La Cantera, "Shoppertainment" Capital of Texas? (San Antonio, Center: construction loan, construction)

[traficdogn]

Originally Posted by tgannaway89

It is outrageous for them to make environmental accusations when they themselves plan to do the same thing.

Not outrageous, just politics.

[CelesteDF]

Wednesday SA E-N features an editorial supporting Camp Bullis on this issue. It notes that of the 28,000 acres of land on Camp Bullis, only 132 are developed or plan to be developed. That's .4%. The rest of the land that is not designated as warbler habitat is used for training. The real problem is that encroaching development is pushing more and more endangered birds onto training areas, which are then declared off limits. So regardless of whether the Army chooses to develop a couple more acres of land for buildings, etc., the real problem is large chunks (hundreds or thousands of acres) being made unusable because of EPA/FWS habitat protection regulations.

I agree with Bowie on this one. Virginia Beach thought they were safe, and they weren't. San Juan, Puerto Rico thought their base was safe, but their "guaranteed safe" command HQ was moved to - guess where - San Antonio. I don't think that playing fast and loose with the largest economic generator in this region's economy is such a wise move. An extra shopping mall or a few extra houses are certainly not worth that gamble.

MySA.com: Editorials (http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/Mysa.062508.OPED.CampBullisEd1_.36554b5e.html - broken link)
Editorial: Area officials must defend Camp Bullis
Express-News

Rarely do the interests of the U.S. military, environmentalists and chambers of commerce coincide. In San Antonio they do. More specifically, at Camp Bullis they do.

The military uses the 27,994-acre camp for live-fire exercises. But the real value of Camp Bullis to the Pentagon is that it provides an ideal location for all four military branches to train combat medic teams.

Environmentalists prize the military reservation because it sits directly atop the Edwards Aquifer. For training purposes, the military leaves the habitat mostly untouched. Development is restricted to only 132 acres. Roads are minimal.

That huge tract of undeveloped land protects the aquifer. It also serves as a crucial habitat for an endangered species each spring and summer — the golden-cheeked warbler.

The chambers of commerce value Camp Bullis because it’s an important cog in the economic engine that will make San Antonio the headquarters of American military medicine. If that engine runs smoothly, it could add as many as 12,000 jobs and $2 billion in construction to the local economy in coming years.

All that is in jeopardy, however, because of development encroaching on Camp Bullis. The same dense development that compromises the sole source of San Antonio’s drinking water may also destroy habitat for the golden-cheeked warbler, driving it onto Camp Bullis.

That could compel the Fish and Wildlife Service to deem more acreage at the camp as critical habitat for the bird and, therefore, off-limits to the military. Additionally, light pollution will diminish the effectiveness of night training at Camp Bullis.

The Army is responsibly managing its habitat, protecting both the aquifer and the golden-cheeked warbler. Developers around Camp Bullis should be held to the same standard.

That, in essence, is what the group Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas is seeking in a lawsuit against INTCO-Dominion Partnership. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez granted a temporary restraining order that halted development on a tract adjacent to Camp Bullis. At a hearing today, Rodriguez will rule on the group’s request for a permanent injunction.

The bulldozers and lawsuits should serve as warning flags for city leaders. City Council must thoroughly address issues that weigh on the mission at Camp Bullis, and state officials and lawmakers should do the same. The longer the officials delay, the more costly the results will be — in the form of more lawsuits, lost habitat, compensation paid to developers and, worst of all, the declining utility of Camp Bullis.

Camp Bullis is simply too important to the military, the environment and the local economy. It’s time to defend Camp Bullis against the threat of suburban sprawl.

[Bo]

I was at a meeting tonight where the head of PR for Fort Sam, Phil Riedinger, made a presentation about where things stand on Camp Bullis. He said there will be another article (or maybe a column?) about the issue in tomorrow's Express-News.

From what he said, the Army has gotten things stopped for now from a legal standpoint, and they've gotten legislators at the city, county, state and Federal convinced of the need to act.

I've got notes from the meeting and I'll try to post some more details tomorrow.

People here and elsewhere have made the point that the Army will be handcuffed to San Antonio once they make the $2 Billion investment in Fort Sam. The PR guy said nothing could be further from the truth, because $2 Billion is a drop in the bucket compared to the entire DOD budget. He said that if development spoils the Army's ability to perform its mission at Camp Bullis that they won't hesitate to walk away from that investment and move elsewhere. He rattled off a list of cities like El Paso that would love to have more military presence and he said that the city powers there have already gone on the record offering to make available just about anything that the Army needs.

[tgannaway89]

Originally Posted by Bowie

I was at a meeting tonight where the head of PR for Fort Sam, Phil Riedinger, made a presentation about where things stand on Camp Bullis. He said there will be another article (or maybe a column?) about the issue in tomorrow's Express-News.

From what he said, the Army has gotten things stopped for now from a legal standpoint, and they've gotten legislators at the city, county, state and Federal convinced of the need to act.

I've got notes from the meeting and I'll try to post some more details tomorrow.

People here and elsewhere have made the point that the Army will be handcuffed to San Antonio once they make the $2 Billion investment in Fort Sam. The PR guy said nothing could be further from the truth, because $2 Billion is a drop in the bucket compared to the entire DOD budget. He said that if development spoils the Army's ability to perform its mission at Camp Bullis that they won't hesitate to walk away from that investment and move elsewhere. He rattled off a list of cities like El Paso that would love to have more military presence and he said that the city powers there have already gone on the record offering to make available just about anything that the Army needs.

I think it is simply unrealistic for them to even contemplate keeping Camp Bullis at its current location. Anyone can predict that growth in 50-years will completely engulf the borders. It is located directly between I-10 and 281, two of the fastest growth corridors in the nation. My recommendation would be selling off small parcels of land around the southern edge. They could get millions for that land, which is located in hill country directly between La Cantera (I-10) and Stone Oak (281). That money could be used to purchase a "new" Camp Bullis somewhere further outside the city in a slower growing region. Camp Bullis is about 15 miles from downtown. That was far and uninhabited in the early 1900s, but today is mostly inside the city. They could continue to operate "old" Camp Bullis for smaller less-restricted operations.

Stopping this small low-density estate housing project is useless due to all the growth which has already occurred. There are numerous huge shopping centers, several mega-housing developments, dense office developments, etc. immediately surrounding the base. How will Camp Bullis operate sensitive missions when Loop 46 begins construction?

[tgannaway89]

Here are some pictures that show how much of Camp Bullis has already been developed:












There is also a quarry in operation beside Camp Bullis. It is way too late for the Army to complain about development. This area has born some of the hottest properties in the state. The city and Army should have worked together a few decades ago to prevent pretuding growth at Camp Bullis.

[mikey1984]

All this retail during a recession?

[tgannaway89]

Originally Posted by mikey1984

All this retail during a recession?

That recession hasn't really hit Texas yet.

[tgannaway89]

2 new hotels to be built at I-10/1604 intersection:

RECON

They are being built in the NE quadrant, but I don't believe they are part of The Rim. At 120 and 140 rooms we are looking at about 5-6 floors.

This area is exploding with growth.

[mynameis]

Those are part of the Rim, they'll be built on the cleared land just south of main entrance.

[tgannaway89]

www.mysanantonio.com >> Local - Marriott duo just one of several hotel projects (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/marriott_duo_just_one_of_several_hotel_projects.ht ml - broken link)


These two hotels will both stand at 6-floors and share a pool. There is also a site-plan for the hotels posted on the link.