just a few blocks north, etc.
Have you ever even been there on foot? It's literally a different world when you cross under that highway. I used to have to take a bus transfer on the same corner where the VIA transfer plaza is now. During the day time it's pretty bad, it's partly a day labor pick up zone and partly a hang out for bums. It's really pretty shocking sometimes how many people are just loitering around with beer or malt liquor in brown paper bags or passed out on the sidewalk there. During the nighttime it switches from intimidating to terrifying, I've never felt so scared and threatened in San Antonio as when I would be walking through that area. I don't have to wait for the bus there anymore thank god, but when I bike through that area nowadays it doesn't seem too different than it did a few years ago.

And for those who think I have an elitist axe to grind against homeless people, I really don't, but there's a huge gulf between what I would call "regular" homeless and substance abusers. The Cattleman's Square area is mostly the later.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 1:56 PM
JACKinBeantown's Avatar
JACKinBeantown JACKinBeantown is offline
JACKinBeantown
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 8,822
Neighborhoods improve when quality residential moves in. Especially with the ground level retail, which means people will spend time in and around the ground level. This will help improve the neighborhood and others will follow.

My only concern is that there seems to be open-ended parking in the back. That could be a bad hangout.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 6:42 PM
SAtown SAtown is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 99
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keep-SA-Lame View Post
Have you ever even been there on foot? It's literally a different world when you cross under that highway. I used to have to take a bus transfer on the same corner where the VIA transfer plaza is now. During the day time it's pretty bad, it's partly a day labor pick up zone and partly a hang out for bums. It's really pretty shocking sometimes how many people are just loitering around with beer or malt liquor in brown paper bags or passed out on the sidewalk there. During the nighttime it switches from intimidating to terrifying, I've never felt so scared and threatened in San Antonio as when I would be walking through that area. I don't have to wait for the bus there anymore thank god, but when I bike through that area nowadays it doesn't seem too different than it did a few years ago.

And for those who think I have an elitist axe to grind against homeless people, I really don't, but there's a huge gulf between what I would call "regular" homeless and substance abusers. The Cattleman's Square area is mostly the later.
I think it speaks volumes that in Alamo College's presentation justifying their need to move from their Westside location catty corner to these apartments and build a new headquarters elsewhere, they literally included photos showing their view from their offices there that included people being arrested, passed out, urinating, etc (page 6 in the below link) and a map depicting the various homicides, detention centers, etc in the proximate area (page 7). The crude drawings of bodies on said map are depressingly comical... They even have photos of their employees who work there holding signs that say "Please help us"...

http://res.cloudinary.com/courbanize...tjkn99x8em.pdf

I do not think I will be a tenant.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 6:49 PM
Keep-SA-Lame's Avatar
Keep-SA-Lame Keep-SA-Lame is offline
COGSADCAJA- Publicist
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,105
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAtown View Post
I think it speaks volumes that in Alamo College's presentation justifying their need to move from their Westside location catty corner to these apartments and build a new headquarters elsewhere, they literally included photos showing their view from their offices there that included people being arrested, passed out, urinating, etc (page 6 in the below link) and a map depicting the various homicides, detention centers, etc in the proximate area (page 7). The crude drawings of bodies on said map are depressingly comical... They even have photos of their employees who work there holding signs that say "Please help us"...

http://res.cloudinary.com/courbanize...tjkn99x8em.pdf

I do not think I will be a tenant.
Wow. Those pictures and that list really say it all.

Also, I wonder what the relationship is between all of that and proximity to the jail? Can someone more familiar with criminal justice give us some insight as to why the jail is in the middle of town rather than on the edge of town?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 7:54 PM
SAtown SAtown is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 99
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keep-SA-Lame View Post
Wow. Those pictures and that list really say it all.

