SAN ANTONIO │ Official Hemisfair Redevelopment Thread

[jkill34]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-va...cent-activity/ by Mario Valezquez

Head of development says January for the start date.

[jaga185]

San Antonio: Skanska USA Awarded Hemisfair Phase 1 Civic Park Contract

Contractor confirmed. It's a go!

[SproutingTowers]

I wish the city would just keep this as a large downtown park instead developing buildings on it for there are a lot of surface lots available to develop on.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

I wish the city would just keep this as a large downtown park instead developing buildings on it for there are a lot of surface lots available to develop on.

(like button)

[Restless One]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

I wish the city would just keep this as a large downtown park instead developing buildings on it for there are a lot of surface lots available to develop on.

Yeah, it does seem as though the park will morph, naturally, not by design, into a park that is for the residents of the Hemisfair area, and not the city as a whole.

And yes, there is are plenty of surface lots to build on. I don't like parking garages much, but if built as pedestals to residential/office buildings, I can live with them.

[kingkirbythe....]

What to do with HemisFair ’68’s Confluence Theatre?

Opinion by Robert Rivard

https://sanantonioreport.org/hemisfa...rivard-column/

It might seem a bit misleading to headline a column about the John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse by referring to it as the U.S. Pavilion’s Confluence Theatre at HemisFair ’68, but it’s worth remembering that the familiar building-in-the-round was constructed for a six-month “world’s fair” that brought the nations of the Americas to San Antonio.

The majority of San Antonians were not alive or were not living here 53 years ago, and might not know that the drum-shaped building with travertine panels and concrete columns was built as a 1,200 seat cinema with three individual theaters that opened up to a single space featuring what was then the largest movie screen in the world.

[SproutingTowers]

Here is more information about the Conluence Theater. With today’s technology perhaps restore it as an IMAX theater.

http://www.worldsfair68.info/nationa...ce-theater-us/

[kingkirbythe....]

How they built the Tower of the Americas

Construction of San Antonio's most iconic skyline structure started in 1966 and was completed in 18 months. Here's how the tallest tower in the city came to be

https://www.expressnews.com/projects...-construction/

On a cold Halloween night in 1967, less than six months before the Tower of the Americas was set to debut at the World's Fair, construction workers were busy hoisting the cupcake-shaped tophouse up the structure’s concrete shaft.

Some of the 24 lifting rods broke, causing the tophouse to jerk about an inch and leaving it in a “precarious position,” halfway up the shaft, architect Boone Powell recalled in a recent book.

Mobile cranes from across Texas were used to secure the tophouse. Crews replaced the rods with oil field drill stem pipe and took steps to minimize fracturing as it was lifted in place.

Construction of the Tower of the Americas began in 1966 and was completed in 18 months. Here is how it came together.




There are some amazing pictures in this piece.

[kingkirbythe....]

A look at Hemisfair’s ambitious Civic Park project before it breaks ground

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/lo...s-16803589.php

Before city officials gather on Wednesday, January 26, to break ground on the first phase of Hemisfair's Civic Park, here's a look at the project — and everything it took to get here.

Hemisfair's ambitious plan is to turn a five-acre portion of the historic 1968 World's Fair site into a space to host large events. The project, which would eventually include space for about 15,000 people, is being led by the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC).

[kingkirbythe....]

‘Change the trajectory’: Panel recommends moving updating, UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures

https://www.expressnews.com/sa-inc/a...e-16938190.php

For decades, the Institute of Texan Cultures has highlighted the diverse cultural heritage of the state’s residents. Many San Antonians have memories of visiting with classmates or attending festivals there.

But the building, constructed for the 1968 World’s Fair and cut off from the surrounding area by berms, has been hampered by decaying infrastructure, declining attendance, staff layoffs and outdated displays.

Now, an Urban Land Institute panel sponsored by the University of Texas at San Antonio suggests moving it to a new spot at Hemisfair and considering the removal of its old digs to create a site for a hospitality school integrated with the urban park.

