Hemisfair Taps Melissa Robinson as CEO

San Antonio’s Hemisfair redevelopment effort has a new leader, as the district prepares for its most ambitious phase yet.

The Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation named Melissa Robinson as its next CEO, succeeding longtime chief Andres Andujar, who retired last year, according to a press release from the organization. Robinson steps into the role as the organization continues transforming the former 1968 World’s Fair grounds into a mixed-use civic destination — a vision that could soon include a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs.

Robinson is hardly new to the $340 million project. She previously served four years on the HPARC board and recently stepped in as interim CEO in April 2025 when Andujar retired, helping guide the organization through a leadership transition while continuing to advance its long-term master plan.

Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the 96-acre district just south of downtown. Plans for a Spurs arena and surrounding development could reshape the area and dramatically increase activity at the site, which already includes parks, restaurants, housing and cultural attractions, according to the release.

Robinson told the San Antonio Business Journal that a central priority will be ensuring that any large-scale development fits with the character of the district that Hemisfair has spent years building.

A veteran of the real estate and construction industries, Robinson brings nearly three decades of development experience spanning concept planning through construction. That background will be critical as the district weighs how to integrate large new structures — including a potential arena — into a site known for its human-scale parks and historic elements.

One focal point is the Tower of the Americas, the iconic observation tower that remains one of the most visible remnants of the 1968 fair. Robinson said completing the surrounding Tower Park could unlock additional development opportunities nearby.

The next phase of Hemisfair’s buildout will likely require additional philanthropic backing and public funding, with a goal, she said, to “capitalize on the history and the historic structures while at the same time pushing ourselves to deliver something new that can be transformative.”

— Eric Weilbacher