[Chicago3rd]

VIA introduces new 'super' bus stop in San Antonio

VIA was great when I lived in the city. It got me everywhere I wanted to go and for many years after I moved to other cities I would in my complaints to the other cities often say...well Via in San Antonio does it....express buses.....piggy backing the buses (in Chicago and San Francisco they bunch up!!!).

Those will be great places and so I feel they are in the true spirit of Pedestrians...verses cars.

[DerekfrmSA]

WOAI is the hick conservative station holding the city back.....

Yes, a news station that is number three in the ratings, behind KSAT and KENS 5, is "holding" San Antonio back.

And I'm supposed to re-read what I posted?

[Chicago3rd]

So WOAI Radio is no longer the leading Talk Station in SA?

[DerekfrmSA]

So WOAI Radio is no longer the leading Talk Station in SA?

Are we talking TV or radio?

There's News 4 WOAI the NBC station (formerly KMOL) and then there's WOAI 1200 the radio station, both owned by Clear Channel.

http://www.woai.com

I'm pretty sure KTSA gets better ratings than WOAI on the AM dial.

[Chicago3rd]

So WOAI Radio is no longer the leading Talk Station in SA?

Are we talking TV or radio?

There's News 4 WOAI the NBC station (formerly KMOL) and then there's WOAI 1200 the radio station, both owned by Clear Channel.

http://www.woai.com

I'm pretty sure KTSA gets better ratings than WOAI on the AM dial.

WRONG again......

While NewsRadio 1200 WOAI, a full service news, talk and sports station with a heavy commitment to local news and the San Antonio Spurs is by far the highest rated spoken word radio station in San Antonio, KRPT Operations Manager Nate Lundy pointed out that number two in the market is National Public Radio. A gaggle of other talk and news talk stations get much lower ratings.

Lol...so you still don't get it....okay moving on......


Whole News Story:

Liberal Talk Radio Begins Today in SA
LAST UPDATE: 3/17/2005 10:26:54 PM
Posted By: Jim Forsyth
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.

The city's first ever FM talk radio station is also the first programmed with progressive talk, officials of Clear Channel Communications announced.

KRPT will sign on the air this morning at 8AM on 92.5FM. The station is currently called KHTY and formats urban and hip hop music.

"This is going to be exciting," Clear Channel Vice President and Market Manager Tom Glade said. "Progressive Talk is one of the fastest growing formats in the country and we are thrilled to bring this innovative new programming to San Antonio."

While NewsRadio 1200 WOAI, a full service news, talk and sports station with a heavy commitment to local news and the San Antonio Spurs is by far the highest rated spoken word radio station in San Antonio, KRPT Operations Manager Nate Lundy pointed out that number two in the market is National Public Radio. A gaggle of other talk and news talk stations get much lower ratings.

"You have to remember that 44 percent of Bexar County voted for John Kerry last November," Lundy said. "These are people who are crying out for talk radio. This indicated to us that the San Antonio area is long overdue for a progressive talk station."

The first show aired on KRPT will be hosted by Jerry Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor who is best known for his wild TV show featuring the antics of transvestites, hookers, and lost loves.

"The radio show is not what people would stereotype from Springer's TV show," Lundy said. "He has a political background and he has the ability to discuss politics and pop culture while being entertaining at the same time."

Veteran local talker Ron Aaron has been signed to host a three hour show on Saturdays and Sundays, with a time to be determined, Lundy said.

Other personalities to appeal on KRPT will include Phil Hendrie and Lionel, both of whom have enjoyed success on WOAI, and Ed Schultz, a talk host Lundy describes as 'energetic and opinionated.'

Prominent activist Jesse Jackson's Sunday show "Keep Hope Alive With the Rev. Jesse Jackson" will also air on KRPT.

While progressive talk is new to San Antonio, it is also relatively new to Clear Channel. The San Antonio based company boasts a stable of established syndicated talkers including Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlesinger, and Glenn Beck. KRPT will be the 24th progressive talk station introduced by Clear Channel, which is the nation's largest operator of radio stations, and it will be the fourth to host Springer's new radio program.

Lundy pointed out that progressive talk has found a solid niche. The progressive talk radio station in Portland Oregon ranked first among the key 25-54 year old age group in the most recent ratings.

Lundy says placing the station on FM will also add to its attractiveness.

"I think it'll be fun," he said. "I think the audience is definitely there for this kind of radio station in San Antonio."

KHTY's sister station KSJL-AM 810 will continue to offer urban adult contemporary hits and Tom Joyner on weekday mornings.

[DerekfrmSA]

Lol...so you still don't get it....okay moving on......

Moderation note: Typical San Antonio forumer comment has been edited.

[Chicago3rd]

Edited by moderation.

I apologized:

"So it was and is UNFAIR of me to make huge blanket statements against the City of San Antonio.....because again its only a small minority...that keeps the city back."

I pointed out your were incorrect about WOAI radio with a factual article and you call me a condescending asshole?

How old are you Derek?

[Chicago3rd]

Pat Booker Rd - UC Texas

Does anyone have any pictures of Pat Booker Rd near the Randolph Main Gate running then running towards I-35? I had heard they were landscaping it and was wondering how it turned out.

Thanks.

P.S. 2nd Question. Is Windsor Park Mall totally empty now or is something happening inside?

[starvinggryphon]

^^^
I sort of know what you mean about the hick media. In the Express-News there is an annoying columnist named Roddy Stinson. He considers himself a "whistle-blower" or "watchdog" yet only bitches and whines anytime the city spends money for upgrades and improvements, most notably against light-rail, against river improvements and against the Convention Center Hotel. He is also against San Antonio funding the arts. His vision for the city is to keep it like a giant Cotulla with no funding for arts or education....no growth...no culture.

[davinSA]

Roddy Stinson!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!:(

[SayTownboy]

Valero nails down cash for big acquisition

Vicki Vaughan
Express-News Business Writer

Valero Energy Corp. is taking steps to complete its purchase of Premcor Inc. — a move that will make it North America's biggest refiner — by securing $4.5 billion in loans, a company spokesman said Friday.

San Antonio-based Valero announced April 24 that it planned to purchase Connecticut-based Premcor for $8 billion, including assumption of debt. With the new loans, Valero is prepared to close its purchase of Premcor as soon as Sept. 1, subject to approval by the Federal Trade Commission, Valero spokesman Greg Matula said.

Bloomberg News, quoting unnamed sources, said Bank of America Corp. and BNP Paribas SA arranged a $2 billion term loan for Valero, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Royal Bank of Canada arranged a $2.5 billion revolving line of credit.

Matula confirmed the loan amounts, saying the revolving credit line represents $750 million increases in two existing lines of credit, money that will be used to pay for expenses after the acquisition.

The $2 billion loan is a term loan to be used to purchase Premcor.

Now Valero is poised to become North America's largest refiner as it waits for a deadline with regulators to expire. If the FTC files no objection to its merger plans by Aug. 31 and seeks no more information from it or Premcor, the merger can go forward, Matula said.

The boards of both companies already have approved the merger.

The deal between Valero and Premcor, based in Old Greenwich, Conn., would boost Valero's crude-oil refining capacity almost 800,000 barrels a day to about 3.3 million barrels a day, vaulting it past the two biggest refiners now: Exxon Mobil Corp., with more than 2.5 million barrels a day, and ConocoPhillips, 2.2 million barrels a day.

Premcor would add four refineries to Valero's 14, including large plants in Port Arthur and Delaware City, Del.

Valero has been expanding for years. Since 1998, it has spent about $8 billion buying 14 refineries. When the Premcor acquisition is completed, the company's annual revenue will be about $70 billion, ranking it 15th on the Fortune 500.


LINK TO MYSA.COM ARTICLE (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA082005.1D.Valero.219263d1.html)

[texboy]

Oh wait......ah..............and they're based in San Antonio! haha I LOVE San Antonio!!!!

