SAN ANTONIO — SAN ANTONIO — A massive development has turned downtown San Antonio orange. Drivers have been suffering from years of changing traffic patterns and worsening congestion, and many are wondering how long it will take for the construction work to be completed.
One driver complained: “It hurts my butt. It makes navigation difficult.”
The sights and sounds of construction are all too familiar downtown. The Alamo City is struggling to keep up with growth and aging infrastructure, leading to detours, congestion and frustration. Route changes are not the only impact of ongoing construction.
“Many more people will lose their jobs, their dreams and their livelihoods,” said Augustin Cortez Jr., a small business owner born and raised in San Antonio.
place obstacles
He is one of several local business owners who say the city is creating obstacles to their businesses. Seventeen downtown projects are included in his five-year program for the city.
“When I went to work at night and there was an 8-foot-high fence in front of my front door and I could barely access my place, that's when everything went downhill,” Cortez said.
The restaurant owner said he has weathered the pandemic, but construction has forced him to permanently close his Broadway barbecue joint.
“There was no way to get there because the fence went all the way to 35th and almost all the way to Houston Street,” Cortez explained.
After four years, construction will be completed this summer. New roads, sidewalks, public facilities, underground drainage, and bike lanes will attract customers. But Cortes said he received no warning to give businesses time to prepare.
“We have received public statements from local city officials that we made a mistake and that we should have warned you, reminded you, and talked to you about what was going to happen.”
Anna Bradshaw, deputy director of economic development for the city of San Antonio, said Cortez is one of many who share those concerns.
“That was really important feedback that we got: You don't know about these projects until there's construction equipment on the street,” Bradshaw said.
Not enough “dough” is made
At the healthy end of downtown is the changing maze of conical shapes of the South Alamo Bond project.
“The best intersection has become the worst intersection,” said Lori Horn, co-owner of Dow Pizzeria Neapolitan.
Opening a pizzeria in Hemisfair was a dream for Lori Horn and her husband Doug, but they never expected this.
“He called me and said, 'Hey Lori, did you know there's a big hole in front of your restaurant? It looks like a sinkhole,'” the co-owner added.
The couple's plans to bring a taste of Italy to Southtown literally took a detour.
“It forced us to close two days a week. People don't want to go through the hassle of coming here,” Horn added.
Due to complications, the deadline for the South Alamo bond project has been pushed back until 2025.
“I thought maybe late last year and into this year it would wind down a little bit, but things keep changing and I'm worried that once we get to 2025, it's going to be over by 2026,” Horn said.
San Antonio Public Works Director Raj Hosseini said most projects take one to two years, but that time period can vary depending on what is being excavated and the weather.
Resources for business owners
“If we're delayed because the contractor doesn't have the resources, we'll have a meeting and ask for damages per day. But if the project is delayed because of unknown circumstances that we didn't know about, The contractor did not know. We will then work with the contractor to provide additional days,” Hosseini said.
Online tools like the Construction Resource Toolkit and the city's new project dashboard point businesses to resources and up-to-date timelines. The city is also providing website assistance to affected businesses.
“We also have a small business signage program where we work with local small businesses to create signs for businesses,” Bradshaw said.
Horn said the street signs are a good start, but added the city needs to do more to reroute customers.
“We need help not only with billboards, but also with social media, campaigns, advertising campaigns, etc.,” Horn added.
New QR codes raise trails around construction, but businesses think it's too much of a hassle.
“I was driving down Alamo Street and when I got to the corner of Alamo and Commerce at Alamo on Market, there was a big sign saying the road was closed. I know a way around it, but… “I thought about all the people who don't know,” convention attendees, exhibitors, and visitors, why are they seeing a sign that says “Closed?” Horn said.
The city is trying to help affected businesses with additional funding.
“Businesses located within 500 feet of these long-term cities must have started a project that will last at least 12 months, be currently open for business, and meet other criteria, but based on losses, up to $35,000 ,” Bradshaw said.
These additional funds were not enough for some businesses that were forced to close due to construction.
“I understand how people feel when they close, because we were really close to closing,” Horne said, looking out the front window of her Hemisfair store at the desolate street.
Downtown drivers will still have to wait for some projects in the city's five-year plan, but how long can business owners wait?
“It's not just businesses that are hurting. What about private homes? What about personal lives? What about employees?” Cortez wondered.
