SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread - Page 124

ydoc14 · #**2461** Posted **Feb 13, 2010, 7:34 AM**

Does anybody know what work's being done at the convention center near the Grand Hyatt/Riverwalk area?

miaht82 · #**2462** Posted **Feb 15, 2010, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ydoc14

Does anybody know what work's being done at the convention center near the Grand Hyatt/Riverwalk area?

Upgrades/renovations at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.

The Model · #**2463** Posted **Feb 16, 2010, 7:02 PM**

The Crane is gone over at the Pearl Brewery.

Lando · #**2464** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 5:23 AM**

Taken earlier today.

Lando · #**2465** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 6:06 AM**

Wish this was taller. It still looks like it's gonna turn out nice.

tgannaway89 · #**2466** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 6:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lando

Wish this was taller. It still looks like it's gonna turn out nice.

Several posters on here tend to "wish" a lot of things. Wishing isn't enough to prompt change.

rrodrig34 · #**2467** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 12:35 PM**

I say, we have to start somewhere. If we want a more dense urban downtown, we need more residential housing. This is the perfect start, not counting all the condo projects out there. This is true apartment living and they will be taller in the future if downtown living continues to catch on.

UrbanTrance · #**2468** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 1:12 PM**

I think they look wonderful.

sakyle04 · #**2469** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 4:17 PM**

^^ Agree. They are a great scale-down into the Lavaca neighborhood and yet tall enough that when the 12-15 story tower goes up on the edge of that lot it won't look totally out of place...

sirkingwilliam · #**2470** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 5:40 PM**

I don't see the big deal. Dallas' Midtown started with multifamily housing like that back in the early 2000's and now look at it. You have to plant a seed if you want something to grow.

texboy · #**2471** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 5:51 PM**

This is a perfect start. One of the main reasons I love downtown San Antonio is the low to mid rise infill it already has...which is perfect and more scaled to humans. When new skyscrapers start filling the skyline, it won't feel like Austin where you either have a parking lot, or a 40 story glass behemoth. SA has a good start and I believe that all the pieces are coming into place for one hell of a renaissance!

The Model · #**2472** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 6:50 PM**

I can't make myself like it. My heart was set for the SBC Center to be built in the location of former Victoria Courts. Imagine a Convention center, Dome and Arena all in the same area.

We blew that oportunity. Like we do many times. Love SA but sometimes

ydoc14 · #**2473** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 6:59 PM**

Looks like the flagpole is about the same height as the antenna was...so no visual height loss by taking down the antenna

Scottolini · #**2474** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by texboy

it won't feel like Austin where you either have a parking lot, or a 40 story glass behemoth.

I agree San Antonio has a better urban fabric in it's downtown, but the above comment is both untrue, and unnecessary.

necropolis · #**2475** Posted **Feb 17, 2010, 11:27 PM**

Does anyone have a rendering of the new parking garage going up by the courthouse? I saw it on KSAT 12 the other night but couldn't find the video on their website. It looked pretty cool, as far as parking garages go, and wasn't too plain and seemed a decent height. But then again, I did just get a very quick glance at the TV.

miaht82 · #**2476** Posted **Feb 18, 2010, 1:23 AM**

Heres the only thing I have; not sure if this is what you were talking about.
It is supposed to add 400 more spaces to the 717, with the option to add storefront to Flores and Nueva streets, although that option would lessen parking spaces by 40. There might be an updated one, but this is all I have.

necropolis · #**2477** Posted **Feb 18, 2010, 1:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by miaht82

Heres the only thing I have; not sure if this is what you were talking about.
It is supposed to add 400 more spaces to the 717, with the option to add storefront to Flores and Nueva streets, although that option would lessen parking spaces by 40. There might be an updated one, but this is all I have.

I assume that is the same one (location seems about right) but it did look different (redesigned maybe?). I think they mentioned that it would add 500 spaces and I feel like it was a bit taller than this rendering. I'll keep a look out because it looked to be around 7 stories or so...and cause I know I saw it on TV but can't find it haha

JACKinBeantown · #**2478** Posted **Feb 18, 2010, 1:35 AM**

I'm always for storefronts whenever possible. Otherwise it's just an ugly parking garage taking up an entire block. The garage next to Shilo's has a storefront or two and it makes a difference.

necropolis · #**2479** Posted **Feb 18, 2010, 1:45 AM**

Did find some info on it...

http://208.83.177.230/cmacs/CM/P/Rel...e%20021610.pdf

Parking garage expansion to accommodate more cars, county offices
Anyone who has visited the Bexar County Courthouse or Cadena-Reeves Justice Center knows that finding a parking space can be difficult and expensive. But Bexar County is working to alleviate the problem with an expansion of the existing parking garage at the corner of South Flores and Nueva streets, for which Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Commissioner Paul Elizondo helped break ground in a ceremony on Tuesday.
The multi-level garage will add 512 spaces, replacing a surface lot with only 125 spaces. In addition to the expanded parking, three County departments — Human Resources/Civil Service; Small, Minority & Women-owned Business Enterprise Program; and Maintenance — will be housed on the first floor of the expansion. These offices currently occupy leased space.
A system of photovoltaic panels on top of the expansion will power the garage’s operations, furthering the cost-saving potential of the garage. The panels will be paid for by a $965,000 federal grant.
“With more than 400 citizens reporting daily, Bexar County has one of the best jury duty response rates in the country,” Commissioner Elizondo said. “As the County continues to grow, so must our facilities to ensure that we provide the best level of service to our constituents.”
Construction on the $12.5 million expansion is expected to be complete in April 2011. Once it is complete, Bexar County will have 1,181 parking spaces available for jurors, constituents conducting business downtown, County employees and elected officials. The parking rates are established by the County Parking Committee and approved by Commissioners Court. A study is under way to establish a current rate structure. The expansion also will add to the number of available handicap parking spaces in the vicinity of Downtown County operations.

UrbanTrance · #**2480** Posted **Feb 18, 2010, 3:10 AM**

Has downtown been getting more crowded lately? I wouldn't know, haven't been there in awhile...

But I've just been wondering with the new pedestrian walks and couple of projects built, if there was more activity happening or planned.