SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread - Page 26

kornbread · #**501** Posted **Nov 9, 2007, 6:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

And about the Crowne Plaza. It has potential. What I would love to see happen is strip that god awful limestone facade and replace it with glass and have it carry on up to the penthouse and to that pyramidal top. Make a truly modern looking hotel. The building is quite old, it was actually built in 1957 as an office building for a bank. Around 2000 or so Adam's Mark Hotels bought it, and turned it into a hotel. Crowne Plaza purchased it from them a few years later. It is possible to strip the stone facade and replace it with glass making a nice neighbor for Weston Centre. They did this in Austin for the Dobie Center. That building has beautiful cobalt blue glass, but was originally clad with a limestone facade. It immediately went from being a dated monster, to being an elegant building.

Let's not get carried away with the word "elegant"

texboy · #**502** Posted **Nov 9, 2007, 7:21 AM**

yea...imo....Dobie center isn't anything to call "elegant"...its just kinda...there.

ydoc14 · #**503** Posted **Nov 14, 2007, 5:04 AM**

Check this out - looks like Tower of the Americas changes colors now at night! I just checked MySA's live web cam too - it's true, its blue! haha. Sweet

Taken today, 11/13.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotcomet/2011898838/

P.S. If you check out the live web cam while it's still dark, you'll notice how well lit the Grand Hyatt already is

KevinFromTexas · #**504** Posted **Nov 14, 2007, 6:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kornbread

Let's not get carried away with the word "elegant"

I agree that the shape is anything but elegant, and the base is like a fortress, but I love that cobalt blue glass. The view from I-35 at night is nice with the UT Tower reflecting off its facade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ydoc14

Check this out - looks like Tower of the Americas changes colors now at night! I just checked MySA's live web cam too - it's true, its blue! haha. Sweet

Taken today, 11/13.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotcomet/2011898838/

P.S. If you check out the live web cam while it's still dark, you'll notice how well lit the Grand Hyatt already is

Whoa! That is AWESOME! They even lit the antenna. Is this a permanent thing? I love the look. You guys should check out that link ydoc14 posted. Those are probably the coolest photos I've ever seen of the tower.

ydoc14 · #**505** Posted **Nov 14, 2007, 7:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I agree that the shape is anything but elegant, and the base is like a fortress, but I love that cobalt blue glass. The view from I-35 at night is nice with the UT Tower reflecting off its facade.

Whoa! That is AWESOME! They even lit the antenna. Is this a permanent thing? I love the look. You guys should check out that link ydoc14 posted. Those are probably the coolest photos I've ever seen of the tower.

I asked the guy on Flickr who took it, he said it also turning white and red. He thinks it might be for Veteran's Day...but I'm gonna be pretty upset if it doesn't end up being permanent.

JACKinBeantown · #**506** Posted **Nov 14, 2007, 2:29 PM**

That does look cool. I've always love the Tower of the Americas. The Space Needle is, of course, the king, and CN Tower is pretty freakin special too. But the TOTA is simple and majestic. This lighting does it justice.

KevinFromTexas · #**507** Posted **Nov 14, 2007, 3:12 PM**

For a while the tower was looking sad with the poor lighting. It was just not being utilized. They've done a great job with the renovation and I dig those $10 a day flat flees for the observation deck. That's sweet if you're a tourist in downtown, pay in the morning or earlier in the day, and go back as many times as you want before 10 pm. As far as the design goes, I've never thought of it as quite as flashy as some of the towers around the world, but I love the simplicity of it. It really is a landmark.

ydoc14 · #**508** Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 7:16 AM**

It seems The Alamo is lit blue as well.
Apparently many world landmarks have been lit blue for World Diabetes Day.
I don't think the blue lights are gonna last long at The Alamo, it looks really cool though, but it could stick around on the Tower for a little while...who knows.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotcomet/2035887352/

tone mayne · #**509** Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 7:33 AM**

i agree that the lights make the tower and alamo a little bit cooler lookin at night. we should add more lighting to other buildings. is there a suggestion box or sumthing like that to voice these kind of ideas to the city?? i kno there probly is not actually a suggestion box. but who do u speak with or what organization is in charge of things like this. i mean we got a few of the bridges near downtown lit at night which is also very cool lookin. but i think if we add more lighting to more buildings that would make our downtown look awesome at night.

ydoc14 · #**510** Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tone mayne

i agree that the lights make the tower and alamo a little bit cooler lookin at night. we should add more lighting to other buildings. is there a suggestion box or sumthing like that to voice these kind of ideas to the city?? i kno there probly is not actually a suggestion box. but who do u speak with or what organization is in charge of things like this. i mean we got a few of the bridges near downtown lit at night which is also very cool lookin. but i think if we add more lighting to more buildings that would make our downtown look awesome at night.

Maybe we could all form a petition and send it to Landry's, who owns Tower of the Americas?

KevinFromTexas · #**511** Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 6:35 PM**

Actually the City of San Antonio owns the tower. maintained by the parks department. Landry's just leases the space.

ydoc14 · #**512** Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 11:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Actually the City of San Antonio owns the tower. maintained by the parks department. Landry's just leases the space.

Gotcha. Well I'll try to keep an eye out and see if it stays blue. If not, I'll look into who a petition could be sent to.

tone mayne · #**513** Posted **Nov 17, 2007, 12:13 AM**

sounds good. if yall find anything out post it up. i would sign a petition. it may take longer for more buildings to come. but lighting and things like that shouldnt be as hard to do.

ydoc14 · #**514** Posted **Nov 18, 2007, 2:10 AM**

Taken on 11/16 by me you 2 @ Flickr

This pic shows that the mechanical penthouse did indeed go higher. It's also been framed out as well.

jaga185 · #**515** Posted **Nov 18, 2007, 2:12 AM**

I noticed that the other day, it is officially taller than the Marriott roof.

ydoc14 · #**516** Posted **Nov 18, 2007, 2:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaga185

I noticed that the other day, it is officially taller than the Marriott roof.

alexjon · #**517** Posted **Nov 18, 2007, 6:44 AM**

Someone go and get the official figures and phone'em in to emporis. Update the diagrams!

Accuracy.

ydoc14 · #**518** Posted **Nov 18, 2007, 6:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexjon

Someone go and get the official figures and phone'em in to emporis. Update the diagrams!

Accuracy.

I'm waiting to hear back from Andres. He told me he would find out for us.

Complex01 · #**519** Posted **Nov 19, 2007, 12:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ydoc14

Taken on 11/16 by me you 2 @ Flickr

At first when i saw the photo, i was like why the old photo, lol. But looking again i see the truth of it. Very nice. Yeah the Mech Penthouse does look taller...

ydoc14 · #**520** Posted **Nov 26, 2007, 4:47 AM**

Taken on 11/21 by silversurferpics @ Flickr