Also, I wonder what the relationship is between all of that and proximity to the jail? Can someone more familiar with criminal justice give us some insight as to why the jail is in the middle of town rather than on the edge of town?
There are two detention centers near-ish to this apartment. Not sure about the detention center on the Westside, but the Central Detention Center that really is in the middle of Downtown is run by a private company--that deal expires in 2017. That property and the parking lots on either side of it are currently for sale to a developer, so it's going away!!

http://therivardreport.com/city-coun...n-real-estate/
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #14  
Old Posted Apr 21, 2016, 9:43 PM
Spoiler's Avatar
Spoiler Spoiler is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 910
Oh well if this is where vagrants get drunk and where day laborers congregate then I guess there's nothing that can be done about that. Sorry everybody, no hope, nuke it from orbit.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted Apr 22, 2016, 7:06 AM
The ATX's Avatar
The ATX The ATX is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Where the lights are much brighter
Posts: 12,013
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAtown View Post
I think it speaks volumes that in Alamo College's presentation justifying their need to move from their Westside location catty corner to these apartments and build a new headquarters elsewhere, they literally included photos showing their view from their offices there that included people being arrested, passed out, urinating, etc (page 6 in the below link) and a map depicting the various homicides, detention centers, etc in the proximate area (page 7). The crude drawings of bodies on said map are depressingly comical... They even have photos of their employees who work there holding signs that say "Please help us"...

http://res.cloudinary.com/courbanize...tjkn99x8em.pdf

I do not think I will be a tenant.
LOL. The funniest part about page 6 was the photo showing that a cricket was part of the problem.
__________________
Follow The ATX on X:
https://twitter.com/TheATX1

Things will be great when you're downtown.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted Apr 22, 2016, 9:04 PM
mklunder13 mklunder13 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 71
The area does indeed seem pretty bad, but leaving an area as such will just maintain how bad it is. Take the Bowery in NYC. That area used to be the skid row of NYC and now it is an extremely nice area with a lot of trendy hotels, living space and is completely safe and rid of its "skid row" reputation. I'm not saying this development will have the same effect but it is definitely a step in the right direction to bringing attention to an area that isn't completely safe. It's a bold development, but someone has to do it in order for anything to change. And this area has huge potential to be a cool enclave for students.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted Apr 22, 2016, 11:05 PM
Sigaven Sigaven is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,472
This is a little nit-picky but is anyone else super disappointed with the design? It seems very dull/bland for a building that is going to be part of downtown.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted Apr 23, 2016, 6:49 PM
Bigfoot Yancey Bigfoot Yancey is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 36
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sigaven View Post
This is a little nit-picky but is anyone else super disappointed with the design? It seems very dull/bland for a building that is going to be part of downtown.
Yes. It is terrible.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted Apr 23, 2016, 8:05 PM
wwmiv wwmiv is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Austin -> San Antonio -> Columbia -> San Antonio -> Chicago -> Austin -> Denver
Posts: 5,258
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keep-SA-Lame View Post
Have you ever even been there on foot? It's literally a different world when you cross under that highway. I used to have to take a bus transfer on the same corner where the VIA transfer plaza is now. During the day time it's pretty bad, it's partly a day labor pick up zone and partly a hang out for bums. It's really pretty shocking sometimes how many people are just loitering around with beer or malt liquor in brown paper bags or passed out on the sidewalk there. During the nighttime it switches from intimidating to terrifying, I've never felt so scared and threatened in San Antonio as when I would be walking through that area. I don't have to wait for the bus there anymore thank god, but when I bike through that area nowadays it doesn't seem too different than it did a few years ago.

And for those who think I have an elitist axe to grind against homeless people, I really don't, but there's a huge gulf between what I would call "regular" homeless and substance abusers. The Cattleman's Square area is mostly the later.
I was an undergrad at UTSA and almost all of my classes were at the downtown campus. So yes... all the time. It isn't as bad as I really think you think it is.

Last edited by sirkingwilliam; Apr 25, 2016 at 6:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted Apr 24, 2016, 7:02 PM
JACKinBeantown's Avatar
JACKinBeantown JACKinBeantown is offline
JACKinBeantown
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 8,822
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sigaven View Post
This is a little nit-picky but is anyone else super disappointed with the design? It seems very dull/bland for a building that is going to be part of downtown.
There are 10 buildings exactly like it going up in every city in the country.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > United States > Texas & Southcentral > San Antonio
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:06 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.