Some city leaders believe downtown needs a revamp. “Project Marvel” which includes improvements to the Alamodome and a potential new Spurs arena is in talks.
SAN ANTONIO — Thursday morning plans and renderings were unveiled for downtown expansion under the codename: “Project Marvel.” Most city leaders were in support but some were hesitant on this potential multi-billion dollar project.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says this project is a cohesive concept that will require a lot of teamwork between the city, county and Spurs.
“We’re no longer looking at downtown which has many different things happening as a collection of individual projects, this is one cohesive vision to bring together a sports and entertainment district,” Nirenberg said.
The multi-faceted project which includes “anchor” projects like modernizing the Alamodome and a potential new Spurs arena as a 15-year timeline. One of the upgrades includes the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Assistant city manager Lori Houston says the convention center has lost out on many opportunities over the past several years.
“We have lost about 90 opportunities over the past five years for such large conventions that we could not pursue mainly because we don’t have enough exhibit hall space,” Houston said.
Another venture City Council was presented with is reconnecting downtown to the east-side with a land bridge built over I-37.
When it comes to establishing the Spurs arena City Manager Erik Walsh says a memorandum of understanding between the city, county and Spurs is the first rule of order.
“You heard clearly from a number of council members that tax payer funded dollars is not something they want us to look at,” Walsh said. “But based on today’s conversation, we’ll be working on that funding strategy.”
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez was in opposition with Thursday’s presentation.
“We’re talking about billions of dollars stacked against thousands of residents who are experiencing poverty,” Rodriguez said. “So I’m reserving my support for now and it will take a lot of effort to get it, starting with a new master plan for the existing arena in the surrounding community.”
With many questions still up in the air, Houston who presented the presentation before city council says community engagement will have to be present throughout this downtown expansion project.
“The community has to be very engaged, because one of the slides talked about infrastructure and we’ve said this could meet or kill the project,” Houston said. “Traffic and permits that can accommodate the traffic flow that would from some large improvements like this. We also need to make sure we have parking that is easy to get to and easy to access and affordable.”
Houston anticipates the majority of the projects including the Spurs arena to be completed by 2030, but it all depends on funding sources.