Developer Harris Bay is seeking rezoning approval to facilitate plans to build 1,000 apartments and about 70,000 square feet of commercial space near Pearl and the St. Mary’s Strip in booming Tobin Hill.
The private equity firm with offices in California and San Antonio has multiple parcels of varying sizes under contract along West Josephine Street between West Grayson Street and East Ashby Place. The properties include small buildings with businesses, warehouses, single-family homes and empty lots.
The sales are contingent on obtaining the city’s approval to rezone about 4.6 acres to allow for greater residential density and a bar or tavern, said Patrick Christensen, a lawyer representing Harris Bay in its rezoning request.
Designs show four mixed-use buildings: one next to Nathaniel Hawthorne Academy, one at the corner of East Dewey Place and North St. Mary’s Street across from the Josephine Theatre, and two on either side of Polk Street.
“It is perfectly located between St. Mary’s Strip and Pearl,” said Jake Harris, managing partner of Harris Bay. “You get the best of both worlds. We believe that particular location will continue to thrive given its density of walkable amenities.”
The final mix and size of units has not been determined. Harris said the bulk will likely be for rent, but he is considering offering some for sale.
With the commercial space, Harris wants restaurants and service businesses to move in and said that a grocery store tenant would be ideal.
Plans also call for 1,075 parking spots. It would be a “transformative project,” Christensen told the city’s Zoning Commission this week.
At the request of neighbors, Harris Bay agreed to certain building setbacks and reduced the height of the buildings, Christensen said.
The maximum height of most of the buildings is 78 feet and three and a half stories, with the building next to Hawthorne capped at 50 feet and two stories.
The firm plans to save the facades of the Texas Neon Advertising Co. building at 245 W. Josephine and the Art Deco building at 326 W. Josephine, Christensen said.
City staff recommended denying the rezoning request on the grounds that the proposed uses and residential density are “out of character” and “not consistent with the established development pattern of the surrounding area.”
The Zoning Commission recommended approval, however, in part because the developer worked with nearby residents, commissioners said. The Tobin Hill Community Association and Tobin Hill Neighborhood Association are in favor of the change.
The Planning Commission also recommended approval of a plan amendment for the development, though city staff suggested denying that change also.
The Zoning and Planning commissions make recommendations to the City Council, which has the final say. The council is expected to consider the proposed changes early next year.
Harris Bay plans to convert the Travis Building at 405 N. St. Mary’s from offices to housing and to build an adjacent boutique hotel.
Tenants could begin moving into the Travis Building early next year, and Harris Bay is working to obtain permits for the hotel, which will likely take 18 to 20 months to build, Harris said.
The firm is also renovating warehouses near G.W. Brackenridge High School.
Meanwhile, the future of a major mixed-use development called Essex Modern City, which the firm proposed in Denver Heights, is unclear.
The $150 million project at Essex and Cherry streets was to include housing, offices, retail, a food hall and other amenities. Construction had been slated to begin in 2017 but never did.
Harris Bay put the property up for sale this year. Harris said several groups have expressed interest in buying it.
Harris Bay’s development in Tobin Hill would add to a flurry of projects underway in the neighborhood.
The Lynd Co. of San Antonio is partnering with Opportunity Home San Antonio to build more than 250 apartments at 120 W. Josephine across from Hawthorne Academy.
Embrey Partners is building more than 300 apartments at 847 E. Ashby, and Area Real Estate is converting the former Borden Creamer warehouse into commercial space. Both are local developers.
Houston-based Urban Genesis plans to build more than 100 housing units at Elmira and North St. Mary’s streets and between East Locust and West Grayson streets.
Sabot Development of Austin plans to build nearly 300 apartments and about 12,000 square feet of retail space on a block bounded by East Euclid, East Myrtle, East Elmira and East Locust streets.
Oxbow Development Group, previously known as Pearl Build, plans to build 250 to 275 apartments at 102 E. Josephine St.
madison.iszler@express-news.net