[jaga185]

How many fortune 500 companies are located here? I know there is a list somewhere, or is Valero it...

[KevinFromTexas]

How many fortune 500 companies are located here? I know there is a list somewhere, or is Valero it...

For 2003. I couldn't find one for 2005. Can anyone else?

Unless I missed one, there's 5 listed. I'd bet there's more though. They only had 2 listed for Austin in 2003, and I remember hearing ealier this year in the business section that Austin has 4 now. Dell, (technically based in Round Rock), Temple Inland, Whole Foods, and Freescale.

33. SBC Communications Inc., San Antonio, 27, $40.843
34. Valero Energy Corp, San Antonio, 55, $37.969
185. United Services Automobile Association, San Antonio, 199, $10.593
229. Clear Channel Communications Inc., San Antonio, 219, $8.931
237. Tesoro Petroleum Corp., San Antonio, 263, $8.718

See the entire list here.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2004-03-22-fortune-500-list_x.htm

[SayTownboy]

HEB isn't a F500? I thought they were.

I think Rackspace might be as well.

[texboy]

City OKs $20 million for airport
Web Posted: 08/26/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Patrick Driscoll
Express-News Staff Writer

The City Council on Thursday approved more than $20 million in contracts and grants to expand and fix San Antonio International Airport.



(Jerry Lara/Express-News)

San Antonio International Airport's Terminal 2 is slated for demolition after another terminal opens in 2008.



Noting the enormous amount of money that will be spent on airport improvements, council members said they need to keep a close eye on the project as it proceeds, even though no local tax money will be used.

Councilman Chip Haass said there are already reports that airport officials are over budget, behind schedule and about to set loose a firestorm of construction confusion.

"We've got to make sure we watch these dollars closely," he said.

The council approved $12.8 million in contracts to start work and accepted a $7.6 million federal grant to do more.

But that's just a small fraction of what lies ahead.

One of the contracts kicks off a $425 million plan to expand the airport by a third within six years, building two terminals, another parking garage and runway extensions.

The first terminal and the garage are expected to be completed by 2008, after which one of the two existing terminals will be torn down.

Airport officials said project bids have so far come in under estimates and work will start on time in a few weeks.

But construction will cause detours, shift some parking and cause other disorientating changes, said Roland Lozano, an assistant to the city manager who is overseeing the airport while a search continues for an airport manager.

The airport will soon launch an effort to keep travelers abreast of the construction maze and offer tips to navigate it. Brochures, posters and a revamped Web site will be part of the mix.

"I know you have a plan but I'd like to see what it is," Haass said.

Councilman Richard Perez questioned whether the airport's 5 percent set aside for cost overruns on projects is enough, noting that public works sets aside 10 percent.

Lozano said it wouldn't be a problem to give the council updates at least every quarter.

Users pay for airport improvements through a federal aviation fuel tax, airline ticket fees and airport rental and landing fees, and that's "much more pleasant" than using local taxes, Mayor Phil Hardberger said.

The projects approved Thursday include relocation of utilities for the first new terminal and apron improvements.

The grant, along with matching airport funds, will be used to build an apron for the future terminal and insulate up to 100 homes from airport noise.

Airport officials already have money on hand to insulate up to 300 homes. That program will start in a few months.

[KevinFromTexas]

HEB's mostly a Texas company. They may have a few stores outside of Texas in the "Four States", New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. I was surprised at that too at first. Being much older, and seemingly larger than Whole Foods. Whole Foods though has gone international. Still the only place we go to is HEB. All the other stores like Albertsons and Randals rub me the wrong way.

[KevinFromTexas]

By the way here's a bit of news. I've already made the name change at Skyscrapers.com.

From the San Antonio Business Journal

Radisson Airport Hotel gets a new name
W. Scott Bailey

The Hotel Group Inc., which purchased the Radisson San Antonio Airport Hotel two years ago, has announced that it is rebranding the property as the Crowne Plaza San Antonio Airport Hotel.

The 226-room full-service hotel is located at 1111 NE Loop 410 -- two miles from San Antonio International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown. It features 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a swimming pool, an exercise room and a restaurant.

"We're seizing the opportunity to bring affordable luxury to the business traveler through the established Crowne Plaza brand," hotel General Manager Judy Hatch says. "Our location in San Antonio's corporate center and this new affiliate allows the hotel to best serve our guests."

In October 2003, the hotel underwent a $4 million renovation, which included a new lobby, increased meeting space, swimming-pool upgrades and the addition of the Cilantro! Restaurant and Bar. The guest rooms were completely refurbished as well.

There is now a "Quiet Zone" on the ninth floor, which features complimentary eye masks, sleep CD, lavender oil, and a night light. Two concierge-level floors will now be converted into Crowne Plaza Club floors, which include use of the private lounge, complimentary evening hors d'oeuvres and a fresh continental breakfast.

Established in 1984, it now owns and manages 30 properties in 11 states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Tennessee and Texas.

The company currently has 14 different franchise brands in its portfolio, including Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hampton Inn. Its headquarters are located in Edmonds, Wash.

[DerekfrmSA]

HEB has stores in Mexico as well.

[davinSA]

That makes H.E.B. international as well.

[Corinth940]

I love HEB and wish they would open stores here in the DFW area. There are 3 Central Markets with a 4th being built in Southlake but the closest regular HEB stores are down in Waxahachie, Ennis, or Cleburne...still part of the DFW metro but quite a drive south if you live in the northern suburbs.

[KevinFromTexas]

Oh ok, I wasn't aware they had any in Mexico.

[starvinggryphon]

Valero is now #15 on the Fortune 500.

[SayTownboy]

Construction on the 410/San Pedro Ave. Interchange as of 8/12/05

http://www.sahelicopter.com/images/2005_09_10.jpg

[SayTownboy]

Old picture of the "clover-leaf" interchange at 410/San Pedro Ave.

http://www.sahelicopter.com/pastpictures/images/410SanPedro.jpg

[jaga185]

Im actually interested to see how this all plays out, I can't wait until 410 is done, they way it looks is different in so many places, it gets more colorful as your get closer to the airport and just there like a normal highway as you get away from it.

[SayTownboy]

I'm loving how 410 is coming out. And now with 281/410 getting its interchange, I can't wait to drive that thing.

Anyone going to that concert for relief tommorrow at Sunset Station?

[JACKinNYC]

I'm ready for a photo of the new hotel.

[KevinFromTexas]

No joke, I can't wait for it.

[KevinFromTexas]

Here is a link to some renderings/info about the Piazza San Lorenzo in San Antonio. Nice link here with renderings, including aerial renderings showing where it will be. Is this under construction yet?

Be patient, it takes a few minutes to download it, it's 12M.
http://www.dbharrell.com/brochures/PSL%20Leasing%20Package.pdf

Small preview.
http://www.dbharrell.com/thumbs/website%20image%20for%20San%20Lorenzo.jpg

[Chicago3rd]

WOW!!!! That is one hot project!

[DerekfrmSA]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/TimManuParker/piazzasanlorenzo.png

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a396/insidethe210/piazzasanlorenzo2.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/TimManuParker/piazzasanlorenzo3.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/TimManuParker/piazzasanlorenzo5.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/TimManuParker/piazzasanlorenzo4.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/TimManuParker/piazzasanlorenzo8.png

[jaga185]

That looks gorgeous, I would love to live there!

[GoldenBoot]

That looks gorgeous, I would love to live there!

I agree...

[JACKinNYC]

Nice. Great location too.

[KevinFromTexas]

Isn't that sweet? I can't wait to go check it out once it's finished. I imagine that courtyard/plaza area is going to be a favorite hangout spot.

Is this under construction yet?

[jaga185]

I don't think it is, its still trying to get financing and things like that together.

[davinSA]

Hello, it has already gotten financing and I beleive is waiting for the approval from city council. The purchase of the buildings ( Book and Clegg Buildings) has been finalized. Construction should start soon. Larry Raba is a notable citizen of this great city!

