Walkability and ‘soul’ at center of Historic Pearl development.
The walkability of San Antonio has been a sorely contended discussion point for decades, with many saying the lack of walkability and overcrowding of parking garages has prevented the center of the city from being an attraction for tourists and locals alike. But what if San Antonio took on the Spanish concept of superblocks to boost walkability and promote downtown tourism? Turns out there’s some examples in the city already showing promising results.
Superblocks are a concept introduced in the Spanish city of Barcelona. It’s a fairly simple concept: create three block by three block “superblocks” where streets are closed off to vehicular traffic and diverted to outer streets. Thus, there’s an entirely pedestrian- and bike-friendly hub with entertainment, retail, and dining at its center.
The Historic Pearl is one example of how prioritizing walkability and decentralizing vehicular traffic can create a huge draw. A simple walk around the shopping and food destination will prove there’s a desire for foot-traffic spaces in San Antonio. The walkable nature of the development has been such a success. Oxbow Development Director Omar Gonzalez says the development team is continuing to look at converting to parking garages to better utilize surface lots to “help bring people (not cars) together.”
“The walkability factor for the neighborhood has evolved over time as we studied walking patterns and prioritized safety and human connection,” Gonzalez told MySA. “Folks who are walking are more engaged with the built environment surrounding them and more likely to patronize local businesses or have human interactions with others. It’s a way of building a community and providing true person-to-person experiences which is lacking in today’s heavily mobile and fast-paced world.”
While there can certainly be an element of cost to such development – you’d need either consensus from multiple owners across several blocks or a single owner for the entire area – Gonzalez says it’s really about thoughtful design. He says the average visitor is willing to walk 10-15 minutes from place to place. But if guests are being entertained between each destination, be it retail fronts, coffee shops or restaurants, that distance can be stretched.
That’s a notable bit lacking from several neighborhoods around the city and in downtown San Antonio. Destinations are spread far apart with large parking garages and lots further splitting up retail and dining spots, meaning visitors are less likely to park and walk it out. However, Gonzalez says that’s a changing trend as retailers learn the advantages of having parking isolated to the perimeter.
“Absolutely this trend is here to stay. Interestingly, it was the urban trend before highways and car efficiency, too,” Gonzalez said. “It is a tradeoff between convenience (stay in an air-conditioned vehicle) and community (meet your neighbors). Obviously, retail was forever changed with the advent of internet and buying online, so the old mall style is getting replaced with a new model in which people are willing to have an experience, and it better be worth the tradeoff for the convenience of ordering from a device.”
The future of walkability remains at the core of the Historic Pearl’s expansion, which is set to double the size of the neighborhood development. An oversized parking garage is in the works to contain all vehicles, sidewalks are being built larger than average to accommodate side-by-side companions and strollers or wheelchairs, and by investing in more public plazas to continue to foster a sense of community.
“We are bringing more live music and art so we can celebrate as a community and learn from one another,” Gonzalez said.
