Plans for new mixed-use development surrounding a downtown baseball stadium, mostly abstract when offered up two years ago, are coming to light.
The San Antonio developers that have a stake in the planned ballpark recently submitted a design review request for two multifamily projects and a 160-key hotel, along with the ballpark.
The plans are scheduled to be reviewed by the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) on April 1.
In September 2024, San Antonio City Council approved a preliminary deal for a downtown minor league baseball stadium and adjacent mixed-use development.
Though the San Pedro Creek Development Authority will own the new $160 million venue, a group of local investors known as Designated Bidders owns the Missions team and will kick in $34 million for the stadium and make $1 million annual lease payments.
The ballpark, expected to open in 2028, is planned for mostly vacant parcels of land in the northwest quadrant of downtown, south of San Antonio ISD headquarters and adjacent to the San Pedro Creek Culture Park.
Much of the property in that area has been acquired in recent years by Weston Urban, a downtown developer founded by Graham Weston who is among the Designated Bidders.
Weston Urban has begun demolishing the Soap Factory apartment complex in the area and relocating its residents to make way for new mixed-use and residential development it proposed as part of an agreement with the city.
The projected taxable value of that development has been estimated at $1 billion.
Apartment tower called The Yard
Now, that development and the ballpark’s design is coming into focus.
A description of the new projects submitted to the city panel describes a neighborhood with side pedestrian thoroughfares, “able to comfortably accommodate regular visitors and residents as well as large, gameday crowds.”
Streets would be shaded by large canopy trees that also buffer traffic and new lighting could be installed, according to the description.
The plans call for a residential development referred to as The Yard with two primary structures — a 14-story tower with 271 units and a six-story parking garage with 389 spaces.
The building is slated for land cleared when a portion of the Soap Factory complex was recently demolished, next to the shuttered Jesse James Leija Gymnasium.
Hotel with ‘tremendous views’ of ballpark
Also in the documents is a description of The Yard Hotel, which would be located at the corner of Martin and West Flores streets. The hotel is planned as an eight-story structure with 160 rooms and a rooftop bar with “tremendous views of the ballpark to the north and downtown to the south.”
The third project is a 27-story residential tower next to the San Pedro Creek Cultural Park on Travis Street. It would have 410 units, according to the documents.
The new ballpark is also in the works, with a design described as “regionally appropriate brick and thoughtfully detailed metal panel” with shade canopies at each entrance.
The stadium is not planned as a singular structure but instead as a series of structures along Camaron, Kingsbury and Flores streets, with a public park connection between Flores and San Pedro Creek.
Earlier this year, Weston Urban completed and began leasing its latest residential development in downtown San Antonio. The Continental Residences is a 16-story high-rise built along San Pedro Creek, between Commerce and Dolorosa streets. The 290-unit apartment complex is adjacent to the Continental Hotel and includes a pool, lounges, mixed-income housing and a courtyard overlooking San Pedro Creek.
No architectural renderings of the developments were included with the documents posted by the city. Weston Urban did not return a call for comment.
