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DOWNTOWN

TOMORROW

STRATEGY

SUMMARY

The Downtown Tomorrow Strategy was developed to guide implementation of several efforts occurring in downtown. The vision for Downtown is:

As the home of 60,000 people and the workplace of many thousands more, downtown San Antonio is the thriving and diverse center of arts and entertainment in South Texas and the engine of a vibrant regional economy. Here, visitors, 10,000 college students, and residents of all ages walk, work, and play in a beloved and unique urban landscape that supports their daily lives and needs – all within 2 miles of home.

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The purpose is to help focus efforts on priority initiatives and build community awareness and support. There are five strategic framework elements reflecting the core foundations that Centro provides and three focus areas. The Strategy also highlights seven catalytic projects currently underway or are proposed for downtown. These projects will change the trajectory of downtown and are essential to implementation of the vision for downtown.

DOWNTOWN VISION

The purpose is to help focus efforts on priority initiatives and build community awareness and support. There are five key elements reflecting the core foundations that Centro provides and three focus areas that Centro and its partners will focus on in the coming decade.

1

STRATEGY ELEMENTS

The framework elements organize the strategies recommended for downtown and provide measurable outcomes for each specific strategy.

CORE FOUNDATIONS
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CLEAN, SAFE
AND RESILIENT

Ensure downtown is a clean, safe, and resilient place for all.

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MOBILITY

Provide more attractive and efficient ways to move people in and around downtown.

FOCUS AREAS

RESIDENT LIFE AND COMMUNITY

Create an enjoyable and livable community in downtown for everyone.

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Enhance economic opportunities for businesses and people in the San Antonio region.

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ARTS, CULTURE, & ENTERTAINMENT

Attract visitors to downtown and create the attractive lifestyle in downtown for residents and workers.

2

CATALYTIC PROJECTS

Catalytic Projects are planned large developments that will be transformative and attract additional investment to downtown. All of these projects are important for the city and will have a positive impact on the region, but they may need additional support to fully implement and develop. These projects build on existing initiatives, such as the Mission Reach and Museum Reach extensions of the riverwalk, San Pedro Creek, and other successes in the “Decade of Downtown” initiative from 2010 to 2020.

Hemisfair is the redevelopment of the former World’s Fair site into a vibrant community park and gathering place. The project includes a mixture of public spaces and private developments that activate the spaces. There are three major development areas: Yanaguana Garden, Civic Park, and Tower Park. Yanaguana Garden opened in 2015 and includes a large playscape area with a variety of play structures and activities that appeal to visitors of all ages. The garden has been further activated through the reuse of historic buildings for commercial shops and restaurants. Hemisfair also solicited the development of a mixed-use apartment project, the ‘68 apartments, which opened in 2019.

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Civic Park will be the largest of the parks planned for Hemisfair. The space will serve as a large community gathering place that will host festivals, events, community celebrations, and other experiences. Civic Park is planned to be surrounded by public/private developments that can include a variety of uses including mixed-income residential, retail, and hospitality uses. Civic Park is under construction and is set to be completed by 2025.
Tower Park is the third and final phase of the Hemisfair parks; this project is currently unfunded. Visioning efforts for this phase have begun and will define the program for the area. Also impacting this portion of Hemisfair is the future of the Institute of Texas Culture, which is owned and managed by UTSA. UTSA is in the process of determining the future of the institute as well as the physical building in which the institute was originally located.

3

THE BIG IDEAS

Downtown San Antonio is the heart, soul, and economic engine of the San Antonio metro region. It is the crossroads of rapidly growing South and Central Texas, and one of the most important gateways in the nation between the U.S. and Mexico. Downtown’s economic, civic, and cultural health is the lynchpin of shared prosperity, continued cultural efflorescence, and strategic growth and security for the next century. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, downtown is itself at a crossroads. Many new projects are underway, yet changes in how and where many people work have radically altered expectations about how downtown will evolve in the years ahead. Sustained investment in the core of our city, particularly in housing, education, and cultural resources, has never been more important.

