Hotel tower planned for old Joske's building downtown

[albert soliz]

Originally Posted by Merovee

There are no skyscrapers in Panama Viejo or Casco Viejo.

Not only is the Alamo under nomination for being designated a UNESCO World Heritage site which would immediately call for respecting the surrounding area, it is already part of a local historic district which includes the whole of the area that the failed hotel proposal was intent to encroaching on, and that site is likely to be included in a state historic district soon.

Any new development will have to keep their proportional impact in mind.

City staff to oppose Joske's tower

There is no apparent need for another hotel Downtown and even if there was this would not be the most ideal site.

Room at Alamo Plaza for this inn?

There does not even seem to be room to welcome smaller scaled projects much less this one. (Click on link below for full details).

Sanctity of Alamo Plaza deserves respect

Certainly those whose misguided approach toward progress includes building on Alamo Plaza can be redirected to areas outside the historical district. Downtown has plenty of space to work with beyond these few square blocks that long time locals consider special and important.

There also seems to be a lack of any convincing arguments on why we should further consider the failed proposal as it was presented or why we should ultimately ignore our history.

The few offered on page 13 of this thread, emboldened for your convenience, hardly seem convincing.

Spoiler

Seems like alot've folks don't have the slightest idea what HALLOWED GROUND stands for.

[samvp]

Originally Posted by albert soliz

Seems like alot've folks don't have the slightest idea what HALLOWED GROUND stands for.

Seems like a lot of folks think the roof of an empty building is HALLOWED GROUND.

[GloriaUpson]

Yawn

Are we still talking about this? Don't we have bigger issues to discuss.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by samvp

seems like a lot of folks think the roof of an empty building is hallowed ground.

+1

[icebrg]

There are a lot of factors related to this site that made the original tower proposal above the Joske Building an non-starter. Primarily, the tower would have gutted the oldest part of the Joske Building which dates back to 1887 making it nothing more than a facade not unlike the Texas Theater. The original scheme by SA Partnership Architects was a behemoth that did not fit within the context of the existing building or surroundings. The Overland Partners version improved the architecture, but did not solve the problem that the building is not located on the right site. Previous proposals for this hotel had it sighted on the vacant lot next to Macy's or on the site of the Commerce Street Garage which allowed for a lobby with Riverwalk access under Commerce Street. Both sites owned by Ashkenazy.

In my opinion the best option is to use the Joske Building upper floors for residential with street level retail and restoring the original 1887 facade that exists behind the current facade. I would also place the hotel tower on Bowie and Crockett where a tall tower will likely be less of an issue than if it is located right on Alamo Plaza. Attached is a diagram of this scenario.

[Gino Flores]

Just like major citys there tends to be a lack of parking WHO NEEDS PARKING !! The Alamo community are capable People. Just as well as people walking the streets of New York, riding bikes, taking a horse ride in mid San Antonio or even a trolley, lets not forget public transportation. building and or interducing new innovative ways to making san antonio a more beautiful growing city is going to have it challenges again what city hasn't had challenges and/or criticism just as much as anything else. lets move passed that and really look at the big picture... adding beautiful structures and new ideas with in a diverse city of San Antonio. CHANGE BRINGS New Businesses and also New Jobs.. The No Parking shouldnt be a deal breaker. And if at all possible may i put a request in , a park besides hemisphere park . Near downtown area... of course. ..

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by Gino Flores

Just like major citys there tends to be a lack of parking WHO NEEDS PARKING !! The Alamo community are capable People. Just as well as people walking the streets of New York, riding bikes, taking a horse ride in mid San Antonio or even a trolley, lets not forget public transportation. building and or interducing new innovative ways to making san antonio a more beautiful growing city is going to have it challenges again what city hasn't had challenges and/or criticism just as much as anything else. lets move passed that and really look at the big picture... adding beautiful structures and new ideas with in a diverse city of San Antonio. CHANGE BRINGS New Businesses and also New Jobs.. The No Parking shouldnt be a deal breaker. And if at all possible may i put a request in , a park besides hemisphere park . Near downtown area... of course. ..

It was not.

It was that the building was going to cast a very small shadow on Alamo Plaza.