Bexar County leaders call Mission Reach vital - San Antonio Business Journal:

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But local leaders believe that it is the plannedc Mission Reach improvements to the south of downtowm which could have thegreatest impact, reinvigorating one of the city’zs most historic areas. The Missiobn Reach project is eight miles of planned riverf improvements from Lone Star Boulevard toMission Espada. Completion is scheduled for 2013 and some have been concerned that this portion might neverbe “Everyone was concerned that this might not get done,” says Bexaer County Judge Nelson Wolff.
It didn’tr help matters that the , which has managed the rivee improvements project, presented a cost estimate for completing Missiobn Reach that was off by morethan $100 General Manager Suzanne Scott says the Corpa of Engineers estimated that the Mission Reach project would cost $126.6 milliojn to construct. The revised estimate was $232.6 million. “Our assessment is that they underestimated the complexit y ofthe project,” says Scot t about the Corps of Engineers. “They just didn’tt factor in everything that is Bexar County is kicking in anadditional $39.u million worth of “betterments” via its venue tax That raises the estimated total to $271.
9 million. Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson’s precinct no longet includes the MissionReach area. But Adkissomn has long been an advocate forSan Antonio’s South And he says the completion of Mission Reachn improvements is essential to the future of the southern secto of the city. “The southernn reach is one of the most significang stretches of the SanAntonio River,” Adkisson “It’s important because an overwhelming portion of San Antonio’es history comes from that stretch of the river and the nearbyt missions.
” South San Antonio Chambet of Commerce President Cindy Tayloe says Mission Reach improvements will spark job “No pun intended, but it’s a ripple effect,” she says abou a project that is expectedr to improve the look and feel of the rivere south of downtown with the addition of new walking/biking trails and gathering “Every bit helps the total package,” says Tom Rohdse about the impact Mission Reach improvementsd could have on the Soutn Side. Rohde is vice president of San Antonio-basede Rohde Ottmers Siegel Commercial & Investment Realtors.
That firm is marketing a new retail center in the Mission Reach area at the corner of Southeast Loop 410 andRooseveltt Avenue. The developer is Boulder, Colo.-based . The project will ultimatelhy span more than 200acres — land over the next several could accommodate retail developments, as well as office, medical and multifamil projects. Rohde predicts that the Missiohn Reach improvements will bring more people to this souther n sector ofthe city. In an effort to keep the projecr moving, Bexar County Commissionerd voted on June 2 to approve a new finance plan for the MissionbReach improvements.
Commissioners agreed to advance $182 million in Counth Flood Tax revenues to cover the Mission Reach constructionand enhancements. Officials say the plan will not adversely affectthe county’s $500 million flood control program or other planned capital projects. That decision by commissioners, Bexar County Judge Nelsonm Wolff says, “is probably the most important vote that will be takejn on the river because of all the confusion and uncertaintty about going south that has beenon everybody’sa minds for a Wolff, who also has Southn Side roots, says advancing the County Flood Tax revenues to Mission Reach is an “assurance that we are goinvg to move forward.
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