River Walk revelers might soon have a new place to seek shade. On July 18, the Historic and Design Review Commission will review plans for a swanky cocktail bar tucked into one of San Antonio's most unique locations — underneath the St. Mary's Street Bridge.
The mock-ups, first reported by MySA, were submitted by local architects Lake|Flato. According to the annotation, the intent is to "repurpose an existing empty space on our vibrant, historic River Walk into an active social place for locals and tourists alike."
The additions would include a small seating area and a glass-in-mortar bar and planters. Sandblasted concrete flooring inspired by Brazilian landscape architect Robert Burle Marx defines the diminutive space.
The historic architectural features, however, would remain untouched. The design would preserve the original quatrefoil pavers and stone, floating the bar structure off the back wall. Only a row of concrete stools, not shown on Robert H.H. Hugman's original River Walk plan, would be demolished.
"If necessary, everything proposed could be removed without touching the historic fabric," the firm noted in the documents.
It's unclear who will operate the micro-bar. The designs are attached to the Canopy Hotel's 123 N. St. Mary's St. address, and the owner is listed as 155. E. Commerce Hotel, an LLC attached to Canopy developer Chris Hill.
The name remains somewhat of a mystery too. Though documents submitted to HDRC refer to the project simply as "outdoor bar (under the bridge,)" similar docs submitted to the Office of Historical Preservation list it as Lumo.
Rendering by Lake | Flato
The new bar project would transform a stretch of the River Walk.
