The Continental Block is located between Dolorosa and West Commerce St., with the San Pedro Creek lining its eastern border. The historic Continental Hotel, built c. 1896 and attributed to architect Alfred Giles, will be carefully renovated with a blend of residential units and street-level retail. The Arana Building was built in 1926 and designed by Leo M.J. Dielmann and will be renovated to accommodate retail and office tenants. Both buildings will be restored to their historic footprints, with non-historic additions removed.
Additionally, the De La Garza House, a historic Spanish Colonial home built in the early 1800’s, will be renovated and enhanced with landscaping featuring native flora and an added tree canopy. The house is one of the oldest remaining historic structures in downtown San Antonio and will serve as an integral part of the streetscape and pedestrian plaza at the southwest corner of the block. Once construction and renovations are complete, the De La Garza house will be contributed to Bexar County.
The new construction component is a partnership with the Bexar County Public Facility Corporation. It will be located in the middle of the block, between the two historic buildings, and will include a five-level parking podium with an additional eleven stories of multifamily units. The full block development will include 290 units of mixed-income housing, a five-level parking garage, 28 furnished units, and approximately 22,000 square feet of commercial space (retail and office).
The project will contribute to the revitalization of the immediate area surrounding the block which includes robust public investment in city government facilities, public spaces, and the expansion of University of Texas at San Antonio’s downtown campus.