Hotel tower planned for old Joske's building downtown (San Antonio, Austin: moving, residential)

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by BoerneMan

The developer presented renderings from just about every possible angle with accurate height of the building in relation to other buildings downtown and it is in color. They even provided the HDRC with a chart showing how its height compares to other tall structures downtown and how far each is away from the Alamo. Please don't make assumptions based on the poor reporting of the Express News. There is no smoke and mirrors here. The facts have been presented very clearly and the presentation went well beyond what is typically required (obviously due to the location in question).

This design is not final, but the architects hired to fix the "look" should be commended for coming up with this and providing so much detail in less than two weeks. More time will allow them to perfect the plans.

BoerneMan is right. The other renderings (which are in color) show the views from several locations in and out of Alamo Plaza including a couple that show what it will look like from new NW corner of HemisFair Park after they make the planned changes there. There's also one that shows it in the skyline.

Here are the materials submitted to the HDRC:
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/D...s_Addition.pdf

[&heart]

Originally Posted by samvp

The height is fine. More than fine.

As for the previous design, the glass wasn't the issue, I wish more buildings downtown had more glass. I hope future buildings are designed with glass as a central focal point. I really want to see some all glass structures built. When the sky's are blue, the reflection off highrises made of glass is very pleasing to the eye.

But the problem with the previous design was the stumpy/squaty look and the siding that tried to match with the original Joske's facade. It was too busy and all over the place and didn't connect with the Joske building as this one does.

Couldn't agree more. I'd love to see more glass downtown but the original rendering just didn't fit. It looked like someone sketched it out in a hurry. One thing San Antonio does so well is blend the modern with the past and the original rendering did the exact opposite. This new rendering looks really good and complements the building it sits on top.

[Austinite101]

I believe this will displace the Frost Bank Tower to become SA's 10th tallest, am I correct?

[Merovee]

Their site plan diagram shows how the hotel tower will fall outside the line of sight if standing in front of the Alamo, right in front of the doors. One should not only enjoy Alamo Plaza from that specific vantage only but also when just generally passing through.

The color photos truly make it appear larger and overwhelming.

As far as accusations over poor reporting from the E-N, that claim is constantly made on this site, but I am far from convinced.

Doubtful the E-N took it upon themselves to print that exact photo and remove the color. Most likely they contacted the developer and that is what they offered.

The vast majority of citizens will see that illustration published in the E-N and not these others. The one published is smoke and mirrors and will minimize any public outcry. They most likely know exactly what they are doing and if there is enough public opposition that it could nix their plans.

Awaiting their next revision but am not expecting perfection.

[Quattro72]

Not big surprise that this is shot down. Way to keep the city from going to the 21st century, San Antonio! Keep up the good work and stay behind. Maybe if the design was something more like what the Pearl has done, maybe it would pass. I think the Pearl has done an awesome job integrating the old and the new.

HDRC denies hotel plans for Joske’s | The Downtown Blog | a mySA.com blog

[samvp]

Originally Posted by Quattro72

Not big surprise that this is shot down. Way to keep the city from going to the 21st century, San Antonio! Keep up the good work and stay behind. Maybe if the design was something more like what the Pearl has done, maybe it would pass. I think the Pearl has done an awesome job integrating the old and the new.

HDRC denies hotel plans for Joske’s | The Downtown Blog | a mySA.com blog

6 people now = San Antonio?

Good to see the only time you post in this thread is to showcase your cynical negative attitude. This would be the second time. How lucky are we?

[smuboy86]

I think it's time that the HDRC is dismantled. They willfully show contempt for the advancement of our city, and popular opinion. We aren't Paris and we don't have a La Défense.

[sakssa]

Bunch of backward thinking fools!

[Merovee]

Progress for Downtown would include residential housing and not a hotel.

There is also no proof a hotel would be successful and potentially leaving us with a monstrosity to manage at the expense of taxpayers.

The most ironic statement was from one of the designers with Overland who claimed that their design would have become a much loved historic building in the future.

Madison Smith, a founding principal with Overland, said the firm quickly crafted a project “that one day will be a historic building that we will have come to love.”

Despite changes, tower atop Joske's denied

If their idea of history is something "quickly crafted" within a couple of weeks, well then, that speaks for itself.

The owner of the Joske's building, Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. of New York, is on a short timeline, Beucler said. “They are signing leases, and they've got to begin construction,” he said. “They cannot let the retail fail because we cannot make a decision.”

City staff to oppose Joske's tower

The developer's concerns clearly do not represent progress or a conscientious approach to the historical sensitivity of this specific area facing the Plaza but instead is rooted in the profit motive.

They are not residents and a quick study of history will reveal at one time even our waterworks was owned by interests far away, in Belgium, leading to a very frustrating period. The point here being that they do not hold the best interests for our city. Alamo Plaza is near and dear to us as much as our water supply.

They should relocate, perhaps to HemisFair Park depending on the results of recent legislation being promoted.

Twenty percent of the park's improvements, or 400,000 square feet, could now be used for a hotel under Van de Putte's legislation.

HemisFair Park redevelopment heads to Senate

In either case their Franken-design is not welcomed here if it is going to be put there. Hopefully they end their attempt at hijacking our history and holding hostage the corner of E. Commerce and Alamo streets.

[samvp]

Originally Posted by Merovee

Progress for Downtown would include residential housing and not a hotel.

There is also no proof a hotel would be successful and potentially leaving us with a monstrosity to manage at the expense of taxpayers.

The most ironic statement was from one of the designers with Overland who claimed that their design would have become a much loved historic building in the future.

Despite changes, tower atop Joske's denied

If their idea of history is something "quickly crafted" within a couple of weeks, well then, that speaks for itself.

City staff to oppose Joske's tower

The developer's concerns clearly do not represent progress or a conscientious approach to the historical sensitivity of this specific area facing the Plaza but instead is rooted in the profit motive.

They are not residents and a quick study of history will reveal at one time even our waterworks was owned by interests far away, in Belgium, leading to a very frustrating period. The point here being that they do not hold the best interests for our city. Alamo Plaza is near and dear to us as much as our water supply.

They should relocate, perhaps to HemisFair Park depending on the results of recent legislation being promoted.

HemisFair Park redevelopment heads to Senate

In either case their Franken-design is not welcomed here if it is going to be put there. Hopefully they end their attempt at hijacking our history and holding hostage the corner of E. Commerce and Alamo streets.

Why would the hotel be a burden on take payers? It's a privately funded development. But it's good that you only look at the worst case scenario.