SAN ANTONIO | Spurs Arena Downtown

[SpiritofSeguin]

Breaking: Texas Historical Commission declares the ITC a state landmark, meaning talks of demolishment or modification must be approved by them first. “It’s good news,” said Lewis Vetter, president of the Conservation Society of San Antonio. “It proves that a lot of concerned citizens working together can be effective.”

[JACKinBeantown]

^^ Motherfu--ers.


Alright, back to the idea of incorporating the fugly ITC into a fugly new arena... because it is the proper size and shape to do so.

[Mrn970]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

Breaking: Texas Historical Commission declares the ITC a state landmark, meaning talks of demolishment or modification must be approved by them first. “It’s good news,” said Lewis Vetter, president of the Conservation Society of San Antonio. “It proves that a lot of concerned citizens working together can be effective.”

Link not working

[AwesomeSAView]

UTSA OWNS the building and they can do whatever they want with the building. The "designation" means nothing! The UTSA president states in the article that they are going ahead as planned to demolish the "ugly building" and move the Institute of Texan Cultures to the area that is planned. Just idiotic people trying to derail plans as always.
These days EVERYTHING is a fight!!!!

[SpiritofSeguin]

Why can’t they build the Spurs arena right here and turn the ITC into a soccer stadium? If the Missions are destined to be on the opposite part of downtown.

[SAJonTx]

I would love to see the soccer stadium downtown. I realize the current stadium is relatively new and just fine along with great access and in a high growth area. So prolly won’t see it anytime soon but a boy can dream

[SpiritofSeguin]

The powers that be behind the creation of the Wembydome (don’t sue me please) should just accept the ITC in some capacity has to be incorporated into the new arena in some fashion. Maybe it could be demolished sans the thick central columns like how some projects want to make the Astrodome into a park with only the columns remaining. If the Historical Commission is willing to accept the front half of the building being demolished entirely and that remaining back half be converted into some kind of gift shop/Spurs museum exhibit with the other school exhibits scattered across the field where the loading docks are saved for a new plaza or high rise project…a skilled architect can easily build a sizable modern arena in that new opened space while incorporating the original ITC into it (or perhaps just build the arena so massive it’ll be over the second half and turn it into some kind of New York, New York Vegas-style Spurs amenity place while still not actually exiting the arena).

San Antonio is an excellent city for historical preservation and I think if some architecture groups really explore some niche designs like maybe in the style of the World Trade Center Oculus or the Jin Mao Tower/Taipei 101 they could easily dig an unexpected diamond out of the rough.

[sirkingwilliam]

The ITC needs to be and will be completely demolished. Some things shouldn’t be saved or kept just because they’re old. That is such a silly mindset. It is a monstrous building.

[SpiritofSeguin]

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

The ITC needs to be and will be completely demolished. Some things shouldn’t be saved or kept just because they’re old. That is such a silly mindset. It is a monstrous building.

Well I just think that a city famous for keeping its buildings instead of knocking them down wholesale (the Fairmount, the Long Barracks, the Texas Theater) should consider its options…carefully. And yes, we have demolished in the past such as the Bluebonnet Hotel, the Stowers Building (where the Legacy Park is now) and others but let’s at least just wait and see what a talented team could make out of this structure? It could be interesting and one-of-a-kind like how the Delorean Tower was supposed to be. Maybe they could take inspiration from the geometry of the structure and design an arena like the Fiserv Forum.

And like my ex would say beauty is subjective. I am a big fan of brutalism and gigantism personally, so there you go. I’d rather a downtown with a bunch of interesting towers than ones that all look the same after a certain year (Austin).

[JACKinBeantown]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

It could be interesting and one-of-a-kind like how the Delorean Tower was supposed to be. Maybe they could take inspiration from the geometry of the structure and design an arena like the Fiserv Forum.

As I've said a few times, extend the fugliness of the ITC to the size of an NBA arena. The footprint and basic shape are already there.

[SproutingTowers]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

Why can’t they build the Spurs arena right here and turn the ITC into a soccer stadium? If the Missions are destined to be on the opposite part of downtown.