This Downtown Tomorrow Strategy (Strategy) builds on Centro’s 2021 Annual Report and the City of San Antonio’s Downtown Regional Center Plan. The Strategy was developed through focus groups, interviews, and surveys of Downtown area stakeholders to help address issues not in the Regional Center Plan and to help prioritize actions and steps.

This strategy is intended to serve as an implementation strategy for Centro and its stakeholders to support a variety of efforts in Downtown. The Strategy also provides measurable outcomes the community should strive to achieve by 2032.

Black and white photo of la Torcha de la Amistad downtown San Antonio.

DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO

Two geographic areas serve as the focus areas of the effort, but the impact and efforts related to downtown extend beyond these boundaries. The intent is to update this strategy every five years to adjust to the changing environment.

Downtown Regional Center Plan

The Downtown Regional Center is defined by the City of San Antonio’s city-wide Comprehensive Plan. The Regional Center boundaries capture the Central Business District (CBD) and historic core of the city as well as Downtown’s surrounding neighborhoods.

The Downtown Public Improvement District (PID)

Centro has been in existence since 1982 as a non-profit membership organization to revitalize the downtown core. The PID was formed in 1999 to enhance services that increase the beauty, cleanliness, prosperity, and safety of the district. Today it encompasses .83 square miles in the center of downtown.

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Connie Garza

TACTICAL PLANNING COORDINATOR

Connie is a native San Antonian with roots planted deeply on San Antonio’s Southside. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Passionate about building strong communities, Connie loves acting as a connector to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and people to help each other reach their goals and work together. She works inbetween the Cultural Placemaking team and the Mainstreet Economic Development team, bringing vibrancy and support to urban core businesses to make downtown the place to be. When not at work, you can usually find her at the local plant nursery buying another plant, exploring new cafes/breweries, and spending time with family.

Priscilla Lopez

CHIEF OF STAFF

Priscilla or “P.Lo” as her teammates affectionately call her, has 20 years of corporate administrative experience. Priscilla attended The University of San Antonio with a focus on Business Administration. In her role as office “fixer,” she handles everything from communications and relationship management to IT sleuthing. On weekends you can find her enjoying a Truly poolside. She lives the vegan lifestyle and is  a proud member of the Peleton community.

Michael Cirlos

JEDI CAMERAMAN

Michael began his studies and volunteer work at Webster University Thailand with a focus on international relations and Buddhism. After returning to San Antonio and graduating from UTSA, Michael began photographing and telling the stories of people in Downtown San Antonio to help connect and increase awareness of our vibrant urban culture. Michael’s work has appeared in several news media organizations, and has produced digital content for small- and large-scale marketing campaigns for Red Bull, COSA Department of Arts and Culture, World Heritage Office, National Park Service, and others. Michael is a former Pecha Kucha San Antonio Speaker, best-selling author at Trinity University Press, entrepreneur, and adventurer.

JanIe Garza

OFFICE MANAGER

Janie is a native of Corpus Christi, TX and has made San Antonio her home since 2012. Her 15+ years’ experience allows her to serve a broad range of functions that allow the organization to operate efficiently, including, accounts receivable/payable, record management, information technology, office management, and assisting with human resources. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with her family, visiting local art museums, and enjoying a German beer in Southtown.

Matt Sirgo

DIRECTOR OF STORYTELLING

Matt graduated from Texas Tech University in 2016 with a Dual Major in Media Strategies and Honors Arts & Letters with a minor in Italian (Benvenuto a tutti!). Matt oversees the marketing, public relations, and digital content for Centro. After sharing the story of Downtown San Antonio on digital channels, he enjoys creating TikToks about LGBTQ+ media. His mug graces a Fiesta Mural on the St. Mary’s Strip just north of Downtown. You can’t miss it. 

