Major Expansion Underway at Pearl Catering to Visitors Near and Far
San Antonio – Once playing host to the Pearl Brewing Company, Pearl has now become a richly diverse neighborhood, frequented by over 3.44 million visitors last year. The development overseer, Bill Shown, CEO of Oxbow Development Group, has announced exciting expansion plans to accommodate this increase in visitors.
Twice the Size, Twice the Experience
Oxbow plans to undertake a significant expansion that will double the current size of Pearl, a neighborhood that spans over a million to a million and a half square feet. To understand the scale, that would be a little over 15 football fields.
Transforming Pearl’s Landscape
This new development plan involves several impactful projects. Shown explains, “We have under construction Cooper’s Row, the 263-unit apartment that I mentioned, and an icehouse right adjacent to it.” Named in honor of the barrel makers who worked at the old brewery, Cooper’s Row will feature 257 apartments and six live-work spaces, providing versatile areas that can be fitted as storefronts.
More Than Just Residential Spaces
But that’s not all. The breadth of the project includes the construction of a 166-room hotel, which is promised to be economical with a number of facilities like meeting rooms and a lobby bar. Along with this, parking garages and approximately 70,000 square feet of space for further establishments like restaurants, bars, and offices will be introduced, ensuring a wide variety of amenities for residents and visitors alike.
An Infusion of Funds and Facelift Plans
While Pearl has received more than $49 million in form of property tax cuts and grants from the city of San Antonio and Bexar County, the expansion project will also see commitment from private investors. The city has also consented to finance $6.8 million towards public improvements aimed at better connectivity through sidewalks, bridges, and stairs linking the east and west sides of the Riverwalk.
Positive Impact on Nearby Communities
Not only is Pearl set to become even more bustling, but this growth is positively affecting nearby communities. A couple of bridges are being planned to connect Tobin Hill and Pearl communities to the River Walk. Shown believes creating a place that’s accessible makes for a unanimous win. “Pearl has always been about San Antonio and San Antonians, let’s create a place that we can all embrace,” he expresses.
What’s Next for Pearl
As part of the expansion, Oxbow is keen on introducing retail and service businesses like grocery stores, barber shops, hair and nail salons, or dry-cleaning operations. This is in response to requests by existing Pearl tenants and nearby homeowners. Furthermore, an expected 75 apartments and about 10,000 square feet of commercial space are also in the pipeline, to be located across Schiller Street.
The transformation of Pearl is well underway, promising tourists and residents alike an exciting future filled with diverse opportunities and prospects. As San Antonio continues to flourish as a metropolitan hub, Pearls’ growth is all set to amplify this progression, making it an epicenter of cultural and commercial growth.