[jaga185]

There is a wonderful parking lot behind the Alamo... they really should put it there and let hemisfair be a park/neighborhood.

[LSP]

Originally Posted by jaga185

There is a wonderful parking lot behind the Alamo... they really should put it there and let hemisfair be a park/neighborhood.

Unironically yes.

[JRG1974]

Originally Posted by kingkirbythe....

‘Change the trajectory’: Panel recommends moving updating, UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures

https://www.expressnews.com/sa-inc/a...e-16938190.php

For decades, the Institute of Texan Cultures has highlighted the diverse cultural heritage of the state’s residents. Many San Antonians have memories of visiting with classmates or attending festivals there.

But the building, constructed for the 1968 World’s Fair and cut off from the surrounding area by berms, has been hampered by decaying infrastructure, declining attendance, staff layoffs and outdated displays.

Now, an Urban Land Institute panel sponsored by the University of Texas at San Antonio suggests moving it to a new spot at Hemisfair and considering the removal of its old digs to create a site for a hospitality school integrated with the urban park.

OK, here is a thought. Why not move the ITC to the CPS land next to the San Antonio Museum of Art. There can be a collaborative area where you combine Texas Culture and Art. SAMA would get more exhibit space by moving their Texas art to that area. This can include clothing that is part of Texas culture. Modern art and old art of the people of Texas. It can also encompass food and music. This would also move it to the Museum Reach of the river. A more appropriate place for it, I would think.

There are so many synergies that can happen here. You can work with the culinary institute in the Pearl. Open up a small restaurant that will cater to the cultural flavors of Texas. You can work with the new UTSA School of Art down St Mary's Street. Directly work with SAMA. Improve the look along the river in that area. Joint cultural exhibits that highlight all of the cultures in Texas and how they have evolved over the years.

You can build the building so that it is tall enough to block out the highway noise. In the center, you would have an area of solitude that you can be used to build the mock up structures of early Texas. You could make the outside grounds free to walk. You can show how Native Americans and early settlers interacted with the river, and you can show how sources of water helped shape the settlements in Texas.

Just a thought. What do you guys think?

[The Model]

I like the idea of getting are museums together so we can have a museum district but I prefer they save the Institute of Texas Cultures building in Hemisfair. I think its sad to lose so many structures from the original world fair. It appears that only the Tower will be left from the fair at the rate we are going. Convention center, Hemisfair Arena, sky ride, monorail, tons of fountains, and the ski lake all gone. Now the federal courthouse and Institute could be gone too? Also there a plan to remove all the water fountains around the Tower too. As a photographer I have photographed so many quinces, weddings, senior portraits, and wedding proposals in front of those fountains. I really think it is a bad idea to remove those fountains. The citizens of our city have so many memories and life changing memories at those fountains.

[Keep-SA-Lame]

Originally Posted by JRG1974

OK, here is a thought. Why not move the ITC to the CPS land next to the San Antonio Museum of Art. There can be a collaborative area where you combine Texas Culture and Art. SAMA would get more exhibit space by moving their Texas art to that area. This can include clothing that is part of Texas culture. Modern art and old art of the people of Texas. It can also encompass food and music. This would also move it to the Museum Reach of the river. A more appropriate place for it, I would think.

There are so many synergies that can happen here. You can work with the culinary institute in the Pearl. Open up a small restaurant that will cater to the cultural flavors of Texas. You can work with the new UTSA School of Art down St Mary's Street. Directly work with SAMA. Improve the look along the river in that area. Joint cultural exhibits that highlight all of the cultures in Texas and how they have evolved over the years.

You can build the building so that it is tall enough to block out the highway noise. In the center, you would have an area of solitude that you can be used to build the mock up structures of early Texas. You could make the outside grounds free to walk. You can show how Native Americans and early settlers interacted with the river, and you can show how sources of water helped shape the settlements in Texas.

Just a thought. What do you guys think?

