DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 2
SUBJECT:
Sublease Agreement and Amendment No. 5 to the Lease Agreement with the Witte Museum
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a Sublease Agreement with the San Antonio Museum Association d/b/a The Witte Museum (Witte) for a portion of property owned by the Witte for use as a central plant providing heating and cooling services to the Witte campus and approving Amendment No. 5 to the City's Master Lease Agreement.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Witte is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote lifelong learning through innovative exhibitions, programs and collections in natural history, science and South Texas heritage. The museum, which first opened in 1923, has an average of 350,000 visitors annually including approximately 150,000 school aged children.
The established Witte Master Plan includes expansion in three main phases: 1) South Texas Heritage Center and the Witte Research Center; 2) the new Witte; and 3) World of Water. Phase I is complete, and Phase II, the new Witte, is currently under construction and includes renovations and additions to the existing City-owned facility leased to the Witte through 2062, which serves as the main building with gallery space. To facilitate the vision of the Master Plan including renovations and upgrades to the main building, the Witte will consolidate its physical utilities plant on a portion of land privately-owned by the Witte Title Co. adjacent to the City's property. This will provide heating and cooling services to the main Witte campus including the South Texas Heritage Center. In order to maintain the City's interest in heating and cooling services to the publicly owned museum space, the Witte will sublease the central plant to the City to coincide with its City Master Lease Agreement.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes a Sublease Agre...
Click here for full text