Hemisfair News

$340 million plan for continued transformation of Hemisfair moves forward

Hemisfair Park's redevelopment into a world-class destination continues.

Rendering courtesy of Hemisfair

Furthering its mission to make historic Hemisfair Park a world-class attraction for locals and tourists alike, the San Antonio City Council has announced an updated agreement to continue development in the growing downtown destination.

Working with Zachry Hospitality and the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC), the new plan, approved unanimously by San Antonio City Council on Thursday, April 7, outlines the process to deliver a hotel, park-facing activations, parking options, and more residential units to the original 2017 contract.

“This agreement is an important step forward, bringing one of the most critical pieces of real estate in San Antonio back to life in a way that befits the vision we had at the beginning,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg says in a release. “Fifty-four years after the opening of the World’s Fair that sought to put San Antonio on the international stage, we take this action in ushering forward the next chapter in Hemisfair’s redevelopment and its impact on our city.”

Originally built as the site of the 1968 World Fair in San Antonio, Hemisfair Park is once again a vibrant gathering place, thanks to a three-phase redevelopment plan implemented by the city in 2009. More than a decade later, the sustainable, self-funded urban district buzzes with local businesses, residences, and Yanaguana Garden. Today, Hemisfair has become one of San Antonio’s busiest pedestrian areas, due to its proximity to the River Walk, the Alamo, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and the future Civic Park.

“This is a core piece of downtown property that not only anchors San Antonio’s central business district but also serves the entire community as evidenced by the success of the public-private-partnership next to Yanaguana Garden,” District 1 City Councilman Mario Bravo says. “I support this updated agreement with the understanding that the development team is committed to beginning construction as soon as possible, and I look forward to celebrating the grand opening of this project with our community when we welcome the NCAA Men’s Final Four to San Antonio, the first of many large scale events to come at Hemisfair.”

Construction on each of the new projects will begin by March 2023, with an expected completion date no later than March 2025. This week’s approval paves the way for $340 million in private investment in San Antonio’s downtown core while resolving funding challenges resulting from COVID-19 impacts. Privately financed parking garages will support the park and surrounding development as a result of the amended contract, alleviating the city’s previous commitment to funding and operating a $60 million parking facility. Also included in the agreement are 525 new residential units, a 200-room boutique hotel, 65,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, and public parking without city funding.

“With this amendment, we’re delivering amenities that serve our park visitors, contribute to San Antonio’s economic recovery and help secure the Hemisfair District’s financial sustainability,” says Andres Andujar, CEO of Hemisfair. “We’re grateful to the city and our development partners for working diligently with us to produce an amendment that will serve San Antonio for generations to come.”

downtown

Vehicle News

What to know about new car inspection requirements in San Antonio

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Texas is changing requirements for vehicle registration.

Beginning January 1, 2025, Texas vehicle owners will no longer need to obtain a safety inspection prior to vehicle registration. House Bill 3297, passed during the 88th Legislature in 2023, eliminates the safety inspection program for non-commercial vehicles.

We'll all be free, free, free of the oppression of the safety inspection process. However …

Under the new law, the $7.50 fee that drivers had to pay as a safety inspection fee has not gone away. It now appears on your registration notice under a new name: "Inspection Program Replacement Fee."

This name change comes courtesy of the legislature, who want to keep collecting this fee because the funds go to state programs such as construction and expansion of state highways — funds they previously collected from the Safety Inspection Fee.

And while the safety inspection is gone, state law will still require that drivers in 17 counties must pass an "emission inspection" on vehicles that are 2 to 24 years old, in order to get your vehicle registered. In Bexar County, the new requirement will go into effect in 2026.

But what does an "emissions inspection" mean?

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) details the following changes:

Safety inspection out, emissions testing in
Until December 31, 2024, safety inspections are required for vehicle registration in all 254 counties. Beginning January 1, 2025, noncommercial vehicles in Texas will no longer be required to have an annual safety inspection. Instead, vehicles will have to get an emissions inspection on gasoline-powered vehicles that are 2 to 24 years old.

What is no longer going to be "inspected"?
Texas Transportation Code §548.051 specifies the list of old-school inspection items which will no longer be checked. Moving forward, they will no longer be checking: tires, wheel assembly, safety guards, safety flaps, brakes, steering, lighting, horns, mirrors, windshield wipers, sunscreening devices, and front seat belts in vehicles on which seat belt anchorages were part of the manufacturer's original equipment.

What will still be inspected are listed as "Items 12–15": exhaust system, exhaust emissions system, fuel tank cap, and emissions control equipment. These will be part of the emissions inspection process in 17 counties.

Those 17 counties where this is relevant include:

Austin: Travis and Williamson
DFW: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant
Houston: Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery
El Paso County

In Bexar County, emissions inspections will be required beginning on November 1, 2026.

Where will emissions inspections be obtained?
Emissions inspections can be obtained at DPS-certified vehicle inspection stations in the 17 emissions counties. These will be the exact same inspection locations we've been going to all along, when it was called a safety inspection. Emissions inspections are not available in the other 237 Texas counties.

DPS offers an inspection station locator online.

What is the estimated cost of an emissions inspection?
Vehicle owners will pay an emissions inspection fee of $2.50 annually to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) at the time of registration. The actual fee you'll pay at the inspection station (as listed on TCEQ’s website) will be $25.50. Just like the former "safety inspection" fee.

In short: There is little that's changing about the entire inspection process, except they won't bother making you honk your horn.

transportation