[JACKinNYC]

Those parking lots around the Milam Building are suddenly going to be worth quite a bit more.

[jaga185]

I'm a little confused, is this thing supposed to have underground parking?

[JACKinNYC]

I meant the land value of the parcels that are now parking lots. The land will be more valuable for a potential developer to build on.

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm actually surprised there hasn't been more development around the river already. I can't imagine what developer wouldn't want to take part in having a property border the riverwalk. And I agree Jack, and do hope more development will come to those parking lots. The area around there is pretty quiet around the Robert E. Lee Apartments and the Milam Building. San Antonio's downtown has SO much potential. I'd love to see more projects like this one that draw more people to other parts of downtown other than just the Alamo, tower, convention center and Rivercenter Mall.

[jaga185]

I think it would be cool to see more retail down there, like big names, such as H-E-B, lol, but there's nothing else that comes to mind... well like box stores such as Best-Buy, but again, I guess that belongs in suburbia.

[SayTownboy]

The reason there hasn't been a lot of development along the River is because other than the Riverwalk, it's just a small creek (none of the riverwalk is really a river) but once the expanison is complete, you'll see tons of developments popup downtown along the new expended Riverwalk.

[SayTownboy]

I think it would be cool to see more retail down there, like big names, such as H-E-B, lol, but there's nothing else that comes to mind... well like box stores such as Best-Buy, but again, I guess that belongs in suburbia.

I don't think the store itself or the name brand belongs in suburbia, but the big box design does.

I'd love it if thet built compact and high (2-3 levels) somewhere downtown.

[Double L]

I think it would be cool to see more retail down there, like big names, such as H-E-B, lol, but there's nothing else that comes to mind... well like box stores such as Best-Buy, but again, I guess that belongs in suburbia.

Stores like that ussually need a population of at least 10,000 in a five mile radius to open in the area. :( :D

[SayTownboy]

I think it would be cool to see more retail down there, like big names, such as H-E-B, lol, but there's nothing else that comes to mind... well like box stores such as Best-Buy, but again, I guess that belongs in suburbia.

Stores like that ussually need a population of at least 10,000 in a five mile radius to open in the area. :( :D

Will a population of 100,000 in a five mile radius work?

[JACKinNYC]

San Antonio has always had a nice downtown, and I've always thought that if for some reason I were to move back I'd want to live downtown. Now I think a lot of people will be moving there.

[jaga185]

I know as soon as I graduate college, get a firm steady job, my goal is to move downtown. I could fall asleep to all the noise that goes on down there, not unless its like...blairingly loud, but would still be awesome.

[elmariachi]

I think it would be cool to see more retail down there, like big names, such as H-E-B, lol, but there's nothing else that comes to mind... well like box stores such as Best-Buy, but again, I guess that belongs in suburbia.

Stores like that ussually need a population of at least 10,000 in a five mile radius to open in the area. :( :D

Will a population of 100,000 in a five mile radius work?

There might be 100,000 people within a five mile radius, but much of that population, not all mind you, is low to middle class. I should know because i grew up about a mile from DT.

As for living downtown, I'm convincing my wife more and more everyday to move DT. She comes from one of these suburban is better families. The only thing keeping me from moving DT is that we only make about 55,000 a year right now which means be proabably couldn't afford a condo, but after I graduate and get a job there shouldn't be a problem. Good thing is though we could probably rent something in Southtown for now. I was lookin at the new townhomes by the bluestar.

[urban_encounter]

Nice!!! This is going to look so sweet along the Paseo del Rio.

[elmariachi]

I was downtown today and noticed that the BankOne sign on top of the bank one building has already been removed, I guess they are preparing it for renovation. I'm kind of sad to see it go, it's been there all my life. However, i heard that they were going to redo the thermometer up there, like the way it used to be.

[Paul in S.A TX]

S.A forumers when is this puppy scheduled to be completed?


Hyatt San Antonio Convention Center Hotel
http://tinypic.com/dyacz7.jpg

[texboy]

2008...

[jaga185]

and you didn't know that because?

[Paul in S.A TX]

Honestly I didn't.I knew it was going to take a couple years. This will dramtically change San Antonio's skyline.

[texboy]

I drove by the other day, and they had a portable crane out there, so its getting goin, Ill take pictures once there is a dramatic change in the site. Right now, it looks as though they are doing pre-excavation surveying and staking. They also had racks of iron piping out there. I would think that actual digging should begin within the next couple of weeks.

[Mopacs]

I was downtown today and noticed that the BankOne sign on top of the bank one building has already been removed, I guess they are preparing it for renovation. I'm kind of sad to see it go, it's been there all my life. However, i heard that they were going to redo the thermometer up there, like the way it used to be.

Could this be a result of the BankOne-Chase merger? Will Chase hold onto this tower?... all BAnkOnes that remain after the merge is complete will become Chase.

[elmariachi]

Actually, The Bank One building was bought by a developer along with the aztec theater across the street, both the theater and the building are being renovated. however, the building is going to be transformed into a hotel. bank one will continue to have a branch there but on the bottom floor (thats what i heard), but all of the office space will be converted.

[KevinFromTexas]

I was downtown today and noticed that the BankOne sign on top of the bank one building has already been removed, I guess they are preparing it for renovation. I'm kind of sad to see it go, it's been there all my life. However, i heard that they were going to redo the thermometer up there, like the way it used to be.

That also changes the profile of the building greatly. That sign was 63 feet tall, taking the overall height of the building to 341 feet tall.

I'm sad to see it go as well. I remember seeing the sign for the first time and being shocked at how large it was.

And on the convention center hotel construction time table. Typically buildings that are over say 300 feet tall take around 2 years to complete. Of course this depends on their footprint size ultimately. Anything below 200 feet generally only takes around a year or so. Buildings up around 1,000 feet usually take 3 to 4 years to complete.

[elmariachi]

I was downtown today and noticed that the BankOne sign on top of the bank one building has already been removed, I guess they are preparing it for renovation. I'm kind of sad to see it go, it's been there all my life. However, i heard that they were going to redo the thermometer up there, like the way it used to be.

That also changes the profile of the building greatly. That sign was 63 feet tall, taking the overall height of the building to 341 feet tall.

I'm sad to see it go as well. I remember seeing the sign for the first time and being shocked at how large it was.

And on the convention center hotel construction time table. Typically buildings that are over say 300 feet tall take around 2 years to complete. Of course this depends on their footprint size ultimately. Anything below 200 feet generally only takes around a year or so. Buildings up around 1,000 feet usually take 3 to 4 years to complete.

Actually, only the lettering was removed, the big blue sign is still there, i think that they just are going to change the name on the sign. I would rather have it say Bank One than a hotel name.

[KevinFromTexas]

Ah, ok, thanks for that tip. That's better then. I hate that hotel name, "Drury". Not very inviting you know.

I'm glad they're leaving the main structure of the sign up there. That thing's been up there since atleast the early 60s. I remember the old "Alamo" lettering there from old pics.

[elmariachi]

Here is a pic that I took today on my way to dinner, It is of the west side of the Bank One building showing the sign with the lettering removed. Sorry about to poor quality, I took it with my cell phone.


http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5189/bankone2ac.jpg

[jaga185]

I've always hated that sign and thought it was ugly, I think they should construct something more pleasing to the eye.

[starvinggryphon]

^^^
I do like their plans to extend the riverwalk and add more floors above the parking garage, though.

[jaga185]

oh yeah, the "river loop" is long overdue, that is a smart thing that they are doing.

[SayTownboy]

Santikos installs high-tech concession system at Rialto Cinema

Tricia Lynn Silva

Texas Digital Systems Inc. has given a local movie house some added entertainment.

The College Station-based communications technology firm installed its VitalCAST system at Santikos Theatres' Rialto Cinema Bistro.

