by Morgan Montalvo
WOAI News
With the ink on a master plan barely dry after Tuesday’s signing by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the hands-on work is soon to begin to transform the Alamo and its environs into a world-class historic site, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
“What this really represents is a big step forward in really beginning to tell the most important part of the Alamo’s history, which is a complete story,“ says District 1 City Councilman Roberto Trevino.
This week’s formal local-state agreement clears the way for a review and approval of the redesign template’s elements by several city departments, while council members move on to items that require a vote, such as street closures.
Trevino says over the past few weeks, more civic and historical groups have signed on to support what the Alamo Citizens Committee calls a “re-imagining” of the vintage-1700s mission, its associated buildings, and the surrounding grounds.
Construction and renovation, Trevino says, will comprise three phases: “the rehabilitation of the church and long barracks, which starts next month; the plaza, which includes the historic mission footprint and expanded plaza elements; and the new museum, which will be located to the west."
Central to the finished product, supporters say, is the telling of all chapters of the site’s three-century history.
“We are going to be working with many academic institutions to help tell that broad story to make sure that all elements of this entire history are included, including Mexico. Mexico will play a role in helping us tell that story.” says Trevino.
City officials and planners hope to have the entire project completed by 2024, the Alamo’s 300th anniversary, Trevino says.