Bexar County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized $19.8 million for demolition and utility work along the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project‘s segment between Houston and Nueva streets, thus moving construction closer to the center of downtown San Antonio.
Commissioners also approved several design changes for that stretch, notably scrapping plans for an amphitheater behind the Alameda Theater.
“We believe that a new performance plaza, as opposed to an amphitheater, would be more flexible and provide more versatility for events that will be conducted there,” said Kerry Averyt, project manager with the San Antonio River Authority.
The River Authority is working with the City and County to transform the San Pedro Creek from a concrete-lined drainage ditch into a natural habitat and linear park. After years of planning and community input meetings, the project broke ground in September 2016.
Plans for a footbridge at the Spanish Governor’s Palace were also eliminated. Additional changes included providing more green space between the Dolorosa and Nueva Street block and widening pedestrian walkways leading from Commerce Street to the forthcoming Texas Public Radio headquarters inside the Alameda Theater.
Averyt said the changes reduce the cost of the project by more than $7 million.
Tuesday’s funding authorization set a timeline for the construction along the three-block stretch: Work will begin in January with the demolition of the Dollar General on Commerce Street and continue with excavation and civil work in March. The remainder of the construction is expected to run through the end of September.
To date, commissioners have authorized $132.7 million of the project’s total estimated cost of $175 million.
Commissioners received updates on the construction already underway in the first of four total project phases. The segment from the onset of the two-mile linear park at Fox Tech High School toward the Alameda Theater is still on track to be completed by May 5, 2018.
“It’s getting to the point where its looking a little exciting now,” Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said.
Jeffrey —
Thanks for the update story on the San Pedro project. Here is an idea for you — and a question. There is a house at 233 West Travis Street, one of the very few individual homes still standing in downtown San Antonio. It was built in the 1860s. I’m concerned that the house will survive the city’s redesign of the area. My wife is a short story writer and a couple of her stories are set in this house, where her grandmother lived in the 1950s and 60s. The stories have been anthologized several times, so — in my mind — the place is a minor literary landmark. Have you heard anything about the fate of that property, and would this be a story worth following up on?
You wrote: “I’m concerned that the house will survive the city’s redesign of the area”. Did you mean you’re concerned the house won’t survive? How is the restoration of the creek threatening the house? Is that the “redesign of the area” you’re concerned about, or is there another city (actually county is renovating the creek, not the city) plan that you’re referring to? The creek is over a block away. Who owns that house and what are their plans? Why would a house so old be demolished now? Entering the address in Google shows that the property has been for sale since March. Were you aware of that? Have you done any research?
Glad they changed the design of the amphitheater… A waste of space that is not adaptable. While the replacement rendering is still tacky, it’s an improvement.
its okay, glad they made more space for the homeless. Also the Alameda flop theater looks like more space for graffiti .. way to go sa.
I think SARA needs to go back to the graphic artist and ask for a new rendering.
I’m not sure the sun is ever that far North in San Antonio such that the trees and people would cast north/south shadows of that length. The purpose of the rendering should not be to create a picture-postcard idealized view, but assist in design and visualization. How much and when will the plaza be in shade or sun? Will the Alameda wall create a hot solar reflector in the morning, or will it create cool shade in the afternoon?
Will SARA pump in clean teal-blue swimming pool water? Or will the water retain its natural murky drab dark green?
Also, if you’re going to plant trees on a “performance plaza” maybe include all of them rather than crop out the one in the center foreground (where the grate is located). Or is that perhaps an indication that planting trees around a performance area might actually inhibit the purpose of viewing a performance?
With the removal of the bridge to the Navarro House, will pedestrians still have access to the home from both sides of the creek via stairs onto Nueva.
Lots of negative Nancies today… I like like the design. Also, the city has plenty of underutilized amphitheaters, so this performance plaza idea seems like a winner. Especially if it cost $7,000,000 dollars less. Some people are critical of the realism of the rendering. To that I say if you really want realism then everyone in the rendering should be staring at their cell phones.
Now that Ms. Garcia, who wrote about the project’s over-budget status last year, is no longer with your organization, is there anyone planning to do an update on the project’s budget status? Unfortunately, there seems to be very limited reporting on this matter. The fact that the project was $8 million over budget at the very beginning should be of concern for San Antonio taxpayers.