The Downtown Alliance works to protect and enhance the values and usage of downtown properties and businesses, making downtown an exciting place to live, work, shop and play.

2011

August 2011

Express-News: Incentives are set for downtown grocery

Aug 19, 2011

The City Council set aside $1 million in incentives Thursday for a downtown grocery store, which sources say H-E-B plans to build near its corporate headquarters south of César E. Chávez Boulevard. The store is expected to be between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet and include a gas station, the sources said. Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/article/Incentives-are-set-forgrocery-2122044.php#ixzz1VVDobPZ4

KENS5: Change for change: City converts old parking meters to donation stations

Aug 19, 2011

The City of San Antonio is using retired parking meters to help the homeless.

The coins collected will support homeless programs at San Antonio's Haven for Hope, which houses about 2,500 people every night. “This is an innovative way to reuse materials that still maintain functionality but have been replaced with technology,” said Paula Stallcup, director of the Downtown Operations Department. “We hope the new donation stations will be a convenient way to help support homeless programs in San Antonio.” Watch the video here>

May 2011

KSAT: What would you do?

May 25, 2011

KSAT's undercover cameras catch reactions to a "drunk driver" including an Amigo who saved the day... http://www.ksat.com/news/28013365/detail.html

The Palm to honor Centro San Antonio Amigos in celebration of National Tourism Week

May 13, 2011

In celebration of National Tourism Week, The Palm San Antonio will host the Centro San Antonio Amigos for lunch on Friday May 13, 2011 in appreciation of their dedication to making downtown a clean and friendly destination for visitors and locals from near and far. While the Amigos are invited to dine al fresco, they will be looked over by not only The Palm’s attentive staff but the smiling “faces” of San Antonio’s leading businessmen, politicians and celebrities whose caricatures line the restaurant’s famed walls. Often called “the face of San Antonio,” themselves, the 65+ Amigos provide a host of services that improve downtown through the Ambassador, Streetscaping, and Maintenance programs.

Get Lost: New River Walk Smartphone Tour Invites Visitors to Get Lost in SA River Walk History

May 9, 2011

Using state-of-the-art technology that makes history accessible, Downtown Alliance and the City of San Antonio have developed the Hugman River Walk Tour – the only free interactive self-guided tour of the San Antonio River Walk. With a smart phone or pad device, visitors access the tour by scanning a quick response (QR) code to navigate along the internationally-recognized tourist attraction. The tour’s QR codes are found on the River Walk’s wayfinding and interpretive signs.

Centro San Antonio publishes first issue of bi-annual e-newsletter

May 9, 2011

In May 2011, Centro San Antonio published the first issue of a new bi-annual electronic newsletter to provide specific updates on the public improvement district. View the issue online.

KSAT: Gumbusting keeps downtown clean

May 2, 2011

KSAT reporter David Sears tries his hand at gumbusting. Watch the video online at: http://www.ksat.com/news/27725382/detail.html

March 2011

Cleto Rodriguez is an Amigo for the Day

Mar 10, 2011

SAN ANTONIO - The Alamo City is a hot spot for tourists. The city is gearing up for Spring Break when lots of families will be driving into town to see the Alamo, the Missions and eat at all our wonderful restaurants. The men and women in yellow are ambassadors equipped with the 'must-see' lists and information for tourists. WOAI's own Cleto Rodriguez suited up to try out being a San Antonio 'ambassador.' He quickly discovered it's a serious job! View the video

February 2011

Kens5 Great Day SA: Amigo for a day

Feb 3, 2011

Kens 5's Great Day SA reporter Eileen Teves is an Amigo for the Day in this special report that goes behind the scenes of the Maintenance Amgios. http://www.kens5.com/great-day-sa/Eileen-is-an-amigo-for-the-day-115195304.html

January 2011

La Prensa: DTA and Centro featured in "The Decade of Downtown Goes Digital"

Jan 26, 2011

Downtown Alliance and Centro San Antonio are featured in today's issue of La Prensa on page 9 in "The Decade of Downtown goes Digital." Click here to download the pdf.

SABJ: HemisFair plan key to future of downtown

Jan 21, 2011

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro says he is convinced that HemisFair Park, site of the 1968 World’s Fair, will finally become something more than a monument to a bygone era. Downtown stakeholders say the redevelopment of that 80-acre site is critical if San Antonio hopes to lure more businesses and a broader mix of residents to the center city. Read more: HemisFair plan key to future of San Antonio's downtown | San Antonio Business Journal

Express-News: Downtown goes blue to get greener

Jan 10, 2011

In 2010, if the installation of 32 bike racks, the announcement of a bike rental system, and the replacement of some parking meters with the solar-powered stations weren’t indicators enough of the city’s commitment to make downtown a greener place, last week the city placed 25 recycle cans throughout the central business district. Read full article>