Located at 2938 NE Loop 410 in Northeast San Antonio, the Rialto started life as the Galaxy Theater. San Antonio-based Santikos invested more than $2 million to revamp the Galaxy and Galaxy Annex and convert them into the Rialto Cinema Bistro and Rialto Piccolo, respectively. The Rialto provides patrons with the ability to take in a dinner and a movie, within the redesigned theater auditoriums.

Meanwhile, Texas Digital's VitalCAST system delivers pricing and messaging content to wide-screen LCD and plasma screens located in the Rialto's concession area. Theater personnel will use the screens to display menu prices, advertisements and even movie trailers.

So far, the Rialto has received positive feedback on the system, according to Tony Overpeck, director of business development for Santikos.

"Our customers don't mind standing in line anymore because there's something for them to watch and absorb," he adds.

Established in 1972, Texas Digital is a privately held technology company and leading provider of integrated electronic display solutions for various businesses, including quick-serve restaurants, cinemas, distribution centers and banking institutions.

Santikos Theatres was founded more than 80 years ago by Greek entrepreneur Louis Santikos, who opened the first movie theater in San Antonio in 1924. His son, John Santikos, currently heads up the company, which has eight theaters in the Alamo City.

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/09/26/daily22.html?jst=b_ln_hl

[Mopacs]

I think the Alamo Drafthouse theater chain (from Austin) is proving that the Dinner and a Movie concept is potentially VERY profitable... and Santikos has obviously taken notice of this. Alamo has enjoyed incredible success with their concept since the first theater opened downtown in 1997. These theaters present a nice alternative to the megaplexes that dominate the cities and burbs. Not to mention, Alamo has taken over many recent-closed theaters that were deemed obsolete by the original owners/operators... so areas that lost a movie theater in recent years are getting a new one (and improved one, I might add).

[SayTownboy]

That article is misleading, Santikos already has a "dine while watching a movie" concept theater, The Bijou at Crossroads.

http://www.santikos.com/sites/crossroads.htm

[Mopacs]

That article is misleading, Santikos already has a "dine while watching a movie" concept theater, The Bijou at Crossroads.

http://www.santikos.com/sites/crossroads.htm

I'm glad to see this dinner and a movie concept take off across the country. This should make the theater-going experience better (and generally not as expensive for concessions!).

[jaga185]

Are you allowed to walk in with your own food at these things?

[Mopacs]

Are you allowed to walk in with your own food at these things?

Dont think they have any explicit rules against that, but for the most part everyone eats at the tables that are situated in front of each seat (one long table from one end of the row to the other). They serve you just before and during the movies and typically clean you up before the feature ends.

Another thing I like about Alamo Drafthouse is their 'no kids' policy for any movie. But whats funny is, they have a special showtime expressly for parents to bring their babies. Now THAT sounds like torture.. a whole theater full of crying half-pints!

http://www.drafthouse.com/lakecreek/info.html

Anyway, there is one Alamo in San Antonio now...appropriately enough... on the westside at Westlakes Mercado:

http://www.drafthouse.com/westlakes/frames.asp

[Double L]

That article is misleading, Santikos already has a "dine while watching a movie" concept theater, The Bijou at Crossroads.

http://www.santikos.com/sites/crossroads.htm

I didn't know there was one of those at Crossroads.

[SayTownboy]

Bank of America scouts S.A. for operations center

Web Posted: 10/01/2005 12:00 AM CDT

L.A. Lorek
Express-News Business Writer

Bank of America is eyeing San Antonio for a new financial operations center that would provide 2,500 jobs, Mayor Phil Hardberger said Friday.

"My guess is Bank of America will come here," Hardberger said, adding that officials with the Charlotte, N.C.-based banking giant have been scouting local sites for an expansion.

Bank of America spokesman George Owen declined to comment except to say that "it's premature to talk about any expansion plans."

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said he has been working with bank officials to get them to locate here. "These are the kinds of jobs we want in the community," Wolff said.

Bank of America is looking for a site for a back-office operations center that could handle incoming and outgoing calls to customers, Wolff said. He declined to comment on the specifics of the deal.

The financial services industry has a $20.5 billion economic impact in San Antonio and employs 50,469 people with an average salary of $52,612, compared with the citywide average of $33,911, said former City Manager Terry Brechtel, who heads a 20-member committee that's examining the industry. She plans to release the economic impact study next week.

"The financial service industry has been steady, it's been growing and the average wage it's paid has been on the higher side," Brechtel said.

Bank of America, the nation's second-largest bank, has more than 5,800 retail banking offices.

In July, it announced a $35 billion takeover of credit-card lender MBNA, based in Wilmington, Del. That deal will make Bank of America's credit-card business equal to that of such other major firms as Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase & Co., both of which have large operations in San Antonio.

Citigroup operates a bustling three-building call center campus employing more than 4,000 people, while JPMorgan Chase recently expanded in San Antonio and has more than 2,400 employees.

Other local financial services operations include the Capital Group, also known as American Funds, with 910 workers, and LTD Financial Services with 200 employees.

Bank of America has applied for incentives through Gov. Rick Perry's Texas Enterprise Fund for new economic development projects, but the company has not yet applied for local incentives, say sources close to the deal.

In addition to Bank of America, World Savings Bank is still considering San Antonio for an expansion that would add up to 2,000 new jobs. World Savings, which moved operations here in 1993, already has 3,000 employees at its 112-acre campus on Wiseman Boulevard near Loop 1604.

The World Savings expansion is "imminent," Hardberger said.

World Savings could not be reached for comment Friday. A subsidiary of Golden West Financial Corp., World Savings is a Fortune 500 financial services provider with more than $115 billion in assets.

Earlier this year, Washington Mutual, the nation's largest savings and loan with $323.5 billion in assets, announced plans to open a regional operations center on the city's North Side. It's to employ 2,000 people initially and grow to 3,000 employees in San Antonio and an additional 1,200 jobs throughout Texas within seven years.

"Financial services may soon be the largest industry in San Antonio," Hardberger said.

"San Antonio is going through a metamorphosis from a small border village to a big city."

[SayTownboy]

That article is misleading, Santikos already has a "dine while watching a movie" concept theater, The Bijou at Crossroads.

http://www.santikos.com/sites/crossroads.htm

I didn't know there was one of those at Crossroads.

Yep. Very cool place.

[JACKinNYC]

I hope BofA, if it goes to SA, goes downtown instead of a complex on the outskirts. I'd like to see some more towers downtown.

[Double L]

It would give us some variety, because it seems almost every tower downtown is a hotel sometimes.

[KevinFromTexas]

Keep us up to date on that Bank of America move. That could be huge if they do plan for highrise office space. A few years ago Austin-based Vignette Corporation had planned on moving downtown with a campus of 2,500 employees also. The campus would have been in twin 25 to 30-story towers, another 20-story tower, and a 10-story parking garage, plus, another future site where yet another tower would have gone up. The total space for the project was being set at between 1.2 and 1.5 million square feet, with no less than 1.2 million square feet. Vignette fell into some financial problems with the downturn in the economy back in 2000/2001 and the project was called off. They may still move back downtown as they said they wanted to.

But if Bank of America plans anything like Vignette did, it could get interesting!

