SAN ANTONIO – A group of historic buildings just steps away from city hall are on track to get a major overhaul that will put them back to work.
The four buildings sit in the Plaza De Armas, which was established in 1722 as a military garrison to protect the outlying Spanish Missions.
"This is literally one of the original spaces of San Antonio along with the San Fernando Cathedral, but today it's a bunch of parking spaces," said Mayor Julian Castro. "We want it to be productive again and it's literally 20 steps across from city hall so I think it makes sense to make it productive, to make it a space that the employees of the city as well as San Antonians can enjoy in a nice setting."
Purchased by the city in the 1980's, the buildings, which are listed as a Registered Texas Historic Landmark, housed city offices and even a restaurant. But they now sit empty due to advanced deterioration.
"There's water penetration into the foundation and the walls that creates all kinds of issues," said Mike Frisbie, head of the city's Capital Improvements Management Services, "We've got structural issues related to walls and the roof."
Frisbie briefed city council members Wednesday on the scope of work that needs to be done to make the structure useable again.
The city estimates it will cost approximately $9.5 million to transform the structures into a mixed-use space that will house the city's communications offices and two television studios as well as an art gallery and retail space.
The bulk of the money will come from funds generated by telecommunications businesses.
"Under our franchise agreements with the telecommunications agencies, they pay into that fund for the city to use specifically for communications uses like this one," Frisbie said.
While the proposed project is still in its early stages the mayor has some ideas on what he'd like to see incorporated, including getting rid of some parking spaces behind city hall and turning the area back into a plaza that everyone can enjoy.