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Leeds building restoration in west downtown San Antonio approved by historical commission

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The Leeds building, 345 W. Commerce St., is looking to be renovated by Cory Stehr and a business partner. June 16, 2021 HDRC agenda. Courtesy rendering
The Leeds building, 345 W. Commerce St., is currently being renovated. Courtesy rendering

Catching up on the historic preservation beat …

Last month, plans for the restoration of the Leeds building, 345 W. Commerce St., were approved by the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC).

Cory Stehr, a local developer who recently moved here from Los Angeles, and a partner are restoring the small retail building that sits kitty-corner from downtown Goodwill store on one end, and a block away from the San Pedro Creek Culture Park on the other.

[ Related: Newcomer to San Antonio buys historic building on West Commerce ]

After purchasing the Leeds in February, the partners are spending $500,000 on the rehabilitation, Stehr told the Heron earlier this year.

The plan is to place a local restaurant in the 5,000-square-foot ground-level space, and convert the second floor into flexible office space.

“To me, San Antonio’s downtown is bar none the most underrated, underutilized downtown,” Stehr said. “I can still make money putting in a tenant that doesn’t have as good of credit, but I can grow with them, I can help their business grow. I can start with them when no one’s willing to take them, as long as they have a good product, and I can help them turn their business into something else.”

The renovation began soon after the partnership purchased the 1915 building, which is a local landmark.

According to the agenda for the June 16 HDRC meeting, the restoration includes cleaning the masonry, re-opening “previously concealed windows,” and restoring current wooden windows.

The Leeds is located in the middle of west downtown, where there are more than a dozen major developments underway or planned. Here are a few that are within the immediate vicinity:

Map of the 300 block of West Commerce
1) The Leeds building, 345 W. Commerce St., was purchased in February by Cory Stehr and a partner. 2) The Kline’s building, 337 W. Commerce St., owned by local developer James Lifshutz. 3) Commercial building at 331 W. Commerce St. owned by a New Mexico-based entity. 4) Two-story commercial building owned by an entity based in Aurora, Colorado. 5) The former Continental Hotel, 322 W. Commerce St., to be redeveloped by Weston Urban. 6) Texas Public Radio headquarters. 7) San Pedro Creek Culture Park current phase. Map by Heron | Google

[ Related: Bexar County, Weston Urban to partner on apartments at Continental Hotel ]

[ Related: Development Profile: Council approves subsidy for Weston Urban’s 32-story apartment tower ]

[ Related: UTSA has started building its data science school, national security center on Dolorosa ]

The Leeds building, 345 W. Commerce St., is looking to be renovated by Cory Stehr and a business partner.
Another look at the Leeds building restoration. Courtesy rendering
The Leeds building at 345 W. Commerce St. has been purchased by former Los Angeles developer Cory Stehr.
The Leeds building photographed in March 2021. Photo by Ben Olivo | Heron

Heron Editor Ben Olivo can be reached at 210-421-3932 | ben@saheron.com | @rbolivo on Twitter

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