[Mopacs]

I went with friends and family down to SA today (10/2) to catch the Saints-Bills matchup (my family is from N.O.). In the process I got some shots of the prep work underway for the Hyatt Grand hotel at the Convention Center:

http://images14.fotki.com/v223/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5101-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v222/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5102-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v224/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5106-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v219/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5104-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v220/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5197-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v225/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5200-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v224/photos/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5204-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v224/filed6UQ/1cdc4/5/54967/1023800/DSCN5103.jpg

[Mopacs]

While in town for the Saints-Bills game, I also took the opportunity to visit the new Shops at La Cantera mall, on the far NW side. I don't know what I was expecting, but I have to admit i was a little disappointed in the design. I had envisioned more of an architectural statement (spanish/mexican influences) and a lot more greenery and shade (of course a few years of tree growth may fix that). Instead, I found a nice, upscale mall that happens to be outdoors (it was well into the 90s today and I was HOT out there!). Not complaining, mind you, but I thought I would get some opinions of others here on the forum:


http://images14.fotki.com/v223/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5243-vi.jpg?800600

http://images15.fotki.com/v226/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5244-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v219/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5257-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v222/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5261-vi.jpg?800600

I like the Fiesta Texas roller coaster backdrop here:

http://images14.fotki.com/v222/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5262-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v225/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5266-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v220/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5270-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v219/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5276-vi.jpg?800600

http://images14.fotki.com/v225/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5268-vi.jpg?800600

http://images15.fotki.com/v226/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5269-vi.jpg?800600

[KevinFromTexas]

Cool pics Mopacs. That 2nd shot of the demolition is so odd, the blank space there I mean. We've walked past there many times going in and out of the convention center for dogshows.

^ Looks like the actual groundbreaking/dirt work should start within a month or so hopfully. Then the fun starts! I can't wait.

I'm not a big mall guy, but it looks ok. Like you said the trees will grow and make more shade. Atleast they have trees at La Cantera, the outlet mall in San Marcos is horrible for shade, other than the awnings over the walkway. Even so the courtyards heat up which then heats up the walkways. You always appreciate trees even more when you don't have the shade from one.

I bumped into a guy tonight on the Congress Avenue bridge taking pictures of the skyline. I asked if he was with the paper, he said no, he was just taking them for himself and that he wasn't from Austin. I asked where he was from and he said he was from Lake Charles, LA. He and his wife had fled Rita and came to Austin. He said so far he's not even sure that the power is back on there yet. I told him that I had gone through there last year on the way back from Florida after Hurricane Ivan hit. I wished him luck and told him to take care. I pulled my phones back on, and he said something else, I yanked them back off and he said, "Be careful". I was on my bike at the time, it had already gotten dark. I was just like, damn what a nice dude.

[KevinFromTexas]

From today. It's not a highrise, but guess what, San Antonio's getting another hotel.

From the San Antonio Business Journal.
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/10/03/story4.html

Hotel planned for Santikos development on North Side

Tricia Lynn Silva

Locally based Santikos Development recently sold three acres out of its Legacy mixed-use real estate project here to InterMountain Management LLC. The Monroe, La.-based firm will use the site to develop and operate a four-story, 150-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Even before dirt is turned on the new hotel, however, Santikos plans to kick off construction of new office and retail space within Legacy, according to Charles M. Hodges, principal for Dallas-based Hodges Development Services.

Plans call for about 50,000 square feet of office and 92,000 square feet of retail space, Hodges adds.

Santikos has awarded a contract to locally based Metropolitan Contracting Co. Ltd. to build the office and retail shells, says Shane Campbell, development manager for Santikos.

Metropolitan will start work in about two weeks, Campbell adds. By the spring of next year, tenants should be starting interior finish work on their spaces.

The new hotel project slated for the Legacy center will mark the eighth Courtyard to be unveiled by InterMountain, which owns, operates and provides third-party management for a host of properties under the Marriott flag. The moderately priced Courtyard brand caters to business travelers.

Construction on the hotel is set to begin in about 60 days, says Campbell, who adds that the project should be completed in about a year.

Legacy, which is to be built out over multiple phases, is located on a 100-acre tract at the northeast corner of Loop 1604 and U.S. Highway 281 North. It could ultimately consist of over 400,000 square feet of building space -- a mix of retail, entertainment, residential and office developments. Santikos tapped Hodges' firm to create a campus-style set up for the project.

Asked about new retail tenants that have signed on to the first phase of building space, Campbell says that a few deals have been done, and that some others are still in the works. He declined to divulge more details; although he stated that a major announcement concerning the new tenants should be coming soon.

New experiences
If recent history is any indication of what's to come, Santikos will likely be announcing some tenant names that will be new to the San Antonio retail market.

Indeed, Legacy has already lured the likes of Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Life Time Fitness and Salt Lake City-based Sportsman's Warehouse -- both of which are new to the local retail landscape.

And the ink is just drying on the lease that Santikos recently signed with Minneapolis-based Best Buy. While the retailer is certainly no stranger to San Antonio shoppers, what it plans to bring to Legacy is different from what locals have seen before, according to Hodges.

The new Best Buy will include a couple of "store-within-a-store" formats -- including a specialty home-theater area that will feature products normally found only in high-end stores. The Best Buy outlet is set to open next summer.

Both Best Buy and Sportsman's Warehouse are located on what Hodges calls the "east block" of Legacy. Both front Loop 1604. Meanwhile, the new retail and office portions slated for Legacy and Life Time Fitness are to be located on the west end of the center and front Hwy. 281.

Creating a lifestyle
Besides bringing in the new retail concepts to San Antonio, both Hodges and Campbell are also working to bring to Legacy a mix of venues that will ensure the development's ability to draw in people at different times of the day, and to draw them in often.

Notes Hodges: "We are counting on a frequency of visits, on uses that will bring activity at different times of the day and the evening, and on the weekdays and weekends."

To that end, Santikos has also inked an agreement with a firm to develop a four-story, 275-unit luxury multifamily complex for Legacy.

Hodges declined to divulge the developer at this time, although he did stress that it is a quality, regionally recognized firm. The property is set to be available for occupancy in the spring of 2007, Campbell adds.

The multifamily development, as well as the Courtyard hotel, will be part of the "main street" portion of Legacy, which will be constructed in the center of the project. This section will consist of more close-knit venues that are easily accessible by foot.

Such urban villages have become a common theme in today's lifestyle centers, says Patrice Duker, manager of media relations for New York-based industry organization the International Council of Shopping Centers. Even as retail projects continue to move out to the suburbs, developers are finding ways to bring a bit of downtown to those outlying centers, she adds.

As Hodges points out, the urban village within Legacy should add the appeal of uniqueness to the project, and help to guarantee a constant flow of activity.

"So many times, when you have a singular focus on a development, it comes and goes in a few years," he adds. "The integration of all these different uses (in Legacy) will help to ensure that it will be a long-lived project."

Also from today.

From the San Antonio Business Journal.
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/10/03/story5.html

Red Lion Hotels looking to enter the S.A. market

W. Scott Bailey

Newly branded Red Lion Hotels Corp. is preparing to embark on an ambitious expansion effort designed to give the company a greater presence in the South and Southwest.

Red Lion Hotels President and CEO Art Coffey says that expansion plan is expected to include San Antonio.

In 2001, what was then WestCoast Hospitality Corp., acquired the Red Lion brand from Hilton Hotels Corp. Since then, it has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to enhance its existing properties and overall image.

In July, the Puget Sound Business Journal, a sister publication, reported that the company had reached agreements with buyers for seven hotel properties and a couple of commercial buildings. The transactions were expected to raise nearly $50 million, with the proceeds going toward the revitalization of some 30-plus other company-owned properties.

Now Red Lion is ready to roar into a number of new markets. The initial phases of that expansion, say company officials, will focus on Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Minnesota.

Currently, Red Lion operates properties in 50 cities. Most of them are situated in the Western United States.

San Antonio, despite its tourism and convention trade, does not have any Red Lion properties presently. That will likely change as the company plans to expand here and to a number of other markets, including Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Coffey tells the Business Journal that San Antonio is a place Red Lion wants to be.

"We are very strong in the Northwest," he says. "Our desire is to go to the South and Southwest before we eventually head east."

Coffey says his personal understanding of the Alamo City is limited. But others within the company are apparently sold on its potential.

"San Antonio is one of the cities our team has identified as a strong market," Coffey continues. "It's a key city and a natural feeder market for us. We should be there. It's a good market for us."

Red Lion officials say there are no immediate details outlining when San Antonio could get its first Red Lion hotels or where they might be located. Coffey does say the company's properties enjoy an equal mix of business, leisure and group trade. That mix, he says, should work well in San Antonio.

