The city of San Antonio is going to take a closer look at what it’s doing with its downtown.
How to change the locals’ experience of downtown, and why it even matters, has become Topic A for many — in particular for Mayor Julián Castro, who has taken up the role of downtown booster from former Mayor Phil Hardberger and is making the cause his own.
“Downtown is the heart of the city,” Castro said. “A great city is defined by a great downtown for both residents and visitors. For the past four decades, it’s been about the visitors.”
Later this summer, Castro will announce a major visioning initiative — SA 2020 — that will look at the city’s challenges and goals for the next decade, with a big emphasis on improving downtown.
He and others imagine downtown as a place with a lively, 24-7 urban vibe, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and streets, alternative transportation such as streetcars or light rail, more apartment buildings, a strong inner-city school system to attract families and practical amenities, such as a grocery store.
A series of public meetings would get people thinking about the kind of things they want the city to pursue.
The city’s upcoming bond program in 2012 could direct dollars toward improving downtown.
The story is long, but it’s worth your time. There’s a white paper with more details linked in the sidebar. My perception of San Antonio’s downtown, which is largely shaped by having been a student there in the 80s, is that it’s primarily a tourist destination. There are people who live in downtown SA, and I imagine there will be more over time, no matter what becomes of this effort. I look forward to seeing how this goes. The vision Mayor Castro has is an exciting one, and I hope he succeeds at it.