Alamo Area Construction News - December 20

Today marks an exciting milestone in the Alamo Plan as Plaza de Valero has its soft opening, and the construction fences are coming down!!

The Alamo would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our surrounding neighbors for their support and patience during this process. Your understanding has been invaluable as we continue to enhance the Alamo Grounds and elevate Texas' top tourist destination.

We also appreciate your ongoing support as we move forward with completing the remaining Alamo Plan projects, ensuring the site's preservation and improvement for generations to come.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

Traffic Restrictions in the Alamo District: 
As part of ongoing construction efforts, vehicle access remains restricted in the Alamo District. The affected areas include Commerce Street to Crockett Street, and along Crockett Street from Alamo Plaza to Losoya Street. Additionally, Houston Street between Losoya and Alamo Plaza is also impacted. These traffic limitations are essential to ensure the safe and efficient progress of construction activities in the area.

For pedestrian convenience and safety, we've implemented several enhancements:

• A protective fence now surrounds the future Texas Cavalier Education Center, cordoning off the southern part of the Alamo Gardens and the passage between the Menger Hotel and the Alamo, while maintaining uninterrupted pedestrian flow.
• Defined pedestrian lanes are in place from North to South on Alamo Plaza and East to West on Crockett St., marking the western boundary of the Alamo District.
• Two pedestrian routes near the Menger Hotel stretches from North to South, providing a direct passage linking Alamo Plaza with the River Center Mall vicinity.
• Dedicated pedestrian flow is established on the north side of Houston Street, between Alamo Street and Losoya Street.

The Mission Gate and Lunette interpretation, introduced earlier this year, provides a wonderful new addition to the Alamo’s historic grounds. This week, an 18th-century period-specific shelter covering using ocotillo was installed at the Mission Gate and Lunette to offer relief from the summer heat.

The surrounding fence lines in the Mission Gate and Lunette area will be removed now that Plaza de Valero officially opens today!

The demolition work for the Visitor Center and Museum (VCM), scheduled to open in 2027, is progressing and construction began on Oct. 1. As part of these efforts, Houston Street adjacent to the VCM has been closed to facilitate logistics. Additionally, the fenced parameter for this project has been extended into Alamo Plaza.

The Alamo Promenade, located just south of Plaza de Valero, will feature thoughtfully designed elements such as statues honoring key historical figures, shaded seating areas, and interpretive signage. This welcoming space will offer additional trees and commemorative features, creating a serene environment for relaxation and reflection while seamlessly connecting Commerce Street and Plaza de Valero. Visitors will be guided on an educational journey through Texas’s rich history.

The construction fence for the Alamo Promenade has shifted slightly westward, and early potholing investigations have begun in the area. Pedestrian access across Alamo Street from east to west remains available at both Blum Street and Commerce Street.

The Paseo del Alamo project, connecting the Riverwalk and the Alamo, has begun early construction. Since early this year, construction fencing has been erected to secure and define the construction area. New rendering windscreens were placed at this location to help show how the space will appear. Access to the Ripley's Believe It or Not! gift shop remains open to pedestrians.

The demolition of the Alamo Annex has been completed, paving the way for the new Texas Cavaliers Education Center. Structural steel framing work is continuing to the west side of the Alamo Hall bulding. With the site now clear, construction of the new center, scheduled to open in late 2025, has begun. This phase involves integrating the historic Alamo Hall into the state-of-the-art facility.

The construction process will ensure that Alamo Hall is preserved and enhanced as part of the new center, providing a rich learning environment for students.

Our General Contractor, Clark Guido, who is managing many of the projects related to the Alamo Plan, has prepared a letter for the Alamo's surrounding neighbors. This letter includes important information and points of contact should you wish to reach out directly to Clark Guido during the ongoing construction.

We want to ensure that you feel informed and supported throughout this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Alamo directly. We are here to assist you and appreciate your understanding as we work to enhance this historic site.

Wayfinding Signage: In partnership with the City of San Antonio, signs are being placed to promote local businesses in the affected area, ensuring visitors remain informed that these establishments are still operational and accessible. Wayfinding signs have been strategically placed to navigate around the Alamo District efficiently.

Signage for the area around the future Alamo Promenade and Commerce St. area are being printed and will be installed soon. 

Wayfinding Map: Thanks to the collaboration with Visit San Antonio, we have developed an Alamo Plaza Wayfinding Map. This resource is designed to enhance your visit by providing clear and comprehensive navigation through the area. You can download a copy of the map here.

Please note that this map is also in the process of being updated soon.

Safety and Accessibility
The safety of our community, visitors, and team members remains our top priority. We sincerely thank you for respecting these safety measures and refraining from entering restricted zones. 
 
Your Valued Input
Your insights and suggestions have proven invaluable to us. We're dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way, and we welcome your input in refining our communication process. If you know of any additional contacts who should receive our weekly updates, please don't hesitate to let us know. Your support in keeping our community well-informed is greatly appreciated.
 
Staying Connected
As we move forward with our construction endeavors, we encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you might have. We're here to address any inquiries and provide you with the information you need. Your enthusiasm and patience inspire us, and we're excited to continue this journey together.

In addition to these weekly construction updates, the Alamo Trust, Inc. also hosts quarterly breakfast updates, bi-weekly calls, and joins the City of San Antonio downtown construction updates. If you would like to be added to the distribution listings for the quarterly in person breakfast meetings or virtual bi-weekly calls, please reach out to JHuhn@theAlamo.org.
 
Thank you once again for being part of our community's progress. We look forward to the day when these enhancements will further enrich the Alamo and downtown San Antonio experience for generations to come.