That's a great idea, so it won't happen

[JACKinBeantown]

Remove the crumbling, dark, below-ground-level brutalist IOTC building and house it where JRG1974 said, preferably in a historic Texas building (if an appropriate one exists in the area). Keep the fountains by the Tower. Use the IOTC land for well-designed urban use. Create a great urban park... the one proposed for the other side of the convention center is way too small and therefore lame.


https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qim...a2cfa4610980-c

On a related note, the parking lot behind the Alamo is also a perfect location for a large urban park. Nothing tall can be built there anyway because of Alamo zoning, and having a park right next to the Alamo would be perfect for so many reasons: touristas, concerts, locals who needs a place to rest after taking visiting guests to the Alamo for the 37th time.

[Spoiler]

An article long on hope, short on details.

SA-based Zachry Hospitality close to finalizing plans for major Hemisfair project

"While Zachry’s finalized plan for the downtown site may be somewhat different from what it initially envisioned, given new post-pandemic realities, it’s possible the company’s level of investment in Hemisfair will remain “substantially similar,” Andujar said.
“This project will be San Antonio’s shining jewel,” Snowden said."

https://www.bizjournals.com/sananton...Pos=0#cxrecs_s

[jaga185]

Originally Posted by Spoiler

An article long on hope, short on details.

SA-based Zachry Hospitality close to finalizing plans for major Hemisfair project

"While Zachry’s finalized plan for the downtown site may be somewhat different from what it initially envisioned, given new post-pandemic realities, it’s possible the company’s level of investment in Hemisfair will remain “substantially similar,” Andujar said.
“This project will be San Antonio’s shining jewel,” Snowden said."

https://www.bizjournals.com/sananton...Pos=0#cxrecs_s

More than five years after San Antonio’s City Council approved a mixed-use development plan expected to funnel some $200 million in private investment into Hemisfair, Zachry Hospitality is moving closer to a finalizing a new deal for the former World’s Fair site.

The scope of what is ultimately constructed on the center city acreage could differ from what was initially envisioned.

“We're in active negotiations with Zachary and the city, “Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corp. CEO Andres Andujar said.

Zachry Vice President Tara Snowden confirmed that those talks are progressing.

“We are close to finalizing agreements,” she said.

Zachry had pursued a plan to include the development of a 200-room hotel and a 150,000-square-foot office tower. At one point, it had hoped to complete construction by 2021.

But in June 2020, Zachry officials said, in light of the pandemic, stakeholders needed to step back and take a fresh look at what made the most sense for the property in a post-pandemic environment.

Andujar cautioned then that the pandemic could have an effect on real estate deals, including project development financing.

The jury is still out on how Covid-19 will affect office demand and development long term. Similarly, the hotel industry still hasn’t fully recovered from the crisis, and properties especially dependent on business and convention bookings may face more challenges.

Yet, work continues on the redevelopment of Hemisfair, including the first phase of construction on Civic Park near where Zachry plans to plant its flag.

While Zachry’s finalized plan for the downtown site may be somewhat different from what it initially envisioned, given new post-pandemic realities, it’s possible the company’s level of investment in Hemisfair will remain “substantially similar,” Andujar said.

“This project will be San Antonio’s shining jewel,” Snowden said.

The site of the 1968 World’s Fair, Hemisfair is an expansive park that's home to Tower of the Americas and Institute of Texan Cultures, as well as shops, restaurants and a playground.

[jaga185]

I wouldn't mind if they got rid of the office portion and built residences. Another idea is to build one building and build residences on top. That would allow the building to have occupancy while the market continues to recover. The long office building was just not a good use of the property. If this is to be a crown jewel, it needs to look like one.

[Spoiler]

Originally Posted by jaga185

I wouldn't mind if they got rid of the office portion and built residences. Another idea is to build one building and build residences on top. That would allow the building to have occupancy while the market continues to recover. The long office building was just not a good use of the property. If this is to be a crown jewel, it needs to look like one.

There's a lot of info in this article. Looks like the bottom line is that office development is gone, the hotel stays, there will be a lot more residential (525 units), a good amount of retail (65,000sf), and a mammoth parking garage(1,100 spaces).

https://saheron.com/zachry-hemisfair...ase-agreement/