SAN ANTONIO – Plans for a four-story apartment complex near the Hays Street Bridge on the city's East Side have been put on hold.
The Historic and Design Review Commission voted Wednesday to conduct an onsite visit before voting on whether to approve plans for the 148-unit complex at 803 North Cherry.
The commission heard from 22 people who are against the development.
Opponents said the complex will block the view of the historic bridge and would also take away the open feel to the bridge, where many residents enjoy yoga, biking, walking, taking photos and holding wedding ceremonies.
Developers said the apartment complex will not touch the bridge, and that it's 67 feet away from it, which wouldn't stop people from using the bridge.
"There's no actual viewship designation," said Ignacio Aliaga, an architect with A+B Architecture and Design. "Yes, your property is going to have a building in front of it, and it's going to be blocked, but that happens everywhere in the city."
"Even if it's 67 feet away, we know that this is too close, and it's threatening that bridge," said Brian Gordon, who opposes the development.
In the end, members of the commission decided they needed a site visit to see exactly how high the proposed complex would reach.
"A site visit gives everybody the opportunity to step back and say, 'Can we renegotiate and get a better project out of this?'" said Liz Franklin, who opposes the complex. "So, it was the best outcome that could have happened today."
