SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread

[Spoiler]

https://sanantonioreport.org/terry-blacks-planning-more-than-barbecue-for-pearl-area-project/

Terry Black’s planning more than barbecue for Pearl area project

A construction networking website estimates the project to be a $5 million development and shows it is scheduled to start in November.

Only five million? That makes it a little more realistic I guess.

[Keep-SA-Lame]

That has to just be the restaurant segment or something.

[jaga185]

Local life insurer puts downtown riverfront property on the market

A tract of land on downtown's southern edge is up for grabs.

Locally based insurance firm Hermann Sons Life is selling its property at 515 S. Saint Mary's St., home to a two-story office building and a parking lot that intersects with East Nueva Street. An offering price was not listed, though the property has an assessed value of about $13 million, 2023 tax records show. The property has been owned by a Hermann Sons affiliate since 1982, according to Bexar County property filings.

The property — just under 3 acres — offers 453 feet of River Walk frontage. Hermann Sons will retain its Ballroom event space and Rathskeller Bar in the building next door.

As downtown San Antonio draws more investor attention and resident supply, properties in the urban core are becoming hot commodities. Bill Miller Bar-B-Q has put several downtown properties on the market, while local developer Weston Urban continues to position its holdings for multifamily use.

Bob Parsley, chairman and principal of Colliers Houston, and Endura Advisory Group's Jim Lundblad, Corbin Barker and Albert McNeel have been retained to sell the property.

In a statement, Barker said the property is one of a kind.

"Endura has handled multiple sales in the downtown San Antonio market, including properties along the River Walk, and this is truly a unique asset available in the active San Antonio real estate market," he said.

Speaking to the Business Journal, Parsley said Hermann Sons Life thinks now is the right time to put the property on the market to be reimagined, calling it the "largest undeveloped tract of property on the River Walk."

"We've already had some hotels approach us about it," he said. "Multifamily, high-rise, retail or office – right now we're basically asking the market to tell us what they think it's going to end up being used for. In addition to a development standpoint, we think that there's a potential for some family-owned businesses or property purchasers who have a longer-term vision."

[CWalk99]

Originally Posted by jaga185

Local life insurer puts downtown riverfront property on the market

That really is a great spot for more multifamily/ mixed use maybe - this was actually one of the lots cited in the Nueva St. infill study where they rendered a high-rise project.
Either way this is the largest surface lot in that area so this is great news to hear!

[Tornado]

Originally Posted by CWalk99

That really is a great spot for more multifamily/ mixed use maybe - this was actually one of the lots cited in the Nueva St. infill study where they rendered a high-rise project.
Either way this is the largest surface lot in that area so this is great news to hear!

anybody but GrayStreet Partners please. Weston Urban or Silver Ventures would be top of my list for local developers.

[Spoiler]

Please, oh please, not another hotel.

[theOGalexd]

That area seems prime for multi-family highrises. Hopefully it's anyone besides Graystreet. I remember seeing the developers of the Thompson say they wanted to do more projects in SA due to how well that did, I wonder if they have anything going on behind the scenes.

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by CWalk99

That really is a great spot for more multifamily/ mixed use maybe - this was actually one of the lots cited in the Nueva St. infill study where they rendered a high-rise project.
Either way this is the largest surface lot in that area so this is great news to hear!

As far as massing goes, I agree with this render 100%. Having any tower portion on the eastern part of the property (the smaller part of the triangular shape of the property) will preserve the amazing view of the Tower Life Building from the bridges over the southern (non touristy) portion of the Riverwalk.

[CWalk99]

A HDRC case has officially been submitted for the 10-story Residence Inn Hotel- if you look back at the previous rendering (second image) there are definitely some design improvements that have been made on the front/ side elevations in my opinion. (Also something interesting that other hotel in the background went from 14 stories to what looks like 10 - this makes me think that is another hotel is still in progress).

[bosshaa5]

Originally Posted by CWalk99

A HDRC case has officially been submitted for the 10-story Residence Inn Hotel- if you look back at the previous rendering (second image) there are definitely some design improvements that have been made on the front/ side elevations in my opinion. (Also something interesting that other hotel in the background went from 14 stories to what looks like 10 - this makes me think that is another hotel is still in progress).

I hope this project falls through. I usually feel that anything is better than an empty lot, but the downtown market is over saturated with hotels. I don't even think occupancy rates have been good recently. This hotel looks especially plain, and being right across from the main plaza feels like a slap in the face.

[forward looking]

I for one, like the future Hotel and hope all goes well for them. My Dad and Grandfather would scarcely believe what this City has evolved into. This I can say, without fear of exaggeration, was but an overgrown cow town when I was a little kid. I was quite astonished to find out not long ago that a Bullfighting arena existed downtown with bullfights staged in it -up until the twenties here in San Antonio. Nineteen twenties, I should clarify.

Originally Posted by CWalk99

A HDRC case has officially been submitted for the 10-story Residence Inn Hotel- if you look back at the previous rendering (second image) there are definitely some design improvements that have been made on the front/ side elevations in my opinion. (Also something interesting that other hotel in the background went from 14 stories to what looks like 10 - this makes me think that is another hotel is still in progress).

[SpiritofSeguin]

Am I crazy for wanting a 100 story tower there?

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

Am I crazy for wanting a 100 story tower there?

Yes.

[jaga185]

Blegh it should look like something in Madrid or Paris. Similar to the buildings on Gran Via in Madrid.

[Restless One]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

Am I crazy for wanting a 100 story tower there?

No. I too am tired of prime DT real estate becoming 10 story low rises with little character, that will be there for decades.

[Restless One]

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

Yes.

Why is he crazy? A ten story with no imagination is preferable to you?

[Keegan-B-SATX]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

Am I crazy for wanting a 100 story tower there?

No, you're not crazy. Infact you're the complete opposite. You're a visionary who wants to take our city to new heights. We desperately need more people like you. People who want to see development that pushes the limits on what CAN be built vs the same boring narrative that plagues this city.

San Antonio always has been and continues to be a
BORING, UNINSPIRING, BLAND, C-Class city that is fixated on its past instead of its future. We allow mediocrity to fester in our city, always too afraid to push the limits on what can be built. There is absolutely no reason why we can't build a 100 story building on this site, so I congratulate you for dreaming big. Personally I believe a building that breaks the 1000'ft barrier and becomes the tallest building in Texas should be a goal every Texas city should strive for.

So why not us? Why not San Antonio?

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by Restless One

Why is he crazy? A ten story with no imagination is preferable to you?

I was just being playful. Sorry if that didn't come through.

I'd also like to see some taller buildings in SA. I don't see 100 stories any time soon, especially on a small lot such as that. But there are definitely some bigger lots that could accommodate something bigger and taller than what the city has already.

There's been quite a bit of low-to-mid-rises around the urban core in the past several years. As a result, property will be more at a premium and when there's demand, the supply will build up. I look forward to seeing it happen.

[Keep-SA-Lame]

https://sanantonioreport.org/listen-utsa...own-and-the-institute-of-texan-cultures/

Sounds like there's no plans to build a stadium at the ITC site, UTSA seems to still be aiming to partner with a developer for a mixed use thing.

[lzppjb]

I just saw on X that the UT board of regents agreed to rent or sell the ITC land to the city.

That is going to be the home of the new Spurs arena for sure.