In 2004, City Council adopted the HemisFair Park Master Plan. Since its adoption, little has occurred and HemisFair Park remains an underutilized asset. Therefore, the HemisFair Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee was created to commence the redevelopment efforts. Since January 2009, the HemisFair Park Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee has met 8 times and hosted a public meeting on April 14, 2009. After review of several best practices of successful parks across the nation, the Ad Hoc Committee provided two recommendations for the redevelopment of HemisFair Park: (1) create a local government corporation to assist with the planning and development of HemisFair Park and (2) update the 2004 HemisFair Park Master Plan.
Additionally, the Ad Hoc Committee created a vision and seven guiding principles for the Redevelopment of HemisFair Park. The vision for HemisFair Park is as follows: HemisFair Park will continue to be an accessible neighborhood park that unifies the city, serves as a community gathering place, and is an opportunity for citizens to work, live, and play. HemisFair Park will have many special places and uses; some active, some quiet. The seven guiding principles address the connectivity, development, balance, preservation, sustainability, and leadership that is necessary for the successful redevelopment of HemisFair Park and its surrounding area. The vision and seven guiding principles will be incorporated into the LGC’s articles of incorporation and bylaws and will serve as the basis for the qualification of the selected master plan consultant.
The HemisFair Park Area Redevelopment Local-Government Corporation is organized solely for the purpose of aiding and acting on behalf of the City to accomplish certain governmental purposes of the City. The LGC will assist with planning, developing, constructing, managing and financing economic development projects within HemisFair Park and its surrounding area in order to promote economic development and to stimulate business, housing and commercial activity. The LGC will function as a land development corporation which has the power to buy, sell and accept land as a non-profit without the restrictions placed on a municipality. The LGC can hire staff and/consultants, enter into contracts, incur liabilities, borrow money, issue notes and bonds, and secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of all or part of the LGC’s property, franchises and income. Additionally, the LGC will facilitate the collaboration between public and private projects.
A City Council appointed board of directors representative of key stakeholders and downtown advocates will be the policy setting body for the LGC. The board of directors shall be composed of people with demonstrated expertise and experience in a variety of areas to include:
- development of commercial real estate;
- historic preservation, or expertise in the redevelopment of historic properties in historic preservation;
- development of multi-family housing;
- real estate investments or finance;
- downtown neighborhoods;
- downtown business; and
- either civil engineering, architecture, landscape design, park design, or urban planning.
The proposed slate meets the abovementioned requirements and is as follows:
- Bill Shown
- Xavier Gonzalez
- John Laffoon
- Debra Guerrero
- Art Hall
- Daniel Lopez
- Andres Andujar
- Gini Garcia
- Lisa Schmidt
- David Zachry
- Madison Smith
Members from City Council District 1, City Manager’s Office, Center City Development Office, and Downtown Operations Departments will serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members of the board and the executive board. Section 394 of the Local Government Code outlines the composition of the LGC Board. Periodic reviews of the Incorporation and quarterly performance reports will be presented to the City of San Antonio Economic Development and International Affairs City Council Committee.
In addition, the proposed articles of incorporation must be approved by the City Council prior to submission to the Secretary of State for the issuance of the certificate of incorporation. Upon issuance of the certificate of incorporation the HemisFair Park Area Redevelopment Local-Government Corporation existence begins and the board shall hold an organizational meeting to adopt the bylaws, elect officers, and consider other issues that come before the meeting.
It is the recommendation of the HemisFair Park Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee that the HemisFair Park Area Redevelopment Local-Government Corporation initiate an update to the 2004 HemisFair Park Master Plan. The LGC would advertise a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the master plan update. The master plan update will be a transparent and public process designed to engage all of the stakeholders. The selected proposal must address the Vision and the seven (7) guiding principles created by the HemisFair Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee and eight (8) qualifications outlined in the attached document. Funding for the update of the 2004 HemisFair Park Master Plan and its administration is available in the 2007 Bond Program.