No detail was spared on LSA 48 Economic Development and Infrastructure Day, as team “We Built This City” planned a day filled with information and activity. The theme, “A Tale of Two Cities,” explored both the history and future of San Antonio’s vibrant and extensive growth. The day was curated with a thought-provoking mindset and featured high-profile speakers and exclusive experiences reinforcing the city’s growth.
The morning kicked off high above the city at Frost Tower’s top floor with breakfast provided by La Panaderia and a fireside chat with entrepreneur Graham Weston. His overview of San Antonio’s recent growth, past challenges, and future vision set the tone for each of the stops throughout the day. After breakfast, the class walked over to Legacy Park to hear from David Robinson Jr. about recent developments and investments by Weston Urban including 300 Main, the first high-rise residential tower in downtown San Antonio.
After learning about the revitalization of downtown, the class headed over to the historic Alameda Theatre to learn about the restoration of this beautiful venue to the original allure of the 1950s. LSA members watched an informational video about the location and then were treated to the sounds of local mariachis as they made their way into the theatre. There was a tour of the project featuring a historically unique blacklight mural that remains nearly intact.
From there, the class proceeded to the San Pedro Creek Park where they heard from the San Antonio River Authority about the importance of private and public partnerships in revitalizing infrastructure and promoting growth.
Continuing with the theme of the synergy between public and private investment, the class proceeded to La Zona Cultural, a new concept that combines art and economic development. LSA members had the opportunity to mingle, snack and visit various stations. The service component of the day was the beautification of one of the dilapidated walls at La Zona. LSA 48 left a permanent mark on this space by commissioning a San Antonio skyline mural featuring the handprints of the class and steering committee members. Centro SA’s Andi Rodriguez discussed some signature art pieces in the downtown area, and then, Rey Feo and his court stopped by to highlight the economic impact of Fiesta San Antonio.
Lunch was held at Valero’s private hangar at the airport where chef Phillipe Place served a beautiful lunch and John Dickson discussed the airport expansion. The theme of lunch, Dining and Discourse, enabled class members to participate in conversations about the opportunities and challenges of the city’s growth trajectory and the various ways in which community leaders can help ensure these opportunities materialize.
The day continued with a stop at the SAMSAT Museum at Port San Antonio. Jim Perschbach discussed the industries that are the backbone of Port SA, the growth and development of this 1,900-acre tech port campus, and the various infrastructure developments on the horizon.
There also was a stop at Velocity TX, a bioscience research campus, where the class explored the transformative impact of the biotech and medical sectors. Class members gained valuable insights from the CEO about their groundbreaking innovation center and the expanding innovation district. At GenCure, a prominent player in cell manufacturing located within Velocity, class members witnessed the intricate processes involved in their high-tech operations. Additionally, they learned about the Step into STEM program, which is dedicated to preparing the future workforce by introducing students to diverse career opportunities in STEM fields.
The day concluded with a Fiesta-themed reception at La Zona Cultural where class members celebrated their final class day!