Downtown Residents Association

River North wins New Urbanism award

Mar 27, 2009

Web Posted: 03/27/2009 12:00 CDT
River North wins New Urbanism award
By Jennifer Hiller - Express-News

The master plan for the River North area was chosen this week as one of the best urbanist projects in the world by the Congress for the New Urbanism.

The master plan, which has been in the works since 2007 and was adopted last week by the San Antonio City Council, seeks to transform a light-industrial area into a hip neighborhood that allows for a mix of residential, retail and office space.

The 377-acre area includes the blocks surrounding the northern reach of the San Antonio River, where construction work is wrapping up this spring on a new 1.5-mile River Walk segment.

River North and the 11 other projects chosen by CNU for its annual Charter Awards will be recognized in a June 13 ceremony in Denver.

The projects included everything from improving the blocks around a formerly abandoned streetcar storage facility in Toronto to plans for revamping suburban areas in the Bahamas and United Kingdom.

The project team for the River North Master Plan included Moule & Polyzoides Architects & Urbanists; Black + Vernooy; Michael G. Imber Architects; Lake/Flato Architects; Alamo Architects; Ford, Powell & Carson; Overland Partners; Economics Research Associates; Poole Design; Fong Hart Schneider; TND Engineering; Pape-Dawson Engineers; URS Corp.; and Reliable Graphics.

New Urbanism champions pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods that integrate multi- and single-family homes, schools and retail, as well as a transportation mix that includes toll roads, cars, light rail, buses and bikes.

Ben Brewer III, president of the Downtown Alliance, said the idea for improving the River North area was inspired by the river-level improvements.

??œIt needs to be its own place,??? said Brewer, noting that planners initially had commented that there was no ??œthere' there??? in the downtrodden neighborhood. ??œThis plan proposes to put the ??˜there' there. The plan is very accommodating for the existing owners. There is so much potential.???

Following the council's approval, the next step is rezoning, a process that likely will take place in October.

The new form-based zoning will focus more on the look of the property ??” not its use as commercial, residential or industrial property.

Although River North is now a largely industrial area characterized by wide streets without trees or inviting sidewalks, there are several significant buildings in the area, including Municipal Auditorium and San Antonio Museum of Art.

??œThings are falling into line,??? said Boone Powell, director of the architectural division at Ford, Powell & Carson, one of several local firms that had a hand in the master plan. ??œThere's a downturn in the economy that may affect the timing, but that doesn't affect the plan. It really looks like something special for the future.???