Harris Bay pitches hotel, office-to-resi for Tobin Hill

San Antonio City Council will consider rezoning for the project early next year

Harris Bay’s Jake Harris with Polk Street, between West Josephine and East Grayson streets
Harris Bay’s Jake Harris with Polk Street, between West Josephine and East Grayson streets (Getty, Harris Bay, CREO Architecture)

A California developer is planning new residential and commercial space in one of San Antonio’s oldest neighborhoods, Tobin Hill.

Harris Bay, which has offices in the Alamo City, has requested rezoning for several properties along West Josephine Street that it has under contract to buy, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The properties, which include offices, warehouses, empty lots and single-family homes, are on the southern end of the St. Mary’s Strip entertainment district.

The redevelopment would include the office-to-resi conversion of the 10-story, 98-year-old Travis Building at 400 North St. Mary’s, as well as construction of a boutique hotel. A total of 1,000 resi units and about 70,000 square feet of commercial space are planned.

Purchase of the properties is contingent on Harris Bay securing city approval to upzone 4.6 acres for higher residential density, plus a bar or tavern.

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Plans call for four mixed-use buildings. Two will rise on either side of Polk Street, one will be located at the corner of East Dewey Place and North St. Mary’s Street, and the last will rise next to Nathaniel Hawthorne Academy to the southeast.

The firm also plans to preserve and incorporate the facades of the Texas Neon Advertising building at 245 West Josephine and the art deco retail building at 326 West Josephine.

“It is perfectly located between St. Mary’s Strip and Pearl,” Harris Bay’s Jake Harris told the outlet. “You get the best of both worlds. We believe that particular location will continue to thrive given its density of walkable amenities.”

City staff recommended denying the rezoning request, but the Zoning and Planning commissions both recommended approving the request. City Council will begin discussing the potential rezoning early next year.

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Victoria Pruitt