The city of San Antonio (Texas) Center City Development & Operations Department has big plans for downtown’s historic La Villita community, and it’s asking for help to get there.
Up against an inconsistent roster of tenants; small, isolated retail areas; the need for infrastructure improvements; and lack of parking, the CCDO is hoping to ride the strengthening downtown development wave by issuing a request for interest and a separate request for proposal to gauge people’s interest in setting up shop in the once-vibrant historical neighborhood.
Colleen Swain, the CCDO assistant director, told me the goal is to try to move away from La Villita’s current set up of filling vacant space with temporary retailers in order to provide a more consistent experience for visitors.
“We want those long-term tenants that will build a clientele,” Swain said, adding that while the city is considering the tenants for tourists versus tenants for locals debate, ultimately, tourists want to be where the locals are.
Proposals due March 9, 2016.