It seems like everyone has a different definition of where downtown San Antonio starts and ends. Often, it’s more defined in the hearts of folks who wouldn’t stray too far off Broadway once you reach the north end of the city’s core. But a series of projects could rapidly change this perception, and a massive high-rise mixed-use development is making headway toward this cultural shift.
McCombs Enterprises snatched up nearly 6 acres along West Jones Avenue over three years ago, with a vision of high rises, bringing upscale housing and shops to a stretch of downtown with dwindling density north of the San Antonio Museum of Art.
“This area is poised for further smart growth in terms of urban walkability, and vibrant cultural amenities will be more fully realized over time in SAMA’s recent board-approved campus plan,” SAMA Kelso Director Emily Ballew Neff said before a city zoning commission earlier this year, pointing to the museum’s roughly 50-year investment in reinvigorating the old Lone Star Brewery site.
Ultimately, Neff supported the rezoning, noting that the museum worked with the McCombs developers on building heights and materials. However, other concerns arose, including pest control and potentially skyrocketing property taxes for residential properties just up the road.
Overall, the project is viewed favorably and promises a brighter future for an area on the rise. A well-known bar owner is in the early stages of transforming an abandoned property around the corner, and old craftsman homes along Quincy are being renovated, with restaurants, gyms and offices trickling in.
But this would be the biggest investment in the area by far since the museum’s opening. It could truly transform this corner of downtown into a destination in its own right, with early renderings showing luxurious storefronts along the San Antonio River. What was once an industrial island that drew a line between downtown and residential sprawl beyond the highway will soon become a connective membrane linking the booming River North region and the extreme success and draw of the Pearl.
“This project brings much-needed mixed-use development to a site that has sat underused for years. It’s also worth noting the economic upside, as the development is projected to generate around $250 million in sales tax revenue over the life of the Midtown TIRZ,” San Antonio District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur told MySA. “Given McCombs Enterprises’ track record as a local, San Antonio-based company with deep roots in this community, I have confidence that they will deliver a great project for our community.”
In the most recent site plans submitted, McCombs is planning for eight buildings, with a maximum height of 15 stories – a significant increase compared to most surrounding buildings. The plans include nearly 300,000 square feet of multifamily housing, more than 60,000 square feet of dining (including a roof deck), a 33,000-square-foot gym, 265,000 square feet of office space and another 60,000 square feet of retail space.