SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread - Page 262

wwmiv · #**5221** Posted **Jan 26, 2018, 12:35 PM**

If the city and county are willing to play along, there are multiple neighboring large parcels owned by them (as well as plenty of industrial land) that can be bought by UTSA for a campus expansion. In fact, that idea has already been placed in the downtown campus master plan from a few years back, but there are many more parcels than just the one discussed in that document:

https://www.utsa.edu/masterplan/pdfs/MP_UTSA_Downtown_Campus.pdf

Too bad LSR fell through, because that would have been a great benefit to UTSA.

Sean1187 · #**5222** Posted **Jan 26, 2018, 5:07 PM**

I've lived in downtown Phoenix the past couple of years and only 2 miles away now. Having a friend that attended the downtown ASU campus and even interned/worked at a US Congressman's office on the campus, I've spent a lot of time there. Seeing what ASU was able to do, this gives me a lot of hope for UTSA and I believe copying and improving upon ASU/Phoenix's model will make this project even better!

JACKinBeantown · #**5223** Posted **Jan 26, 2018, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

The new UTSA President has big ideas for downtown.

Ideally, he said the Cattleman Square project will be a public-private development that would include underground parking, two or three floors of street-level retail supporting anywhere from five to as many as 15 floors of new urban housing for undergrads, graduate students with families and potentially even staff and faculty seeking a downtown residence.

That sounds awesome! So it could be as many as 18 floors total. With lots of retail! He's from Boston... he knows the importance of street level retail from first-hand experience.

jaga185 · #**5224** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 2:51 PM**

Definitely not a fan of this development. The storefronts face away from the street...

Quote:

Redevelopment in Dignowity Hill to Include Credit Union, Pizza Shop

This summer, a local real estate developer plans for two tenants – a credit union and a pizza shop – to open in a renovated building in the Dignowity Hill Historic District.

Laurence Seiterle, owner of Zurich International Properties, has long wanted to revive the vacant building at 1602 E. Houston St. and finally found the right anchor tenant in Credit Human, formerly the San Antonio Credit Union.

“If it wasn’t for getting an anchor tenant like that, we probably wouldn’t have been able to do it,” Seiterle said.

Keep-SA-Lame · #**5225** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 5:14 PM**

Literally a blank wall facing Houston St. Awesome.

Keep-SA-Lame · #**5226** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 5:17 PM**

http://www.expressnews.com/real-estate/a...incentives-for-luxury-condo-12534839.php

Quote:

A luxury hotel and condo tower being built on the River Walk has received a $10 million incentive package from the city — or about $173,400 for each condo — through a program to encourage downtown housing.

Excellent article on the hot mess that is CCHIP. It also mentions, among others, incentives for "A 200-unit project named St. John’s Square, planned at Nueva and St. Mary’s streets, has been awarded $3.2 million. The developer is Weal Development, which is led by developer Dennis McDaniel of Austin, state corporate filings show.". I don't think that's been posted about here before or written about in the paper. Anyone know anything about that? I'm guessing with that name it must be on that parking lot across the street from St Johns Lutheran church, between Presa and St Mary's.

jaga185 · #**5227** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 6:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keep-SA-Lame

http://www.expressnews.com/real-estate/a...incentives-for-luxury-condo-12534839.php

Excellent article on the hot mess that is CCHIP. It also mentions, among others, incentives for "A 200-unit project named St. John’s Square, planned at Nueva and St. Mary’s streets, has been awarded $3.2 million. The developer is Weal Development, which is led by developer Dennis McDaniel of Austin, state corporate filings show.". I don't think that's been posted about here before or written about in the paper. Anyone know anything about that? I'm guessing with that name it must be on that parking lot across the street from St Johns Lutheran church, between Presa and St Mary's.

I looked up the company, to find the project and can't find anything on it but Nueva and St. Mary's is a wonderful central location.

Spoiler · #**5228** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keep-SA-Lame

Literally a blank wall facing Houston St. Awesome.

The long wall faces Hackberry. The Houston facade has the Credit Human sign, windows, and that may even be a door, but probably not!

You should look at the building now. It is really ugly.

Keep-SA-Lame · #**5229** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 9:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoiler

The long wall faces Hackberry. The Houston facade has the Credit Human sign, windows, and that may even be a door, but probably not!

You should look at the building now. It is really ugly.

Okay, a totally blank wall facing another major street, then. Doesn't really matter which. The fact that the current building is ugly in no way excuses bad design decisions that are being made for the new building.

Spoiler · #**5230** Posted **Jan 30, 2018, 10:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keep-SA-Lame

Okay, a totally blank wall facing another major street, then. Doesn't really matter which. The fact that the current building is ugly in no way excuses bad design decisions that are being made for the new building.

Ehhh, I think the point I was making is it was built that way originally and if the redevelopers aren't willing to spend a lot of money for some new windows or doorways on Hackberry then so be it. It's still very pedestrian accessible.

