Feedback sought on $12 million Maverick Plaza makeover plan

by Ben Olivo, May 6, 2019

La Villita's Maverick Plaza is due for a $12 million makeover. *Photo by Ben Olivo | Heron*

The city is hosting a public meeting tomorrow night on a $12 million plan to transform Maverick Plaza at La Villita into San Antonio’s next culinary destination.

The plan adds three new restaurants to the plaza—a Mexican, German and Spanish themed—and demolishes non-historic structures, such as the 1970s limestone walls, while adding restaurant space.

The meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Central Library, 600 Soledad St., and will provide attendees an overview of the plan and an opportunity to sound off on “some of the design features within Maverick Plaza,” according to the city.

After 5 p.m., parking is available for free in the Centra Library garage.

Maverick Plaza plan highlights

This drawing shows what Maverick Plaza would look like with three new restaurants and the '70s walls removed.
A—Spanish restaurant by Elizabeth Johnson in the circa-1855 Faville House, which will be expanded back into the plaza.
B—Mexican restaurant by Johnny Hernandez in newly-constructed two-story hacienda-style building.
C—German restaurant and microbrewery by Steve McHugh. Mostly new build; but also uses the Gissi house.
D—Seating and trees around fountain
E—New angled parking along East Nueva Street
F—Reconstructed Alamo Street includes newly-paved promenade that blends into plaza
*Courtesy Fisher Heck Architects*

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This is the first meeting for the project, which is intended to draw more visitors to Maverick Plaza year-round, as opposed to the occasional foot traffic the public space receives as an event venue.

The public meeting will be the first for the project. In December 2017, the City Council approved a 49-year lease of the plaza to Hernandez.

For more details on the plan and the 49-year lease, read our Maverick Plaza archive:

» Plans to add restaurants to Maverick Plaza draws mixed reviews at NIOSA [ April 26, 2019 ]

» It's the last NIOSA as we know it [ April 23, 2019 ]

» Questions remain one year after Johnny Hernandez lands Maverick Plaza lease [ Dec. 20, 2019 ]

Resources

» Download the La Villita lease agreement between the city and Grupo La Gloria signed in May.

» Download the 64-page "Master Plan for a Culinary Concept in Mayor Maury Maverick Plaza," Oct. 7, 2017 (10MB)

Contact Ben Olivo: 210-421-3932 | ben@saheron.com | @rbolivo on Twitter