Julie Langenheim, investor relations manager for Red Lion Hotels, says the company's existing properties average 200 rooms. She says Red Lion is looking to bump that up to 300 to 400 rooms for some of its planned hotels. Development costs were unavailable.

Mixed bag
This has been a busy year for Red Lion. In February, Coffey sustained multiple injuries from a snowmobile accident in Idaho. That mishap occurred only days before his company, then known as WestCoast, was set to close on a $40 million public offering.

With that incident behind Coffey and Red Lion, the concentration now is on new growth.

Donald Barbieri, chairman of the board of directors for Red Lion Hotels, says company officials are counting on the fact that the chain of properties already "has a rich history with travelers throughout the Western United States."

While growth is a priority, so is some continued polishing and retooling of the Red Lion brand. That process is part of a $40 million capital improvement program that will result in several "significant changes."

That program is slated for completion by mid-2006. Changes include elevated product and service standards designed to upgrade the quality and comfort guests experience at existing and planned Red Lion hotels.

"We have spent the last several years developing our systems and infrastructure to make our business scalable and efficient," Coffey explains. "We are seeing positive results from our investment in infrastructure and the investment we are making to upgrade our facilities."

Other company officials refer to the changes as a brand rejuvenation. That rejuvenation is only expected to help expedite Red Lion's expansion program.

"Our efforts to strengthen Red Lion hotels are on track and producing solid results," Coffey says. "We expect this momentum to continue as we complete the most significant capital improvement program in our corporate history."

He says the changes position Red Lion to "more aggressively pursue growth and partnership opportunities."

Coffey says expansion into the San Antonio market could include a mix of franchised and joint-venture deals.

"We're talking to potential investors," says Coffey about the expansion program. "We're interested in talking with more. ..."

Red Lion Hotels Corp. is a hospitality and leisure company primarily engaged in the ownership, management, development and franchising of upper mid-scale, full service hotels under its Red Lion brand. The company also operates an entertainment division, which includes TicketsWest.com, a subsidiary handling event-ticket distribution, as well as the promotion and presentation of a variety of entertainment productions.

[Double L]

Well, I visited the Shops at La Cantera for the first time today.

First of all, mark my words, this is the begining of great sprawl in San Antonio unless we do something about it soon. The whole story reaks of what happened with Greenspoint mall in Houston.

I agree with Mopacs criticism that it is much more sterile than I had imagined it which was my first criticism when I saw it under construction. I also agree that those roller coaster views are a nice part which was never mentioned on this forum. This whole thing may be nice but it isn't any good for the natural environment in the area. Fiesta Texas was a really good development for San Antonio because it did such a good job of blending into the natural area, they were very good to the city and the neighborhood. Now this mall has really disrupted that IMO.



That being said, San Antonio's main mall for its retail has a nicer environment than anything in Houston and that is a great acheivment.

[Mopacs]

I agree with Mopacs criticism that it is much more sterile than I had imagined it which was my first criticism when I saw it under construction. I also agree that those roller coaster views are a nice part which was never mentioned on this forum. This whole thing may be nice but it isn't any good for the natural environment in the area.

Interesting note about La Cantera... The first thing It reminded meof, of when I entered the mall 'concourse' from Foleys was the old Hancock Center in Austin.

For Austin old-timers you may recall the previous incarnation of Hancock Center mall on I-35, when it was anchored by Sears, Dillards, El Chico, Wyatts Cafeteria, etc etc. In other words, the old fashioned outdoor pedestrian malls that were popular in the 50s-70s have sort of come full circle. Many of which were torn down or converted into indoor malls in later years..including Hancock.

[texboy]

HollyHills planning a four-star hotel resort
Web Posted: 10/06/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Melissa S. Monroe
Express-News Business Writer

The Hyatt Hill Country and Westin Resorts could have a new competitor within two years, as plans are under way for a 350-room, four-star hotel resort to include time shares.

HollyHills Development acquired more than 1,000 acres at Briggs Ranch last spring, but it only recently talked about some of its plans for a lavish destination hotel.

The project, in Southwest Bexar County, is estimated to cost more than $200 million and include a resort hotel, 625 time-share units and a two-acre water park, said HollyHills CEO Joseph Heitzler.

HollyHills owners Daniel and Marlene Bailey landed in San Antonio about two years ago. Lately they've been scooping up land and announcing extravagant plans for many of their sites in South Bexar County and East San Antonio. HollyHills also manages The Golf Club of Texas at Briggs Ranch, an exclusive golf course.

Daniel Bailey's background has drawn comment. Bailey, 52, pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud in 1987 in relation to a failed mortgage investment company. He got a 31-month sentence, but resumed his real estate career after leaving a minimum-security prison in 1991.

Despite Bailey's past, HollyHills' management is optimistic about the new project.

The resort, Heitzler said, will have a breathtaking view and landscaping not seen at other resorts. He also said vacation ownership is a significant part of the project.

"We've done tremendous amount of research and retained vacation-ownership research firms," Heitzler said. "Three aspects that will highly attract visitors are the weather, the fact that San Antonio has some of the largest tourist attractions in the state, and the city and county have been aggressive from an economic development strategy."

The hotel will have a Spanish colonial feel. Rooms will feature balconies and high ceilings and be generously sized at about 500 square feet. The water attraction will be geared to children, with a wading pool, tunnels and slides.

Heitzler said the funding is already in place for the hotel and vacation ownership property that could reach up to 1,000 time-share units, depending on demand and sales. He expects the hotel's management company to be announced soon.

Hotel construction is expected to start by March. Heitzler said plans also call for a second resort hotel.

Heitzler said this vacation ownership property will be unique because HollyHills also has plans for a development in downtown San Antonio and another one along the coast. Instead of going to another state, clients will be able to swap out properties in those three areas, he said.

Vacation ownership properties are still new to San Antonio, and recently the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa added such a component.

The most successful vacation ownership resorts, Heitzler said, are those that boast amenities for children and ideal weather.

[jaga185]

How much business do these places actually have?

[SayTownboy]

How much business do these places actually have?

What places?

[SayTownboy]

City launches new community learning center


The city of San Antonio opened the new Col. Victor J. Ferrari Community Family Resource and Learning Center -- the city's first on the North Side.

The new 12,000-square-foot facility is equipped with a 20-station computer lab, a resource center and three classrooms. It is located at 107 W. Rampart Drive and is open to anyone in the city.

The facility also will house a Head Start Center, managed by Parent/Child Inc.

The service center will serve as a community resource for people wanting to take GED and English as a Second Language courses, parents who want early literacy training, financial literacy for children and computer classes.

The facility is named for Victor Ferrari because of his work promoting literacy. The former president of USAA Federal Savings Bank served as a member of the San Antonio Commission on Literacy.

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/10/03/daily39.html

[JRCool]

http://images14.fotki.com/v220/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5270-vi.jpg?800600

Hey! I work there! I might have even been in there when you took that pic. Interesting.

[SayTownboy]

Small business is big in S.A.

Web Posted: 10/08/2005 12:00 AM CDT

L.A. Lorek
Express-News Business Writer

San Antonio has a sizzling economy that is spurring further growth, not only for big businesses such as Toyota but also among the small-business buyers of Microsoft products.

The city is the fastest-growing market in Texas for Microsoft's small-business software, the company's regional manager said.

"San Antonio drives a very healthy percentage of our small-business purchases," said Todd Cione, Microsoft's regional manager of small- to mid-market industry for the state, based in Dallas.

San Antonio has 22,232 businesses with 20 employees or fewer and 25,896 businesses with fewer than 500 employees, according to the Small Business Administration.

San Antonio's corporate giants such as SBC Communications, Clear Channel Communications and Valero Energy Corp. often get a lot of attention. And the city has 1,487 businesses with more than 500 employees — adding up to 348,523.

