Several adjustments have been made to the master plan for the redevelopment of Alamo Plaza, in response to concerns raised by citizens, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Lori Houston, who is the city's director for the project, told City Council that one concern that had been raised was that the proposal to encircle Alamo Plaza with translucent glass walls would deprive the citizens of the community meeting place. Everything from political campaigns to sports celebrations to the community gathering following the 9-11 attacks took place on Alamo Plaza.
Houston says that's wont change."The proposed master plan increases the public assembly opportunity from 2.2 acres to 9.5 acres," she said. "It expands the opportunity for community celebrations, ceremonies, and First Amendment rights."
Houston said the '1936 garden' just east of the Alamo, will be opened to the public, and will also be available for public gatherings, including community events. She says access to Alamo Plaza will not be limited under the plan.
Another concern that she heard, especially during Fiesta, involves the parades which were established in the 19th Century to honor the Alamo defenders.
"The parades will still happen at the Alamo. We worked closely with these organizations so we can reroute them. They can still meet for those ceremonial events that they have, like the wreath lying ceremony at the Battle of Flowers House."
City officials also said other downtown streets, like like Bowie and Losoya Streets, do in fact have the capacity to handle the vehicular traffic that will have to move to them when Alamo Street is permanently closed.
Houston said many heritage shade trees will also remain on Alamo Plaza. There had been concerns that losing the trees would result in the Plaza being too hot in the summertime.
She also said plans are underway to identify and purchase property for an Entertainment District, which will house the Plaza Theater of Wax and the other Alamo Plaza attractions which will be displaced buy the museum complex, which will go into the three historic buildings across the Plaza from the Alamo.
She says procedures are also being taken to make sure Alamo Plaza is fully accessible to the disabled, and she said more entrances other than the South Gate will make sure that happens.Houston says the entire project will cost $400 million and will create some 4,000 jobs.
The plan is for the project to be completed in 2024, in time for the 300th anniversary of the original construction of the Alamo Mission in 1724.
PHOTO COURTESY: ALAMO ENDOWMENT