Elizabeth Burt

DIRECTOR OF URBAN ACTIVATION + PLAY

Liz is a passionate underutilized space evangelist known for collaboration matchmaking + play based troublemaking (snow, pumpkins, and Parisian mimes included). She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Public Policy studying Public Administration (#BirdsUp)! More recently, she oversaw the award winning Activate Houston Street Initiative, a placemaking action plan to reinvigorate the historic pedestrian corridor in the heart of Downtown, which is recognized as a Best Practice in Public Space Management by the International Downtown Association, for which she is also a proud Emerging Leader Fellow.

Jacqueline Lucio

DIRECTOR OF PID OPERATIONS

Jacque is a longtime downtowner with a deep passion for community service. She oversees Centro’s Clean & Safe and Homeless Outreach services, which aim to create a more beautiful, welcoming, inclusive, and hospitable downtown. For nearly two decades, Jacque has lived in downtown San Antonio and has been actively involved in the transformation of the urban core. Through her work with nonprofits, local government, and news media, she’s continually focused on championing more sustainable, diverse, and equitable communities. Jacque has led efforts to support asylum seekers, served as communications director for City Council District 5, and served in public affairs role for Clear Channel Outdoor San Antonio. Jacque studied Mass Communications and Mexican-American Studies at UTSA.

Sarah Esserlieu Khalil

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Sarah is a passionate urbanist who has spent the majority of her career on downtown revitalization efforts. Downtown is the best part of any city where you can find the finest history, culture, life, and beauty. Sarah has a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, San DiegoSarah enjoys visiting small local businesses, enjoying foodie culture, cooking, hiking, and visiting the cities of the world. 

Andi Rodriguez

VICE PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL PLACEMAKING

Andi is a long-time urban champion and leads Centro ‘people projects which tell our stories and bring us joy, such as Centro’s Art Everywhere and Zona Cultural. Serving on the Leadership Council of Urban Land Institute, she is a former city Planning Commissioner, Founding Chair of the Hemisfair Conservancy, Co-founder of Power of Preservation/PROM, former Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and immediate past Chair of Leadership San Antonio. Andi considers herself a servant leader; she has an MS in Architecture/Urban Planning, and enjoys advocating for the unifying power of art, history, and public space.

KANDICE PERKINS

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

Kandice is a Sunnyvale, CA native and has made San Antonio her home since 2014She graduated from University of Argosy in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and continued to complete her Master’s in Business Administration from University of Phoenix 2020. She has worked in downtown San Antonio for years, bringing 15+ years of accounting experience to the organization and has been tasked with promoting and developing the city’s urban core. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, managing her family’s businesses, and enjoys cooking and baking.  

The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs 

TRISH DEBERRY

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Trish– aka Captain Marvel – believes that superheroes come in all shapes and sizes. With her intellect and a passion for making a difference, there is no doubt that Trish is built for speed and performance to find solutions to problems most find too vexing to conquer.  In fact, a Lamborghini has nothing on this force of nature.

A native San Antonian with a degree from Trinity University, Trish has a deep and abiding love for the Alamo City. She has led successful campaign initiatives for 25 years that have literally changed the landscape and face of the community.

Though Trish doesn’t have the ability to see the future like Captain Marvel, she has been called a visionary and wants to bring big ideas to bear regarding the future of downtown.

Before Trish became President/CEO of Centro San Antonio, she founded two full-service marketing and communications firms that she led for 20 years – both of which were headquartered in downtown.  She was also an active member of Centro during that time serving as board chair twice and providing leadership as the entity transformed from The Downtown Alliance to Centro San Antonio. 

When Trish isn’t blazing trails throughout the urban core, she is honing her superpowers of strength and agility on a bike at a spin studio – on pace for a remarkable 1,200 rides. We told you she was built for record-setting speed!  She’s also a supermom to her two kids Scott and Maddie who provide the fuel to her sparkle and non-stop energy.