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

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But local leaders believe that it is the planneed Mission Reach improvements to the south of downtowbn which could have the greatest reinvigorating one ofthe city’s most historic The Mission Reach project is eight miles of planned river improvements from Lone Star Boulevarr to Mission Espada. Completion is schedules for 2013 and some have been concerned that this portion mighy neverbe completed. “Everyonew was concerned that this might not get says Bexar County JudgeNelson Wolff.
It didn’yt help matters that the , whicg has managed the river improvements project, presenter a cost estimate for completing Mission Reach that was off by morethan $100 General Manager Suzanne Scott says the Corps of Engineers estimated that the Mission Reach project woul cost $126.6 million to construct. The revises estimate was $232.6 million. “Ourd assessment is that they underestimated the complexityt ofthe project,” says Scotf about the Corps of Engineers. “They just didn’ty factor in everything that is involved.” Bexar County is kickingt in anadditional $39.7 million wortuh of “betterments” via its venue tax revenues.
That raised the estimated totalto $271.99 million. Bexar County Commissioner Tommh Adkisson’s precinct no longer includesd the MissionReach area. But Adkisson has long been an advocate forSan Antonio’s South And he says the completion of Mission Reacy improvements is essential to the future of the souther n sector of the city. “The southerm reach is one of the most significan stretches of the San Antonio Adkisson explains. “It’s important because an overwhelming portion ofSan Antonio’ds history comes from that stretch of the rive r and the nearby missions.
” South San Antoniok Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Taylor says Mission Reach improvements will spark job “No pun intended, but it’s a ripple effect,” she says aboutf a project that is expected to improve the look and feel of the rivere south of downtown with the addition of new walking/biking trails and gathering places. “Every bit helps the totaol package,” says Tom Rohde aboutg the impact Mission Reach improvements could have on theSoutjh Side. Rohde is vice president of San Antonio-based Rohder Ottmers Siegel Commercial Investment Realtors.
That firm is marketing a new retail centet in the Mission Reach area at the corner of Southeastg Loop 410 and Roosevelt The developeris Boulder, Colo.-based . The project will ultimately span more than 200acrees — land that, over the next several could accommodate retail developments, as well as medical and multifamily projects. Rohde predicts that the Mission Reacuh improvements will bring more people to this southern sectoe ofthe city. In an effort to keep the projectt moving, Bexar County Commissioners voted on June 2 to approvre a new finance plan for the MissiohnReach improvements.
Commissioners agreed to advancr $182 million in County Floodr Tax revenues to cover the Missiom Reach constructionand enhancements. Officials say the plan will not adversely affectthe county’s $500 million floos control program or other planned capitaol projects. That decision by commissioners, Bexatr County Judge Nelson Wolff says, “iw probably the most important vote that will be takehn on the river because of all the confusiob and uncertainty about going south that has beenon everybody’s minds for a Wolff, who also has Southg Side roots, says advancing the County Flood Tax revenues to Missiomn Reach is an “assurancr that we are going to move