A street sign went up Monday afternoon on South Alamo Street downtown announcing a public hearing that could be held by City Council as soon as Oct. 18 at 9 a.m. in City Council chambers, regarding the streets proposed closure as part of the controversial master plan for Alamo Plaza.
The sign reads “This street is proposed to be closed” and is located just west of the Alamo Cenotaph. Like the planned street closures, the monument is the subject of one of the more contentious elements of the redevelopment plan.
The estimated $450 million redevelopment is more than four years in the making and aimed at bringing a sense of “reverence” to the World Heritage site. But it has and will face political and cultural hurdles along the way. Mayor Ron Nirenberg signaled last week that the City Council vote regarding the plan could take place after the November election, despite growing pressure from various stakeholders to avoid waiting.
The city manager and mayor typically decide what goes on the City Council’s agenda. The appearance of the sign could indicate that Nirenberg is warming up to a sooner-rather-than-later process.
By law, notification of the proposed street closure must go up 30 days before Council considers it, Councilman Roberto Treviño told the Rivard Report. Monday was the last day for notification before the Planning Commission meeting on Oct. 10. That meeting, which starts at 2 p.m., also is open to the public.
Despite the posting of the sign, Treviño noted that a hearing and subsequent vote on Oct. 18 is not guaranteed.
“Until we post the agenda for the 18th, there’s no guarantee that it’ll [go up for a] City Council vote [that day],” he said. “[But] I think what this signals is that the process is continuing and we look forward to more discussion. … It allows us to potentially get to a City Council vote soon.”
