Series of Alamo public meetings begin tonight

The first public meetings on the Alamo Interpretive Plan begin tonight on the West Side. All meetings are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

» Monday, June 18, Ron Darner Park Operations Headquarters, 5800 Enrique M. Barrera Parkway

» Tuesday, June 19, Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center, 8400 N.W. Military Highway

» Wednesday, June 20, Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa at Brooks, 7610 S. New Braunfels Ave.

» Thursday, June 21, San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave.

The plan to revamp Alamo Plaza has drawn criticism from descendants of the 1836 battle, preservationists, architects, and urban planners. The pushback began June 7 at a packed auditorium at the Witte Museum, when consultants presented the plan to the public for the first time. By far, the largest point of contention is the relocation of the cenotaph, the circa-1940 monument to the fallen defenders, which would be moved roughly 500 feet south from its current position in front of the long barracks to in front of the Menger Hotel.

In a version revealed in April 2017, the cenotaph would have been moved to a park above the River Walk, closer to the Convention Center than the Alamo. City officials and planners feel that keeping the cenotaph in the plaza is a compromise, according to media reports.

Another significant change would be closing the entire plaza to traffic, as well as Houston Street from Broadway/Losoya east to the plaza. Also, Losoya Street would be converted from one-way heading south to a two-way street.

The plan also calls for the demolition of some of the buildings across from the Alamo, including the historic Woolworth’s building, to make way for a kind of interpretive museum.

The project, which is being lead by Reed-Hilderbrand Landscape Architects of Cambridge, Mass., is scheduled for another round of public meetings in July. It will eventually go to the City Council for approval some time this year.

For more details on the plan, visit these links:
» NowCastSA Webcast: Committee reveals new draft site plan for Alamo Plaza
» San Antonio Express-News: Proposed Alamo plan would overhaul heart of downtown but is stirring controversy
» The Rivard Report: Alamo master planners present new ideas for the plaza

Courtesy rendering

ben@saheron.com