Yet small businesses generate more jobs in San Antonio, with 365,794 workers at firms with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses, ranging from mom-and-pop construction companies to start-up biotechnology and technology outfits, are one of the biggest drivers of the economy.

"San Antonio is predominantly a small-business town," said Morrison Woods, director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

During the past five years, San Antonio hasn't seen overheated growth in its small-business sector, but more small businesses continue to grow organically — adding workers without seeking greater financing, Woods said.

"We've just got strong, sustained growth," he said. "We've got such a diversified base among small businesses that when something goes down, something else goes up."

This month, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked San Antonio as one of the nation's hottest cities for entrepreneurs. The city garnered the 17th spot. Austin-San Marcos ranked ninth and Phoenix-Mesa earned the No. 1 spot. Last year, Inc. Magazine named San Antonio the fourth-best large city to do business in, citing its affordability, steady population growth, diversified economy and strong military presence.

Express Information Systems, which sells Microsoft Business Solutions software, saw its business increase 50 percent in 2004, said Iris Schimke, the company's president. Express Information added 27 clients last year, up from 12 new clients in 2003, she said.

Founded 12 years ago, the company has annual sales of $4 million, 400 clients and 13 employees. It consults, trains and sells financial software to small to medium-sized businesses.

"I think just the healthy economy, in general, is driving interest in people growing their business," Schimke said.

Microsoft is also seeing Austin's economy rebound from the 2000 dot-com slump, but it's more focused on large businesses, Cione said.

One of the things driving demand for new technology products among small businesses is that companies are looking for ways to cut their travel expenses with the rising gas prices, Schimke said. They are looking for Web-based applications to manage business functions and cut down on travel time, she said. Companies are also looking to telecommuting and teleconferencing to save money.

"Technology is an equalizer," Schimke said.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA100805.01D.MIcrosoft.21740007.html

[SayTownboy]

It's not downtown, which is a bummer, but highrise condominiums and a highrise office building anywhere is cool with me.

-----------------------------------------------


Investment group eyes office, multifamily uses for I-10 tract

Tricia Lynn Silva

While much news has been focused on the retail development shaping up along the Interstate Highway 10/Loop 1604 corridor, an investment group with its own stake in the area is looking at some other development avenues as well.

A family owned entity out of Mexico called Galleria Ventures Ltd. has hired locally based Drake Commercial Group LLC to add some additional thunder to a 400-acre tract along the southeast quadrant of the I-10/1604 intersection in Northwest San Antonio.

Early plans call for a mix of multifamily and office development, according to Drake Commercial President Deborah Bauer.

Galleria's land has already garnered some attention thanks to Aventura, Fla.-based Turnberry Associates. In May, Turnberry and fellow South Florida developer CABI Associates announced plans for 100 acres of land that Galleria owned. The land they have sits at the southeast corner of I-10 and 1604. The two firms, in cooperation with Galleria, plan to create a 1 million-square-foot power center called Regal Hills.
Diverse use

Bauer says that she is seeing a lot of interest in the remaining 300 acres that Galleria Ventures is looking to develop.

Drake and Galleria have earmarked about 30 acres in the site -- located at the intersection of Vance Jackson and UTSA Boulevard -- for a new apartment community. Meanwhile, other portions of Galleria's land are being master-planned for some high-end residential development, including high-rise condominiums and some townhomes or garden homes.

Galleria and Drake are also working together to plot out several office projects for the I-10/1604 tract.

Having marketed several high-end developments in North San Antonio, Bauer feels that Galleria's land is ripe to bring in garden offices -- smaller buildings that would range in size from about 6,000 to 12,000 square feet. These offices would be targeted to professionals who live in the area and want to own their work space, she adds. The site could also be ideal for a new high-rise office for Northwest San Antonio.

"The site is large enough and certainly has the fabulous views that would serve for both types of projects," Bauer says. "Office buildings are going to become extremely popular in this area. You have a lot of retail going in and people living in this area. They will want to work in this area, too."

That new retail development, of course, includes Turnberry's Regal Hills shopping center. The firm hopes to begin announcing some names for the project soon -- hopefully before October is over, according to Jim Gdula, director of development for Turnberry.

Regal Hills will be located near two of the city's most talked-about retail centers: The Shops at La Cantera and The Rim.

The Shops at La Cantera, which opened its doors last month, is a 1.3 million-square-foot center at the northwest quadrant of Loop 1604 and I-10 -- cater-cornered to Regal Hills. The Rim is a 1.5 million-square-foot lifestyle center that will be located at the northeast corner of the Loop 1604/I-10 intersection -- just on the other side of Loop 1604 from Turnberry's project.

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/10/10/story7.html

[jaga185]

I wonder what kind of high-rise they mean, like, the actual definition, or like, something with just a few stories.

[SayTownboy]

I wonder what kind of high-rise they mean, like, the actual definition, or like, something with just a few stories.

Wouldn't they say low-rise than?

I don't know, hopefully they're above 20-25 stories.

I'd love to see renderings.

Geez, that area is gonna be crazy 3-5 years from now.

[texboy]

Another office building, retail strip slated for Stone Oak area
Tricia Lynn Silva
A new developer has taken over the reins of a major development project in North San Antonio's Stone Oak community.

Locally based real estate firm REOC Partners Ltd. recently announced plans to create a mixed-use project called La Arcata. The initial phase will consist of a three-story office building of a little over 97,000 square feet and some 66,000 square feet of retail development.

The project will be located on about 11 acres of land that wraps around the northeast corner of Stone Oak Parkway and Loop 1604, says Todd Gold, president and managing partner for REOC.

REOC plans to start turning dirt next month. The retail project is set to open in about 10 months, with the office building to follow about two months later, Gold adds.

The tract is familiar ground, of sorts, for Gold's firm, which had previously been marketing the land for local developer Brad Galo. Last month, REOC, in conjunction with some equity partners, purchased the land and the original plans for the project from Galo.

Indeed, it was REOC's familiarity with the development that helped spur the group into making the decision to go from marketing the site to being in on the development of it as well, Gold says.

"We were so intimately involved already," says Gold. "We didn't want to have someone else take it over, not when we knew what we wanted to do with it."

Sense of excitement
Moving forward, Gold says that the goal is to build on a vision that Galo and REOC had begun to form for the project: To create a mixed-use development with a true sense of place.

"This is going to be a fully integrated, mixed-use deal," Gold says.

For example, almost all of the parking for the office building will be within a three-story parking garage. This garage, via the second floor, will also be connected to the retail portion of La Arcata.

REOC will work to create with La Arcata -- which means "the gateway" in Italian -- a project that looks more like an Old World Tuscan village, instead of a brand new suburban development. The project will be decked out heavily in stone, although the stone will be made to look as if it has been here for centuries, Gold explains.

Plans also call for two large archways that will welcome people into the project, Gold continues. Smaller arches will also dot the development, pulling it all together.

The finishing touch will be the many cypress trees that will add to the Tuscan hillside village appeal that REOC plans to create with La Arcata.

The look of the development is important, says Gold -- especially on the retail end.

"We want something that is exciting," he says. "We are going to create an atmosphere -- a feeling, an emotion. People will be excited about this project."

It may be hard, however, to match the excitement that Gold himself feels about La Arcata. Indeed, the project marks a new avenue for REOC, as it moves from being solely a third-party real estate firm to one that will also market and manage developments in which the firm has an ownership stake.

"It's the vertical integration of the company," says Gold about moving into the development arena of real estate.

Main on main
REOC certainly picked a prime spot for its foray into the development business.

"This is the main-on-main location in North San Antonio," says Gold about La Arcata.

"This is just such a dynamic corner," adds Deborah Bauer, president of locally based Drake Commercial Group LLC. Bauer, who has marketed several high-end developments within North San Antonio, is currently marketing some smaller tracts that will also be part of the La Arcata project. One tract would be ideal for some medical-office users, says Bauer, who adds that she is also entertaining some high-end restaurants and smaller retail projects for other tracts. "The desirability of this area is just incredible," she says.

