DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Lori Houston
COUNCIL DISTRICT IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT: Alamo Master Plan Update
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the Alamo Master Plan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On October 15, 2015, City Council executed a cooperative agreement among the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Alamo Endowment Board, and the City of San Antonio regarding the Joint Master Plan for the Alamo Plaza Historic District and Alamo Complex. The Agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of each party as well as the management and oversight structure for the master plan's development and adoption.
The Agreement created a six member Management Committee that includes two representatives from each entity. City Manager Sheryl Sculley and Councilmember Roberto Trevino represent the City of San Antonio. In March 2016 the Management Committee announced that Preservation Design Partnership (PDP) was selected to lead the Alamo master planning process. PDP in association with San Antonio-based Fisher Heck Architects and Grupo De Diseño Urbano (GDU) of Mexico City are the primary project leads and have compiled a team of experts to ensure the master plan is transformational and catalytic.
The Alamo Management Committee and PDP conducted extensive community outreach over the summer to ensure that the Alamo’s many stakeholders had ample opportunity to share ideas. Public meetings were held in August and November to accept public comment and provide updates on the planning process, the discovery phase of work, and the findings of the summer’s archaeological dig in Alamo Plaza. Additionally, public comment is accepted and shared on the planning effort’s website, Reimaginethealamo.org.
The draft master plan will be adopted by the City and GLO in summer 2017. The Texas Legislature approved $31.5 million for the restoration of the Alamo and redevelopment of the surrounding area. The City adopted Fiscal Year 2016 capital budget includes $17 million for the redevelopment of the Alamo Plaza and surrounding area. These funding commitments will allow for immediate implementation of certain components of the master plan.
Additionally, staff proposed $22 million in the 2017 bond program for construction of facilities in support of Alamo area improvements and street improvements identified in the Joint Master Plan. The GLO will ask the Texas Legislature for more funding, and the Alamo Endowment is committed to raising private funds for implementation. These funds will be used for the restoration of the Alamo and the construction of a museum and visitor center for the Alamo.
ISSUE:
The Alamo Master Plan will create a vision to preserve and to activate the Alamo Complex and surrounding areas in an appropriate and respectful manner. Staff and consultants will present key concepts for the Joint Master Plan. The team will continue to solicit feedback from the community and stakeholders and will return in early 2017 with additional ideas and concepts.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.