“Cities evolve, they don’t stay stagnate.” With those reassuring words, American Institute of Architects’ facilitator, Gopinath Akalkotkar, invited a group of community members to visualize the West Side of their dreams.

The wish list produced by the nearly 50 participants attending the strategic revitalization session for Guadalupe Street was endless. They want to see courtyards, plazas, outdoor theaters, water features, children’s playgrounds, and lush landscape throughout the historic neighborhood. The outdoor public spaces would link new and existing housing to cafes, gift shops, art studios and restaurants on Avenida Guadalupe.

Dan Ragette, a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, envisions new housing near the school’s downtown campus. “I’d like to be able to walk to school,” he said.
According to the construction management student, bistros, coffeehouses, sandwich shops and pubs are amenities that would attract more young people to the area.

The brainstorming session, held Jan. 27, is one of many initiatives being implemented by the City of San Antonio in hopes of making the West Side better. This project, the Guadalupe WestTown Community Plan, focuses on an approximate two-mile stretch along Guadalupe Street, starting at the outskirts of downtown on Frio Road and continuing west to Hamilton Street.

The city’s planning director, Emil Moncivais, said that collaboration among design professionals, city planners, public service employees, local students and community leaders is a way to generate ideas that can help create a unique environment that celebrates the area’s history and culture.

“It’s all a dream yet,” said local resident and West Side leader, Isabel Sanchez, who expressed concern for preserving the residential character of the neighborhood. She wasn’t convinced by an idea to narrow portions of Guadalupe Street down to two lanes in order to widen sidewalks and slow down traffic along the street.

The suggestion reminded her of changes made to downtown Houston Street, once a vibrant entertainment and shopping destination for West Side residents. Improvements led to more venues for visitors and tourists but created a void for locals, something Sanchez doesn’t want to see repeated on the West Side.

“We don’t want people using our neighborhood as a hotel. We want a neighborhood where people care for the community,” she said.

Others with strong ties to the neighborhood experienced similar struggles with the exercise to re-create the West Side. However, City Council member Patti Radle shared why she has faith in the project.

“I wouldn’t have had so much confidence (in this process) if longtime community members were not involved,” said Radle as she welcomed and thanked the group for participating in the planning session.

The design concept resulting from the work session will be unveiled at a public open house tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24 at El Progresso on Guadalupe Street. All are invited to dream.