The strong demographics of Stone Oak and the surrounding areas make it a magnet for the retailers that want to cater to the high-end households, adds Kimberly Gatley, director of market research for REOC.

And that is exactly the type of retail tenant that La Arcata is looking for, Gold says.

"This is a high quality project, so we will be going for the high-quality retailer," he says. "The looks and finishes that we're trying to pull off, you don't do that on a bubble-gum and pocket-change budget. So we want retailers that want to be in an environment like that, those that appeal to a higher-end market."

And Gold has already begun to make plans for phase two of La Arcata -- which include another 30,000 square feet of office and about 14,000 square feet of retail space.

And don't be surprised if REOC announces a few other development projects in the near future. Says Gold: "This is the most fun I've ever had."

[Mopacs]

http://images14.fotki.com/v220/photos/5/54967/2710812/DSCN5270-vi.jpg?800600

Hey! I work there! I might have even been in there when you took that pic. Interesting.

Really??? Thats funny... I passed by the place briefly and snapped photos of tons of storefronts. I took those pics last Sunday afternoon (10/2). Damn was it hot that day!

[KevinFromTexas]

^ That's great news. I would assume they are talking about "highrises" being anywhere from 18 to 25 floors. There are few buildings on the loops around San Antonio that exceed 20 floors. Still a 20-story office tower is fairly tall, up to 300 feet. So we'll see. There haven't been any new highrises on the loop or I-10 since about the mid-80s so I wouldn't be surprised to see another one. It's about time.

[jaga185]

I went to The Shops this past Sat., it was alright. It was a little annoying have to open door after door, it was just like a strip center, and its not even done yet! But I missed the food court, or "La Cocina", but it had a really nice layout overall. I'm now anxious to see how regal hills is going to turn out with this new hype.

[SayTownboy]

^ That's great news. I would assume they are talking about "highrises" being anywhere from 18 to 25 floors. There are few buildings on the loops around San Antonio that exceed 20 floors. Still a 20-story office tower is fairly tall, up to 300 feet. So we'll see. There haven't been any new highrises on the loop or I-10 since about the mid-80s so I wouldn't be surprised to see another one. It's about time.

The highrises will be on 1604 not 410. There are no highrise buildings off of 1604.

[SayTownboy]

I went to The Shops this past Sat., it was alright. It was a little annoying have to open door after door, it was just like a strip center, and its not even done yet! But I missed the food court, or "La Cocina", but it had a really nice layout overall. I'm now anxious to see how regal hills is going to turn out with this new hype.

Regal Hills is a completely different project from the highrise condos/housing and office buildings.

It'll be built right next to Regal Hills.

[SayTownboy]

SBC Center attracts ideas for boosting neighborhood

Web Posted: 10/11/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Elizabeth Allen and Greg Jefferson
Express-News Staff Writers

For years, Freeman Coliseum was an island of Bexar County property hosting the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and surrounded by a neighborhood that had not seen much economic development.

What a difference a shiny new arena for a championship NBA team makes.

The SBC Center, which opened next door to the coliseum three years ago as the home of the Spurs, has yet to bring the much-talked-about economic revitalization to the East Side neighborhoods surrounding it.

But the arena has become a magnet for public and private ideas to make the 175-acre county property and adjacent municipal golf course something that some say could transform the East Side.

Bexar County commissioners this week will hear two competing proposals on redeveloping the SBC Center-Freeman Coliseum complex. What they want is a convention center that would take advantage of business, attract daytime visitors and perhaps spur the construction of a nearby hotel. And they're open to acquiring more property to make it happen.

One of the presenters will be Ellerbe Becket, the San Francisco-based planning firm that designed the SBC Center.

The other group, the Bexar County Community Arenas Consortium, is led by San Francisco-based EDAW and includes local firm Kell Muñoz Architects, along with Chicago-based HVS Convention, Sports & Entertainment Facilities Consulting and Philadelphia-based SMG.

One of EDAW's newest employees is former Mayor Ed Garza.

The competing presenters aren't the only ones with an eye on the property.

Dan and Marlene Bailey of HollyHills Development are already talking with local officials, looking to make the most of the land surrounding the county property.

The Los Angeles-based developers have been shopping proposals for a megaproject close to the SBC Center-Freeman Coliseum complex, encompassing the city's Willow Springs Golf Course.

"HollyHills Development began master planning and developing our company's vision for the East Side of San Antonio 10 months ago," HollyHills spokesman T.J. Connolly said. "There are still meetings and presentations that must be held with other key stakeholders in the area.

"San Antonio has a chance to adopt a unique, urban-planning, mixed-use community that incorporates a retail, residential, sports and entertainment vision."

Willow Springs

A city official said the proposed development near the SBC Center would focus on sports, hospitality and entertainment. One component reportedly would be a hotel close to the golf course. Another would be the takeover of the course itself.

And whether the Baileys' grand plans come to fruition or someone else ends up developing the area, Willow Springs will play a crucial role.

"The key thing is that golf course," Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said. "What are they going to do with that?"

Wolff stressed he wants "to concentrate on our deal" at the arena complex. But he believes the right master plan on the county property could potentially support a nearby hotel and that the most logical place for that would be Willow Springs.

One person who agrees on the importance of the golf course owns property next to it.

Cardell Cabinetry President Bill Tidwell long has been one of the largest landowners in the East Side's Council District 2, and his holdings keep growing.

Along with expanding the more than 1 million square feet of cabinet manufacturing space that lines Interstate 35, Tidwell in 2003 bought the historic Red Berry estate on Gembler Road, across Salado Creek from Willow Springs, for a corporate retreat and event center.

And last year he purchased a 165,000-square-foot warehouse that is not only near the SBC Center, but adjacent to Willow Springs.

"You can walk out in front of it and right there's the SBC Center," Tidwell said with a chuckle, "then on the other side of the golf course, that's my Red Berry deal."

Tidwell said he has talked to city and county officials, as well as private developers, about potential uses for his properties. He said it is too early to disclose details of his discussions, but he agrees that any redevelopment of the area hinges on Willow Springs.

"It's going to take a lot of money, but without the golf course, none of this is going to happen," Tidwell said.

During a City Council committee meeting several weeks ago, Parks and Recreation Director Malcolm Matthews said District 2 Councilwoman Sheila McNeil has been in talks with an unidentified private party about the course. But he had few details about the discussion.

McNeil is tight-lipped. Asked whether she's talking to the Baileys about Willow Springs, she said, "There's more than one developer interested in that area, in making it a destination."

And right now, she added, they're waiting on the county's master plan for the area.

Privatization?

But turning the course over to the private sector wouldn't be an easy step for the city. For years, officials have struggled over what to do with the city's money-losing courses — make improvements and beef up their management, or privatize them.

Frustrated by the debate's slow pace, City Councilman Chip Haass favors experimenting with the privatization of one or two of the municipal courses. Willow Springs, he said, would be one of his prime candidates.

Willow Springs and the Mission Del Lago golf course on the South Side, he said, "have the most potential to improve the surrounding area."

But, he said, operating the course alone wouldn't make it worth a developer's time to be profitable; the project also would have to include a hotel, condominiums or time-shares.

Haass said he had heard of the Baileys' interest in the area from McNeil's predecessor on the council, Joel Williams, but that he hasn't heard from McNeil about the developer.

One possible cloud over HollyHills' plans is Dan Bailey's past. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 1987 and served 31 months in federal prison.

Haass declined to comment on what effect that history could have on how the council handles any SBC Center-area plan with the Baileys' development.

He noted any company interested in managing Willow Springs would have to compete with other vendors.

Wolff was circumspect on the Baileys' proposal.

"As a general rule with any developer, you start believing them when they start building a building," he said.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA101105.01A.Arena.dd4a4a2.html