San Antonio – The Historic Pearl has quickly become a local favorite hotspot, but there’s still space for it to expand, and the visionaries are sharing their plans for the future.
The Pearl is known for its unique and local focus, attracting about 3.4 million visitors each year. Bill Shown, CEO of Oxbow Development Co., said there’s a lot more planned to help expand that unique experience.
“We said we want this to be all about San Antonio and San Antonians. And so, it’s been very, very intentional — local operators, local restaurateurs and chefs,” Shown said.
Developers and their partners are now expanding west of the river. It starts with the construction of two new bridges that will connect the Pearl to the Tobin Hill neighborhood. There are several plots of land that are currently under construction, and plans for others that are currently empty.
“Parking is absolutely key to Pearl. And we have promised the neighborhood that whatever we do, we will create parking that will satisfy the demands of everything that we create,” Shown said.
Some of the development includes new living areas, spaces for restaurants and shops, and a four-star hotel near the Emma Hotel, which is a five-star hotel unique in Texas. The development is ongoing and will be complete in the next seven years or so.