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San Antonio reminds me of Orlando in a lot of ways.
Both cities are way under where they should be, for their population and city/metro size.
I think Orlando might build faster than San Antonio, but these are both cities to watch in the skyscraper area, and have a lot of room for height and density. Will be awesome to see both grow.
Orlando should have a good 10 more skyscrapers downtown between 300-500 feet, whereas San Antonio should have another 15-20 or so, to really match its city size with its downtown.
San Antonio is so lacking for such a major city. Austin on the other hand has or will have such a dynamic skyline in a few years.
I think SA is lacking a bit for sure. But it is over exaggerated. The street level density downtown and beautiful architecture make up for the absence of height or amount of tall skyscrapers. SA also has a very recognizable skyline.
Coming from Austin to SA, I enjoy taking photos and filming in SA much more than I do in Austin. There is just so much more architecturally interesting buildings than in many other cities. Here are a couple of examples:
I think SA is lacking a bit for sure. But it is over exaggerated. The street level density downtown and beautiful architecture make up for the absence of height or amount of tall skyscrapers. SA also has a very recognizable skyline.
Coming from Austin to SA, I enjoy taking photos and filming in SA much more than I do in Austin. There is just so much more architecturally interesting buildings than in many other cities. Here are a couple of examples:
There is some nice downtown density in San Antonio, in the roughly 10-20 story level, based on that video. I do recall that now that I'm thinking about it from my visits years ago.
They still should build up and add some more skyscrapers. Definitely needed, but a nice city urban landscape downtown. I especially love the river walk.
I definitely don't see a ton of skyscrapers in SA's future.
At least not in downtown.
It would disrupt the charm.
That is another thing about downtown SA. The Historic and Design Review Commission shoots down or modifies/downsizes most developments downtown. Although its goal is to preserve the history in downtown SA, it is also a hinderance to development and deters a lot of developers from building downtown in the first place.
It'll be exciting to see what both of the Nashville and Austin skylines will look like within a decade.
Nashville and Austin are building more skyscrapers at a much faster pace than San Antonio no doubt. San Antonio does have several 200 to 400 ft residential towers under construction downtown with several more approved for construction. Asforementioned in other posts S.A. has more highrises citywide than Austin or Nashville by quite a bit. S.A. has more than 40 residential towers over 10 floors which is comprable to Austin if not more overall. Austin does have taller ones though. Nashville and Austin have a limited amount of highrises outside the urban core. S.A. would have one huge skyline if it developed like Austin and Nashville.
Nashville and Austin are building more skyscrapers at a much faster pace than San Antonio no doubt. San Antonio does have several 200 to 400 ft residential towers under construction downtown with several more approved for construction. Asforementioned in other posts S.A. has more highrises citywide than Austin or Nashville by quite a bit. S.A. has more than 40 residential towers over 10 floors which is comprable to Austin if not more overall. Austin does have taller ones though. Nashville and Austin have a limited amount of highrises outside the urban core. S.A. would have one huge skyline if it developed like Austin and Nashville.
While there are many good reasons for preferring San Antonio to Austin- much better historic neighborhoods - the Pearl is one of the most spectacular New Urbanist redevelopments in the country- there is not an art museum in Austin of the caliber of the McNay, the Spurs etc, skyline is not one of them.
Here are the numbers for city limits, not just downtowns: San Antonio has 31 buildings over 200 feet standing today, Austin has 67. San Antonio has 2 buildings over 200 feet under construction, Austin has 30.
Austin already has double the number of skyscrapers as San Antonio. In the next few years, that will become TRIPLE the number.
While there are many good reasons for preferring San Antonio to Austin- much better historic neighborhoods - the Pearl is one of the most spectacular New Urbanist redevelopments in the country- there is not an art museum in Austin of the caliber of the McNay, the Spurs etc, skyline is not one of them.
Here are the numbers for city limits, not just downtowns: San Antonio has 31 buildings over 200 feet standing today, Austin has 67. San Antonio has 2 buildings over 200 feet under construction, Austin has 30.
Austin already has double the number of skyscrapers as San Antonio. In the next few years, that will become TRIPLE the number.
According to emporis San Antonio has more high rises citywide about 200 in the 10 floor range and above to about 150 for Austin. Austin has more taller buildings but it doesnt have more high rise building stock if the smaller high rises are included. If you lower it to 5 floors S.A. has way more buildings than Austin.
San Antonio has several business corridors where Austin is basically just downtown and the up and coming Domain area which is building high rises. S.A. also has Domain type developments like the Rim and La Cantera and planned Essex Modern City, Broadway East, East End, and Lone Star. Hopefully these planned developments get built.
San Antonio also has the Medical Center(30k employees), Loop 410 corridor, 281 corridor, Interstate 10 corridor, full of buildings mid to high rise in size.
The military alone in S.A. has close to 40 million square feet of office space thats more office space than many major city CBD's.
Im just saying that San Antonio has more glass, steel and stone overall just not in the form of skyscrapers.
Austin is a city that focuses more on its image compared to San Antonio at least for skyscraper development. Austin is trying to compete with bigger cities despite having far less industry and in competition with the skylines of Dallas and Houston and plans to build the tallest in Texas
Austin is just built differently than S.A. and all the new towers make it seem like the bigger more dominant city, maybe for the tech industry but not overall, S.A. has more industry.
Washington D.C. is bigger than S.A. and Austin but just looking at it from a distance one wouldnt think that.
Last edited by SweethomeSanAntonio; 08-23-2022 at 08:33 AM..
According to emporis San Antonio has more high rises citywide about 200 in the 10 floor range and above to about 150 for Austin. Austin has more taller buildings but it doesnt have more high rise building stock if the smaller high rises are included. If you lower it to 5 floors S.A. has way more buildings than Austin.
San Antonio has several business corridors where Austin is basically just downtown and the up and coming Domain area which is building high rises. S.A. also has Domain type developments like the Rim and La Cantera and planned Essex Modern City, Broadway East, East End, and Lone Star. Hopefully these planned developments get built.
San Antonio also has the Medical Center(30k employees), Loop 410 corridor, 281 corridor, Interstate 10 corridor, full of buildings mid to high rise in size.
The military alone in S.A. has close to 40 million square feet of office space thats more office space than many major city CBD's.
Im just saying that San Antonio has more glass, steel and stone overall just not in the form of skyscrapers.
Austin is a city that focuses more on its image compared to San Antonio at least for skyscraper development. Austin is trying to compete with bigger cities despite having far less industry and in competition with the skylines of Dallas and Houston and plans to build the tallest in Texas
Austin is just built differently than S.A. and all the new towers make it seem like the bigger more dominant city, maybe for the tech industry but not overall, S.A. has more industry.
Washington D.C. is bigger than S.A. and Austin but just looking at it from a distance one wouldnt think that.
I disagree. D.C. looks and feels huge up close and from a distance.
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