SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread - Page 362

Tornado · #**7221** Posted **Jan 22, 2026, 7:27 PM**

What’s the latest on the Grandisimo Observation Wheel? Another project that bit the dust?

The Model · #**7222** Posted **Jan 23, 2026, 4:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tornado

What’s the latest on the Grandisimo Observation Wheel? Another project that bit the dust?

The problem I have with the wheel was the location. It is so close to the Tower of the Americas that you really wouldn't be able to take a picture of downtown. I love to ride a good wheel that gives me a skyline view. The best location for the wheel would be at Lone Star when they develop it one day.

Spoiler · #**7223** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 8:08 AM**

I drove past the Black's development on Broadway Tuesday and it's huge and deep. They are spending a lot of money.

CWalk99 · #**7224** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 4:31 PM**

Work has started on the Central at Commerce housing project for the east side. Here is the news report along with a render I found elsewhere:

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/03/...affordable-apartment-community-underway/

sirkingwilliam · #**7225** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 7:55 PM**

That will be great infill for the east side.

Sigaven · #**7226** Posted **Mar 13, 2026, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWalk99

Work has started on the Central at Commerce housing project for the east side. Here is the news report along with a render I found elsewhere:

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/03/...affordable-apartment-community-underway/

What city is that in the background

JACKinBeantown · #**7227** Posted **Mar 13, 2026, 5:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaven

What city is that in the background

I see the Waldorf Astoria, but it's not New York.

sirkingwilliam · #**7228** Posted **Mar 13, 2026, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaven

What city is that in the background

Most of the background looks accurate to what’s there. The buildings themselves are primitive if anything but the general idea is accurate.

ahealy · #**7229** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 10:51 AM**

Paywall, but I have been waiting years for this! Bring it on!!
City weighs adding millions to downtown apartment rehab
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2026/04/08/robert-e-lee-bond-funding.html

JACKinBeantown · #**7230** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 12:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

Paywall, but I have been waiting years for this! Bring it on!!
City weighs adding millions to downtown apartment rehab
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2026/04/08/robert-e-lee-bond-funding.html

And please rename that building after someone who is not a traitor.

wwmiv · #**7231** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 1:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

And please rename that building after someone who is not a traitor.

If I cannot defend the naming of the hotel*, you should not be able to argue for it to change.

*e.g. Robert E. Lee is a complex historical figure who believed slavery to be morally evil, per a 1856 letter penned by him—and the obvious fact that once you start erasing history, you increase the likelihood that it repeats, and I would rather slavery NEVER repeat—so let’s leave the history as a cautionary reminder to us all TO. BE. BETTER.

Mods: feel free to delete BOTH posts, since y’all are so gung-ho on preventing all forms of real dialogue.

JACKinBeantown · #**7232** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 1:35 PM**

In reply, my tone of voice is calm and non-confrontational. I'm only stating a fact. When you name a building after someone, you are honoring them. After 1856, American Robert E. Lee led the army that fought against the United States in an attempt to secede from the country. Treason is defined as the crime of betraying one's country. I'm not OK with honoring him. Changing the name of a building from honoring a traitor to something else is like taking down a statue honoring that person. It doesn't change history, in fact it does the opposite; it negates someone else's previous attempt to change history. I hope the mods do not take any of our posts down because we are both exemplifying how to have a calm discussion about something we disagree with. Keeping our comments here shows how people should behave online. That's all I'll say about the subject. Peace.

wwmiv · #**7233** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

In reply, my tone of voice is calm and non-confrontational. I'm only stating a fact. When you name a building after someone, you are honoring them. After 1856, American Robert E. Lee led the army that fought against the United States in an attempt to secede from the country. Treason is defined as the crime of betraying one's country. I'm not OK with honoring him. Changing the name of a building from honoring a traitor to something else is like taking down a statue honoring that person. It doesn't change history, in fact it does the opposite; it negates someone else's previous attempt to change history. I hope the mods do not take any of our posts down because we are both exemplifying how to have a calm discussion about something we disagree with. Keeping our comments here shows how people should behave online. That's all I'll say about the subject. Peace.

I understand the argument, and agree with parts and disagree with others:

1. There is an aspect of honor, yes, and we should guard against honoring traitors.

But is Robert E. Lee unambiguously a traitor? I think the history is more nuanced, and we should celebrate his role in eliminating slavery from our country:

2. Robert E. Lee was opposed to secession AND to slavery—he advocated against Virginia seceding AND personally wanted to destroy the institution of slavery (the accurate historical read is that he disagreed with northerners on HOW to accomplish that goal, not WHETHER to accomplish that goal).

3. He may be a traitor insofar as yes, after Virginia seceded, he choose to defend the land he lived on. But how can we sincerely argue that he was a traitor against American values, when he clearly shared the broader values of his northern contemporaries (e.g. wanting to somehow guide slavery into its deathbed, opposition to southern secession, etc.).

4. I have NO issue removing statues of historical figures that are unabashedly pro-slavery, those who had no remorse for their actions, and those who the record shows are unidimensionally racist. Robert E. Lee should NOT be on that list, by virtue of his complex views on the issues at play during his time.

wwmiv · #**7234** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 2:44 PM**

And I apologize if my words are coming off as confrontational, which is not my intent—please DM me if so.

JACKinBeantown · #**7235** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 4:18 PM**

You're not being confrontational at all. All good.

The point about his view on slavery: that's great. But he still led the confederate army to secede from the United States. That's treason.

Anyway. Enough about this for me. Have a great day.

JACKinBeantown · #**7236** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 4:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomasnewt009

The San Antonio Urban Core Development Thread highlights exciting growth, new projects, and the city’s evolving skyline—while services like credit repair Nicholasville can help you build a stronger financial foundation for your own future progress.

Now that post is merely an ad and has nothing to do with this thread, and should be removed (in my opinion).

wwmiv · #**7237** Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 5:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

You're not being confrontational at all. All good.

The point about his view on slavery: that's great. But he still led the confederate army to secede from the United States. That's treason.

Anyway. Enough about this for me. Have a great day.

Point of clarification:

He did NOT lead the political-secessionist movement. He led the southern army after political secession had already happened (to unsuccessfully militarily defend that political secession), while being personally opposed to said political secession.

IMHO: the military campaign to defend the political choice of secession (again: chosen by others, and to which Lee was opposed), while absolutely part of the same crisis, is not exactly the same as the secession itself.

Dot · #**7238** Posted **Apr 16, 2026, 3:02 AM**

Maybe this belongs to the off topic thread, but I would think it could be urban development. Centro has a 1,000 trees downtown by 2036 initiative taking place. You can track the placement here: https://centrosanantonio.org/initiatives/trees-everywhere

I especially like the mexican sycamores planted on W Martin near the new ballpark. If they can get established we will have some nice growth by the time the ballpark is finished.

theOGalexd · #**7239** Posted **Apr 16, 2026, 10:38 AM**

Not sure whats going on here, but I was looking at streetview and there seems to be activity at the 1603 Broadway site as of March.

Edit: Also noticed the sign on the site now says "Town Square" when it didn't before.

bosshaa5 · #**7240** Posted **Apr 16, 2026, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by theOGalexd

Not sure whats going on here, but I was looking at streetview and there seems to be activity at the 1603 Broadway site as of March.

Edit: Also noticed the sign on the site now says "Town Square" when it didn't before.

The owner of this property activates it seasonally - a pumpkin patch in the fall, a skating rink in the winter, etc. So, probably another temporary something or other.

BUT I could be wrong and maybe were finally getting a high-rise hotel here