The new arena could still be built next to the ITC and the ITC could be renovated to become an indoor fan area like you see at NBA All-Star games and used as a small event center.

[SpiritofSeguin]

Originally Posted by SproutingTowers

The new arena could still be built next to the ITC and the ITC could be renovated to become an indoor fan area like you see at NBA All-Star games and used as a small event center.

The roof of the Institute of Texan Cultures is so massive it could be retrofitted into a massive sports field (with some kind of shaded canopy that allows view of the Tower while providing cover) for all kinds: soccer, basketball, dodgeball, pickleball…could be a fantastic way for fans and tourists to interact after a game or on an off day but if you want to play baseball? Take the VIA electric taxi or a new electric horse carriage which I just saw today over to the Missions park on the other side of town…

[JACKinBeantown]

Re-posted from the baseball stadium thread.

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

This Monday the 18th SAISD will be having a public discussion at 5:30pm at their offices on 514 West Quincy concerning the sought after ballpark property, and on a broader note City Council and the Mayor will be briefed in a public hearing by city staff at the Main Plaza chambers this Thursday the 21st at 10:30am about what exactly the 4 billion dollar Project Marvel looks like (maybe we will get some proposed renderings??? ). I think the City Council public meetings are live-streamed but not sure about SAISD.

I believe a vote about whether to sell the ballpark property or not is expected that day. From the article, “The district could include an expanded convention center (definitely), a further improved Alamodome (if we don’t blow it up), a new event venue (like the Moody Center maybe?), a convention center hotel (we just built five of them…), “and potentially a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs.”

[SAonFire]

This was posted earlier today. Based on the article, the project specifics will be shared tomorrow. Exciting news! Apologies in advance if this has been posted elsewhere.

*I truly hope that this project will lead to real action on a legitimate mass transit project. (I'll leave that discussion for the appropriate thread).

Project Marvel: A bold downtown plan set to be a "game changer" for San Antonio
by Don Harris | Charles Miketinac
Wed, November 20th 2024 at 3:06 PM
Updated Wed, November 20th 2024 at 3:42 PM

https://www.foxsanantonio.com/sports/pro...owntown-hotel-retail-rennovation-theater

[SpiritofSeguin]

Originally Posted by SAonFire

This was posted earlier today. Based on the article, the project specifics will be shared tomorrow. Exciting news! Apologies in advance if this has been posted elsewhere.

*I truly hope that this project will lead to real action on a legitimate mass transit project. (I'll leave that discussion for the appropriate thread).

Project Marvel: A bold downtown plan set to be a "game changer" for San Antonio
by Don Harris | Charles Miketinac
Wed, November 20th 2024 at 3:06 PM
Updated Wed, November 20th 2024 at 3:42 PM

https://www.foxsanantonio.com/sports/pro...owntown-hotel-retail-rennovation-theater

Prediction: they're gonna build a second Grand Hyatt.

Or, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Wall."

[Txdev]

Originally Posted by SpiritofSeguin

Prediction: they're gonna build a second Grand Hyatt.

Yeah, I heard 1000 room hotel on the site of the SAWS chilled water plant.

[SpiritofSeguin]

Ladies and gentlemen, PROJECT MARVEL!

[Dan In Real Life]

I absolutely love it! I really hope this actully happens.

[SpiritofSeguin]

So, to summarize:

-a brand new 1,000 room convention center hotel that conjunctions with a brand new UTSA School of Hospitality (!!!)
-The Spurs will RETURN to Hemisfair
-The John Woods Courthouse will be turned into a 5,000 seat theater for small events to alleviate the potential overflow of HBGCC and Alamodome (also for local events that don't need the space). The Adrian Spears Training Center will become the new home for UNAM.
-a land bridge over the I-37 to connect downtown and the East Side (f yes!!!)
-expanding the Convention Center on pre-existing land with meeting rooms, exhibit halls and a Stars over Texas ballroom.
-totally revamping the Alamodome and a parking garage on the Cesar Chavez parking lot (the NCAA refuses to book after 2029 unless we upgrade and some events have passed us over bc of the dated facility)

In my opiniom? BUILD BABY BUILD!!!

[jkill34]

Lol, they still have wishful thinking on that apartment tower.