Sculley backs Joske's concept

Blasted by critics and the city's historic review board, the Joske's hotel project has been given new life by City Manager Sheryl Sculley, who came out in support of the project late last week.

Sculley's backing, however, is contingent on reducing its scale, as envisioned by the developer: a hotel and time share that would reach more than 20 stories above the historic Joske's building at Rivercenter mall.

On Friday, Sculley informed the mall's owner, New York-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., that she approves of the concept of a hotel at the site but that its architects must return to the Historic and Design Review Commission for another go-around.

In a 6-2 vote May 1, the commission denied plans for the high-rise at Alamo and Commerce streets, calling its height inappropriate, given its proximity to the Alamo.

As city manager, Sculley has the final say on the HDRC's recommendations.

One of her conditions is that the project, which includes a smaller structure facing Alamo Street, be scaled back so the Joske's building remains in proper context to its surroundings.

“We approached this proposal from (the standpoint of) how can we accomplish a project here and support development downtown and yet respect Alamo Plaza,” Sculley said.

Sculley doesn't know if that means the tower should be reduced in size, and, if so, by how much.

“I don't know yet — perhaps so,” Sculley said. “It seems too big for the area. But there are also the economics of the project from the developer's side.

“We don't know what all those are yet,” she said. “What is it that they need to really make this project work?”

At the HDRC meeting, the applicant team — representing Ashkenazy, developer BC Realty Partners of Dallas and San Antonio architecture firm Overland Partners — said they were given a baseline of 500 rooms, presumably from potential hotel operators, to make the project economically viable.

Chris Oviatt, general manager of Rivercenter mall, declined to comment. Mike Beucler, principal at BC Realty Partners, did not return a phone call requesting an interview.

“Overland Partners has come up with some good ideas, but there is a little bit more work to do to make sure it fits within the context of the area,” Sculley said.

The project has been dogged by controversy since it was made public at the end of March. Overland Partners took over the design and proposed two options at the HDRC meeting May 1.

In her letter of approval, Sculley sided with the second option, which would reduce the smaller tower by two stories and increase the larger tower by one story. It also stipulates that the additions be set back 16 feet from the Joske's cornice line.

Ashkenazy has 60 days to return to the HDRC with a revamped version.

The San Antonio Conservation Society has argued that such a building would dwarf the Alamo and could jeopardize an attempt to gain World Heritage site designation for it and the city's four other Spanish Colonial missions.

“To add something so imposing and so enormous within yards of this very small building (the Alamo) could only be prejudicial,” said Nancy Avellar, president of the conservation society.

The reworked proposal, according to Sculley, also should address parking, keep the setbacks a minimum of 16 feet from the Joske's edge and be reviewed by local National Park Service staff, which is managing the World Heritage site application.

District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal remains optimistic that a hotel development can be accomplished at the Joske's building, but he said the next proposal has to be “substantially different.”

“In short terms, that's what we're saying: If you want to continue, show us something new,” Bernal said. “I believe there's a real opportunity for that to happen.”

bolivo@mysanantonio.com