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 iden y 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/met...o.35e79a8.html
Good, ever since I've moved here my biggest complaint was how ty downtown always looks. It's 70's style architecture as well as it's homeless infested bus stops is an eye sore on an otherwise beautiful area.
Now if they'd just remodel the southside, eastside, and parts of the westside it could be like a real grown up city.
This is the original Joske's facade that will be restored.
Hotel rendering submitted to historic review and design commission. ty quality but that's how all historic review and design pdf's are.
will this redevelopment include putting out traps for the hoodrats?
If you could see what they have planned, you will not have to worry about any more "hoodrats."
These new owners are serious.
I'll get the renderings up soon.
Isn't the "new hotel" currently Rivercenter parking?
There's Joske's and then there's St. Joske's.
What in the are you talking about?
Yeah, that will be torn down. A new parking garage will be built at the northeast side on what is now surface parking.
New Rivercenter mall entrance:
Holy ! We're getting a Four Seasons!
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Man those little thugs and hoodrats patrolling the commerce street entrance to rivercenter ruin everything. I was down there a few months ago, and a bunch of older people were there in what I am guessing were Square Dancing clothes. The damn kids kept yelling at them, and making fun of them. If I weren't such a pussy I would have told them all to shut the up.
Downtown needs another Landry's Owned Resteraunt.
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My sister and I went shopping there yesterday, and one of the owners was really bummed because of the new guy who had purchased the mall. He said he was a big time real eastate developer and had raised their rent and no longer let them validate parking which was driving down business.
It kinda makes sense now, but sucks for those people.
That part of the city should be much nicer than it currently is. Hopefully they get this and the damn dome situation worked out.
less foliage, more sterility, not good.
I wonder if they will cut the trees down, or try to transplant them?
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What trees?
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I see Maggiano's, Fogo de Chao, and Bar Louie.
Pretty badass for downtown and Rivercenter Mall. I told you this owner is serious.
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