What does downtown San Antonio need?

[RadiantBaby]

Originally Posted by twincam72

After comparing the skyline to other major cities, San Antonio really needs to modernize it's look. Most buildings there are very outdated in appearance. I have noticed a couple new high-rises being built, but overall it just looks very dated.
Looks great at night though as it hides it's oldschool brick looks.

The problem is twofold: An HDRC that cripples design and height on everything that's attempted to build taller than the dinky buildings already up and no one (or corporation) with the money to get the job done.

San Antonio doesn't attract gobs of wealth... Just small pockets. We keep going back to the same trough of corps and people for things because the span of money just isn't here. McCombs, Weston, HEB, USAA.

The downtown skyline won't progress because this city doesn't have the reason to.

[rynetwo]

^^^ Not a single corporation you mentioned has built a tower downtown. Valero choose 1604 and so did Tesoro before it was bought. I work in 600,000 sq ft building in Westover Hills spread across 1 floor.

Take a look at Dallas and Houston and larger cities across the country. They are all struggling with downtown office vacancies.

[malcorub16]

Dallas and Houston are nice to look at from afar, but what good is that if the downtown is struggling with office vacancies and mostly lifeless on nights and weekends.

Austin is the best example of a thriving downtown with tourism, jobs and residential. Their only problem is the homeless issue.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

^^^ Not a single corporation you mentioned has built a tower downtown. Valero choose 1604 and so did Tesoro before it was bought. I work in 600,000 sq ft building in Westover Hills spread across 1 floor.

Take a look at Dallas and Houston and larger cities across the country. They are all struggling with downtown office vacancies.

In a way, it does help us not to have too much empty real estate like the bigger cities are suffering from right now. What can look like "progress" can turn into the exact opposite. Look at San Francisco.