SAN ANTONIO | Urban Core Development Thread - Page 93

Scottolini · #**1841** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 6:06 AM**

Does the HDRC have any real power? Doesn't the city council make the final decision?

oldmanshirt · #**1842** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 6:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaga185

While you have a point there OMS, I just don't see the need to shoot this down. Why don't they let this pass through. I mean, it really won't stick out as much as they say it is going to and we all know that. They can use the whole block-is-short card, but you can't just ignore the fact the taller Drury is across the street.

I never said shoot it down. Quite the opposite. I said HDRC might have a point that is fundamentally valid, but in light of the surrounding development and the committee's prior "work", using their advice would be less advantageous for downtown.

Paul in S.A TX · #**1843** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 9:24 AM**

I few pics I took this past weekend when visiting a friend staying at the Holiday inn on Riverwalk. Took this pics around 8am on the way back to my car.

New Walgreens building.

View from the 24th floor.

Paul in S.A TX · #**1844** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 9:51 AM**

Construction site of new Embassy and San Lorenzo Pizza, heh. These to projects will add more density to the area.

Vistana-Frost

Tornado · #**1845** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 9:56 AM**

Thanks for the pics. SA looks slightly under the weather in those.

miaht82 · #**1846** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 1:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanshirt

I never said shoot it down. Quite the opposite. I said HDRC might have a point that is fundamentally valid, but in light of the surrounding development and the committee's prior "work", using their advice would be less advantageous for downtown.

I wonder if the HDRC were around in the early 1900's, would we have the Emily Morgan, NIX, or the Tower Life building?
I bet those stuck out alot worse in those days.
And really a fish market?? So in 100 years every HEB will not be able to be demo'd?
We already see what would happen if the city were to try to demo what people thought was truly historical; we all saw or read about the whole Market Square and La Villita. But history does not have to be rewritten by these 10 people. I think someone mentioned here before; if it is historical, include it in the design somehow (kinda like the little theatre section of the Whitacre Tower) put a placard on it, and move on. I mean think of all the other "historical sites" we have. The Tower; weren't a bunch of houses razed, and some moved to the corner now and used as storage at Hemisfair Park, to make way for the Tower? I wonder if HDRC would've opposed the Tower as well?
I hope the City Council has the final say.......

sirkingwilliam · #**1847** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 2:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaga185

It was about two stories, yes, three tops, why?

Because it was between two taller structures. Torn down and not a 17-story building is under construction.

My point being the HDRC is full of sh-t!

99jeep · #**1848** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 4:11 PM**

The item has been pulled from the HDRC agenda until they can agree and come up with a solution.

miaht82 · #**1849** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99jeep

The item has been pulled from the HDRC agenda until they can agree and come up with a solution.

Good. For now.

ydoc14 · #**1850** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 5:23 PM**

Yes...the 24th floor of the Holiday Inn...I used to say somebody needed to go up there and take a picture....great view of the GH!

Paul in S.A TX · #**1851** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 5:56 PM**

I took a couple from the 12th floor and then went to the 24th. I used my camera phone, so pics not so great.

salaverryo · #**1852** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 6:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirkingwilliam

Yeah, Houston St. is ideal for such a conversion. Peds, Buses and a Street car.

Could you image Houston St. lined up with retail like 16th St is?

Can you believe that in Houston there's not a single major street called "San Antonio"? Not even a minor one, as far as I know.

tgannaway89 · #**1853** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 6:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgannaway89

I vomited a little in my mouth when I read this:

"The character of San Antonio's unique downtown is in part due to the juxtaposition of small and large buildings. The small buildings reinforce the pedestrian scale of the block and allow for light and air at the street and river level."

Aren't there enough surface parking lots downtown for all the air and light one could want?!?

The Model · #**1854** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 7:43 PM**

Hello,
Sorry I have been on a business trip to San Diego. Oh Boy, what a city, I didn't see one building not being utilized. Every block something to do. Condos, condos, and Condos in downtown. Even two condos with fins that look like what the Vidorra was supposed to look like. I guess there was no one in SD to protest them because they got built. I'm catching up on the forum. What is this 24 story building, a hotel or a timeshare? I'm all for it, if fact 24 isn't tall enough. Should be 34! Let me know when the protest is, so I can go, we have to do something before we get another opps on a project just like the Grand Hyatt. Supposed to be 45 stories tall and thin, and instead we get a great wall of texas in the middle of downtown.

That design changed over night on all of us.

sirkingwilliam · #**1855** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 8:16 PM**

We really do need to act. If not us than who?

Paul in S.A TX · #**1856** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Model

Hello,
Sorry I have been on a business trip to San Diego. Oh Boy, what a city, I didn't see one building not being utilized. Every block something to do. Condos, condos, and Condos in downtown. Even two condos with fins that look like what the Vidorra was supposed to look like. I guess there was no one in SD to protest them because they got built. I'm catching up on the forum. What is this 24 story building, a hotel or a timeshare? I'm all for it, if fact 24 isn't tall enough. Should be 34! Let me know when the protest is, so I can go, we have to do something before we get another opps on a project just like the Grand Hyatt. Supposed to be 45 stories tall and thin, and instead we get a great wall of texas in the middle of downtown.

That design changed over night on all of us.

San Diego has a awesome downtown, been there twice.

I actually like the Grand Hyatt, yea, it's not the original proposed sleek 50 story, the overwhelming size, colors and glass do the trick for me.

jaga185 · #**1857** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 8:48 PM**

Well since it was pulled from today's meeting, someone needs to find out when this is being reviewed so some of us can go the meeting and stand up for it. I'm tired of complaining, it's time to act against this organizations' power and bring it down a bit.

hookem · #**1858** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaga185

Well since it was pulled from today's meeting, someone needs to find out when this is being reviewed so some of us can go the meeting and stand up for it. I'm tired of complaining, it's time to act against this organizations' power and bring it down a bit.

Maybe you can contact the developer expressing your intent to organize people in SUPPORT of the building, and ask them where your lobbying efforts would best be spent. They probably know who needs some arm twisting. I agree it looks like a great building for SA's downtown, tall and thin and seems to preserve the street-level ambiance nicely.

jaga185 · #**1859** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 10:37 PM**

I sent an email asking them where support could be best presented or sent. Hopefully we can officially do something.

kornbread · #**1860** Posted **Feb 18, 2009, 11:25 PM**

Wow...

A little publicity and it gets pulled from the agenda. Good idea to get this on the Downtown Blog.

Does anyone know the significance of the fish building?

There really doesn't look like there's much you can do with it besides maybe opening a giant seafood restaurant to bring back those old smells.