The 2011 Framework and Master Plan proposed by HPARC began with input from stakeholders and the general public. The desired values and characteristics expressed during the initial engagement process fall into five general categories in the Master Plan:[1]
- Parks and Open Space
- Emphasis on a regional park, neighborhood park, public events, amphitheater, Arts/Sculpture garden, community garden, water element, playing fields, jogging trails, children’s play area;
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Institutions, ITC/UNAM/Instituto de Mexico, live music, local arts programs, folk art market, contemporary arts;
- History
- City of San Antonio Museum, Historic Homes, Goliad trail, historic street grid, acequia systems, public art, memory
- Education
- School, library, media center, recreation center, community services, learning opportunities
- A 24/7 Living Place
- Residential, neighborhood shops, restaurants, workplaces, civic and cultural, local business, public transit;
The Master Plan is based on seven principles:
- Leadership
- Redevelopment of Hemisfair to act as a model for the revitalization of downtown San Antonio and transition into a vital, mixed-use urban core;
- Preservation
- Protect historical buildings by integrating existing historical structures and new development;
- Public Space
- Preserve existing green and public space while enhancing further public urban space;
- Mixed Use
- Mixed-income housing, commercial, institutional and civic uses to enhance Hemisfair as a major downtown corridor and meet demands of local residents;
- Connectivity
- Address multimodal transportation that includes pedestrian, bicycle, wheel-chair access, vehicular travel, and parking while ensuring supportive land uses throughout the park;
- Balance
- A balance in the plan between green space and development
- Sustainability
- Consider environmental, social and economic impacts for better quality of life. Focus on elements of water, connection, energy, climate, best practices (considering adopting LEED standards), coordination in integration of entire Hemisfair system
The plan emphasizes preserving the history of Hemisfair, as the current park is disconnected from the rest of the Downtown area. The site remains fragmented and disjointed by Alamo, Commerce, and Market streets, as well as the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. This has resulted in an uncoordinated mix of buildings, some of which are in use and some of which are abandoned. Therefore, our redevelopment plan of Hemisfair Park considers restoring some of the historical structures to also reconnect the surrounding neighborhoods.
Land use for HemisFair Park will be divided into different uses as well. One focuses on open space, plazas, and courtyards that will act as event spaces. Another focuses on civic uses consisting of museums, educational institutions, performing arts centers, visual arts studios, galleries, and workshops. These can be combined with commercial uses as well as residential uses to help financially support the variety of public activities that will take place in the area. Commercial use is another focus that includes retail, services, and restaurants or cafes; use of these services will be enhanced by the combination of civic and residential uses in the park. Finally, the park will have residential development around historic structures, which will encourage further activity on site. The range of proposed unit types includes condominiums, rental apartments, and townhouses.
Using collected market data, the 2011 Master Plan recommends the creation of a mixed-use development program with a residential neighborhood, proposing over 1000 new residential units with retail amenities and offices. Estimates of the capital investment needed to support the redevelopment plan range from $100 million to $150 million. The next stages of the Master Plan include acquiring long and short term capital funding from federal, state, county and philanthropic sources to move forward with development. Negotiation with the City of San Antonio in acquiring land parcels in some of the development plans will also be a part of this process.
Continue to Sustainability Issues
Footnotes
[1] Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (2012) Hemisfair: Transforming San Antonio Framework and Master Plan, San Antonio: HPARC.