Buddy Holly
10-04-2006, 09:28 AM
Redevelopment plans afoot for downtown mall
Web Posted: 10/04/2006 01:13 AM CDT
Amy Dorsett
Express-News Staff Writer
Hoping to convert Rivercenter mall into a luxurious destination for shoppers, diners and visitors, its owners today will unveil an aggressive redevelopment plan that would bring an old-fashioned look to the downtown landmark popular with vacationers and convention delegates.
One of the most dramatic changes would restore grandeur to one of the oldest parts of the mall's facade along Commerce Street, bringing back the windows and brick familiar to past generations of shoppers of Joske's of Texas.
The original facade was built in 1909 and has been concealed by an art deco veneer of concrete and fiberglass for decades.
New York City-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., which purchased the mall in spring 2005, has made application with the city to get conceptual approval for the three-phase plan, which includes the addition of five-star restaurants and a high-end hotel.
Under a plan being unveiled today, a sight not seen in San Antonio for generations will reappear — the original facade of the Commerce Street side of the old Joske's of Texas building. It was hidden years ago by this layer of concrete and fiberglass.
City staff is recommending the high-profile project be sent for review to the commission's Architectural Committee, which would make recommendations to the full commission at a later date.
Frank Valadez, managing partner of SA Partnership Architects, which is working on the project, said he's excited about the old Joske's facade being restored on Commerce Street.
That storied department store closed about 20 years ago. A Dillard's store occupies the first two floors of the old Joske's, and the top two floors — about 200,000 square feet of retail space — remain vacant.
Valadez, a native of San Antonio who has fond memories of shopping at Joske's, said the modern facade will give way to the old storefront.
"We're going to restore the original Joske's facade," he said. "The brick and windows and doorways are on there, intact — they've been mothballed by fiberglass."
Valadez said the project would evolve over years in three phases, with the first step being complete next fall.
Phase 1 would see the addition of five-star restaurants, including more outdoor seating.
Phase 2 focuses on the redevelopment of the Joske's space, including finding tenants for the two upper floors.
Phase 3 calls for a hotel where the Commerce Street garage is now; the garage would be relocated to the northeast corner of the property.
While the deal hasn't been finalized, Valadez said the hotel would be a five-star property, such as a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton. The mall is within walking distance of the Convention Center and Alamodome and already includes the city's largest hotel, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter.
"There's a lot of interest," Valadez said of the hotel property.
Barry Lustig, senior vice president of real estate for Ashkenazy Acquisition, wouldn't reveal how much money his company plans on investing in Rivercenter, but did say the project was a high priority.
"We firmly believe in San Antonio. We believe in San Antonio's future," he said. "It could rival some of the best cities around the nation."
Though the city's shopping identity is firmly rooted in North Star Mall, and more recently in the upscale Shops at La Cantera, Valadez said Ashkenazy leaders think San Antonio needs more.
Lustig "feels San Antonio is one of the greatest cities and doesn't have the shopping that the city deserves," Valadez said.
Lustig said Ashkenazy is in negotiation with several companies to open in Rivercenter.
"San Antonio is one of those markets that is truly one of a kind. Downtown will prosper beyond people's beliefs very soon," he said.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/D_IMAGE.10e0dc96062.93.88.fa.d0.463d7dd.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA100406.01A.rivercenter.redo.35e79a8.html
Web Posted: 10/04/2006 01:13 AM CDT
Amy Dorsett
Express-News Staff Writer
Hoping to convert Rivercenter mall into a luxurious destination for shoppers, diners and visitors, its owners today will unveil an aggressive redevelopment plan that would bring an old-fashioned look to the downtown landmark popular with vacationers and convention delegates.
One of the most dramatic changes would restore grandeur to one of the oldest parts of the mall's facade along Commerce Street, bringing back the windows and brick familiar to past generations of shoppers of Joske's of Texas.
The original facade was built in 1909 and has been concealed by an art deco veneer of concrete and fiberglass for decades.
New York City-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., which purchased the mall in spring 2005, has made application with the city to get conceptual approval for the three-phase plan, which includes the addition of five-star restaurants and a high-end hotel.
Under a plan being unveiled today, a sight not seen in San Antonio for generations will reappear — the original facade of the Commerce Street side of the old Joske's of Texas building. It was hidden years ago by this layer of concrete and fiberglass.
City staff is recommending the high-profile project be sent for review to the commission's Architectural Committee, which would make recommendations to the full commission at a later date.
Frank Valadez, managing partner of SA Partnership Architects, which is working on the project, said he's excited about the old Joske's facade being restored on Commerce Street.
That storied department store closed about 20 years ago. A Dillard's store occupies the first two floors of the old Joske's, and the top two floors — about 200,000 square feet of retail space — remain vacant.
Valadez, a native of San Antonio who has fond memories of shopping at Joske's, said the modern facade will give way to the old storefront.
"We're going to restore the original Joske's facade," he said. "The brick and windows and doorways are on there, intact — they've been mothballed by fiberglass."
Valadez said the project would evolve over years in three phases, with the first step being complete next fall.
Phase 1 would see the addition of five-star restaurants, including more outdoor seating.
Phase 2 focuses on the redevelopment of the Joske's space, including finding tenants for the two upper floors.
Phase 3 calls for a hotel where the Commerce Street garage is now; the garage would be relocated to the northeast corner of the property.
While the deal hasn't been finalized, Valadez said the hotel would be a five-star property, such as a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton. The mall is within walking distance of the Convention Center and Alamodome and already includes the city's largest hotel, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter.
"There's a lot of interest," Valadez said of the hotel property.
Barry Lustig, senior vice president of real estate for Ashkenazy Acquisition, wouldn't reveal how much money his company plans on investing in Rivercenter, but did say the project was a high priority.
"We firmly believe in San Antonio. We believe in San Antonio's future," he said. "It could rival some of the best cities around the nation."
Though the city's shopping identity is firmly rooted in North Star Mall, and more recently in the upscale Shops at La Cantera, Valadez said Ashkenazy leaders think San Antonio needs more.
Lustig "feels San Antonio is one of the greatest cities and doesn't have the shopping that the city deserves," Valadez said.
Lustig said Ashkenazy is in negotiation with several companies to open in Rivercenter.
"San Antonio is one of those markets that is truly one of a kind. Downtown will prosper beyond people's beliefs very soon," he said.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/D_IMAGE.10e0dc96062.93.88.fa.d0.463d7dd.jpg
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA100406.01A.rivercenter.redo.35e79a8.html