Downtown Residents Association

Developer jump-starts River Norte

Feb 25, 2009

Developer jump-starts River North

Web Posted: 10/04/2007 08:17 PM CDT

Creighton A. Welch
Express-News Business Writer
The master plans have yet to be approved for the River North development in downtown San Antonio, but there's already one project under way, scheduled to break ground in early 2008.
A mixed-use development currently is being designed on 1.35 acres of land at 103 W. 9th Street ?— the intersection at St. Mary's Street across from Providence High School. The plan is for a 126-room hotel, 24 condominium units and one restaurant, according to architect Andr?©s And?ºjar, head of the San Antonio office of Parsons 3D/I and the designer for this new project.

None of the establishments or plan details have been announced.

Tim Sanford, principal with Paradigm Group LLP, the developer for the project, said he's not ready to divulge plans for the development, but expects to be finished with them in December.

"I'm going to do something very pleasing for the city and downtown," Sanford said.

And?ºjar first proposed the redevelopment idea of River North more than two years ago.

"This is the gateway project for River North," he said in a phone interview. "I think it will be the first project to break ground in River North."

On June 25, the deed for that land was granted to Paradigm Hotel SA River Walk LLPfrom Alamo River Partners LTD, according to records filed with the Bexar County Clerk's Office. The land is valued at $892,140, according to Bexar County Appraisal District records.

And?ºjar said he did not want to speculate on the cost of the project since it is so early in the process.

The River North plan, which is being drafted and will be presented to the City Council in early 2008, proposes a shift northward of the St. Mary's and 9th Street intersection.

Were this to happen, another parcel of contiguous land could become available for the mixed-use project.

On Tuesday, the Zoning Commission approved changing the lot from industrial use to downtown use within the river improvement project's zoning designations. Now it will go before the City Council on Oct. 18.

The block is part of the RIO-2 zoning district, which hopes to increase density, neighborhood use and tourism in the area.

And?ºjar said the Historic Design and Review Commission also has approved the design.