The more I look at the building, the more I think the floor level is two or three feet above the sidewalk, with no space for steps. It would be a very complicated endeavor to create an entrance there.

aggie2008 · #**5231** Posted **Jan 31, 2018, 12:40 AM**

I'm really excited about the Credit Human strip center. I think eventually Hackberry will need to be redesigned. At some point they must have turned a nice two lane street into a mess at four lanes, smashed in some sidewalks and took away any ability to be ped friendly. It would be nice for them to do a road diet and extend sidewalks, maybe giving some space for street trees along some parts of the street. I live a few blocks away off of Hackberry and have been trying to encourage TCI to do some magic along the stretch that fronts Dignowity and Lockwood Parks.

Keep-SA-Lame · #**5232** Posted **Jan 31, 2018, 1:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoiler

Ehhh, I think the point I was making is it was built that way originally and if the redevelopers aren't willing to spend a lot of money for some new windows or doorways on Hackberry then so be it. It's still very pedestrian accessible.

The more I look at the building, the more I think the floor level is two or three feet above the sidewalk, with no space for steps. It would be a very complicated endeavor to create an entrance there.

Good point, but like at least plant some vines or something?

jaga185 · #**5233** Posted **Feb 6, 2018, 6:13 PM**

Developers Propose New Design of Apartments Next to Hays Street Bridge

Quote:

The boxy design previously proposed for a controversial four-story, 148-unit mixed-use apartment building next to the historic Hays Street Bridge has been replaced with a preliminary plan that features more stylized walls for a five-story complex, according to developers who presented renderings of the project during a public meeting Monday night.

Debate about the empty lot at 803 N. Cherry St. has focused on three key sticking points: the rights of property owners, the impact that building will have on neighborhood views of the historic bridge, gentrification, and a 2012 lawsuit that bridge preservationists won against the City of San Antonio in 2014, but is under appeal before the Texas Supreme Court.

“As beautiful and moving as your words were,” GRG Principal Xavier Gonzalez said after hearing protests of the project at Monday’s meeting, “we’re going to see a building here.”

JACKinBeantown · #**5234** Posted **Feb 6, 2018, 10:39 PM**

^^ I'm just going to assume those gray areas are ground level retail. Therefore I approve.

micahinsa · #**5235** Posted **Feb 7, 2018, 12:31 AM**

Man. They really phoned it in with those renderings. If you’re really trying to convince people of the merits of your development, surely you should put some more effort into the visuals, no?

The Model · #**5236** Posted **Feb 7, 2018, 3:43 PM**

This is just the architect in me, but I would like to see a series of bridges built north and south of the Hays street bridge. All different designs! I would love to see the Hays street extended over IH 37/US 281 to connect downtown to the east side. Maybe one day!

SAhometown · #**5237** Posted **Feb 8, 2018, 8:43 AM**

Check out what downtown UTSA could have in store!
https://therivardreport.com/utsa-downtow...000-students-to-san-antonios-urban-core/

SAguy · #**5238** Posted **Feb 8, 2018, 1:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAhometown

Check out what downtown UTSA could have in store!
https://therivardreport.com/utsa-downtow...000-students-to-san-antonios-urban-core/

From the article-

The property, Cattleman’s Square, currently serves as a parking lot. In a few months, Eighmy said the university will issue a request for proposals so developers can start the process. The planned facility would include underground parking, retail and dining on ground floors, and around 15 floors of residential living.

aggie2008 · #**5239** Posted **Feb 8, 2018, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by micahinsa

Man. They really phoned it in with those renderings. If you’re really trying to convince people of the merits of your development, surely you should put some more effort into the visuals, no?

I was at "the Bridge" meeting that Council 2 office set up. The design is still relatively preliminary, the architecture team really wanted to get some feedback on how to make the design better. Instead they just got that it should be a park. The only real design critique was about it being a boring beige box and that they are looking at how to add appropriate color. I wouldn't normally think they really want design feedback, but in the last meeting a lot of conversation focused on the parking at the first level (now gone), lack of mixed use along Cherry (now includes live/work apts, a restaurant space, and a commercial space), and including larger sidewalks (went from 6 feet to 8 feet wide along Cherry). The design, IMO, is a huge improvement over the previous one, I live two blocks away, and I'm hoping this gets built.

If you haven't been over to the area lately, there is an old warehouse that is being renovated into commercial space at Lamar and Austin, I think there are 4 total spots and one has a sign up for serving beer and wine. Austin Street has a lot of potential and I think it will continue to grow. Thinking really outside of the box... if the highway was removed and turned into a tree lined boulevard the east side would really come to life.

JACKinBeantown · #**5240** Posted **Feb 8, 2018, 2:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAhometown

Check out what downtown UTSA could have in store!
https://therivardreport.com/utsa-downtow...000-students-to-san-antonios-urban-core/

I like that they're going for height. But I hope those are massing models. They remind me of Co-Op City in New York (which is not a good thing).

https://wheresourfios.com/wp-content/uploads/coopcity-siteheader.png