San Antonio Heron

02/24/2023

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce that the Heron has ceased operations. The main reason for the closure of our news nonprofit was the lack of a sustainable business model. READ MORE 👇

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce that the Heron will cease operations.

12/28/2022

DEEP DIVE: With construction costs and interest rates soaring, San Antonio developers are struggling to make the numbers work for their affordable housing projects.

With construction costs and interest rates soaring, San Antonio developers are struggling to make the numbers work for their affordable housing projects.

12/27/2022

TRANSACTION: A popular Southtown retail strip—home to Pharm Table, Mixtli and Brown Coffee Co.—has been sold to an Austin firm.

A popular Southtown retail strip, home to Pharm Table, Mixtli and Brown Coffee Co., has been sold to an Austin firm.

12/19/2022

ANNOUNCEMENT: Ben Olivo, co-founder and editor of the San Antonio Heron, has accepted a job as local government editor at The Seattle Times. His last day with the Heron will be Dec. 31. The Heron board met Saturday and made a commitment to explore continuing the work Ben started. Read more 👇

The Heron will go on hiatus beginning Jan. 1, so the organization can regroup.

12/14/2022

🍺 THURSDAY, 7 P.M.🍺 The Heron and Freetail Brewing Co. are teaming up for a beer tasting in support of local journalism. Also, just in time for the opening of their new kitchen.

The San Antonio Heron and Freetail Brewing Co. are teaming up for a beer tasting event this Thursday in support of local journalism.

12/09/2022

BOND UPDATE — The city of San Antonio is preparing to disburse nearly $44 million to housing developers and landlords for the production of 686 apartments, the repair of another 1,775 units, and the construction of 71 single-family homes.

The city of San Antonio is preparing to disburse nearly $44 million to housing developers and landlords for the production of 686 apartments, the repair of another 1,775 units, and the construction of 71 single-family homes.

11/29/2022

Like everyone, we have experienced our share of challenges in 2022. Monetizing public service journalism is no easy task. And at the same time, our commitment to bringing you analysis and explanation of the news has never wavered.

Our mantra is: Everything we do is for the reader. That’s you. Every complicated concept we agonize over to simplify in sentence form, every difficult question we ask of a public official, every decision we make—major or micro—is done with you in mind. We’re a public service nonprofit, and you can own a stake in it.

As we continue our end-of-the-year NewsMatch campaign, we humbly ask: Will you support nonprofit news that’s accountable to you?

Give now to invest in news for people, not for profit:

Help us strengthen the democratic process in San Antonio via nonprofit journalism.

11/23/2022

Since we were founded in 2018, we’ve produced in-depth coverage on how the center city of San Antonio is changing. We want to keep it going for years to come.

But we can’t do this critical work without support from readers like you.

Will you support us today, and help us take advantage of matching funds through NewsMatch?

Help us strengthen the democratic process in San Antonio via nonprofit journalism.

11/21/2022

TOBIN HILL — Houston developer Urban Genesis says it’s on schedule to start construction on its holdings on and off North St. Mary’s Street—overall, a $45 million series of developments for a total of 178 market-rate apartments—by first quarter 2023.

Houston developer Urban Genesis says it’s on schedule to start construction on its holdings on and off North St. Mary’s Street—overall, a $45 million series of developments for a total of 178 market-rate apartments—by first quarter 2023.

11/19/2022

UTSA - The University of Texas at San Antonio's $124 million Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Careers (IEC) building, the university’s next phase on Dolorosa, received full funding this week.

UTSA's $124 million Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Careers (IEC) building, the university's next phase on Dolorosa, received full funding.

11/17/2022

HOTELS — The 121-room Artista Hotel planned for a compact property on East Travis Street and the river has received final approval from the Historic and Design Review Commission.

Construction is expected to start in the "next few months."

The 121-room Artista Hotel planned for a compact property on East Travis Street and the river received final approval from the Historic and Design Review Commission on Wednesday.

11/16/2022

TOBIN HILL UPDATE — Oxbow Development Group, the company that built the Pearl, is moving forward with plans to build a 9-story mixed-use structure along the river, significantly expanding its footprint on the other side of East Grayson.

The Pearl’s development company is moving forward with plans to build a 9-story mixed-use structure, which would include 250-275 market-rate apartments, on a full city block bound by East Josephine, Isleta, East Grayson and the river.

11/08/2022

TRANSACTION: A partnership managed by Bruce Hill, one of the investors buying the San Antonio Missions baseball team, purchased property on the near West Side in May, nearly adjacent to a site highlighted in a 2016 report as a suitable spot for a downtown stadium.

A partnership managed by Bruce Hill, one of the investors buying the San Antonio Missions double-A baseball team, purchased property on the near West Side in May, nearly adjacent to a site highlighted in a 2016 report as a suitable spot for a downtown baseball stadium.

11/04/2022

Help us kick off our annual NEWSMATCH campaign in person at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at The Dakota East Side Ice House.

Plus, you'll need a drink after this election.

For the third year, the San Antonio Heron has been selected to participate in NewsMatch, a national matching-gift campaign that drives donations to nonprofit newsrooms (like ours!) around the U.S.

This is our largest fundraising event of the year. The money we raise during NewsMatch, which runs through Dec. 31, is crucial to fulfilling our mission heading into 2023.

NewsMatch will match any contribution we receive during this time, whether it’s through our online form, mailed check, or $20 bucks dropped in our collection box at an event such as this one.

Have a drink and some food with current and past Heron contributing journalists, Heron board members, volunteers, and others who continue to help make the Heron a reality.

We’ll also be giving away cool prizes such as H-E-B gift cards, San Antonio Zoo and McNay Art Museum tickets.

Big THANK YOU to The Dakota for $1 OFF DRAFTS (domestics and imports) during the event, and for hosting us.

Visit the event page 👉 https://bit.ly/22NewsMatchLaunch

To donate on our NewsMatch campaign page, visit 👉 https://givebutter.com/2022SAHeronNewsMatch

Hope to see you next week!

11/04/2022

TOBIN HILL: Developer Jake Harris is planning to build 1,000 apartments, 70,000 square feet of retail on West Josephine and the St. Mary's Strip, adding to a flurry of new housing either under construction or in the planning stage in the area.

Developer Jake Harris is planning to build a 1,000-apartment project West Josephine that would also touch the St. Mary's Strip. If built, it would add the flurry of new housing developments either under construction or in the planning stage for Tobin Hill.

10/18/2022

HEMISFAIR UPDATE: New renderings show a 29-story, 360-unit apartment tower with a 7-level parking garage and 25,000 square feet of retail space on East Market Street. The plans are up for review this week.

New Hemisfair renderings show a 29-story, 360-unit apartment tower with a 7-level parking garage and 25,000 square feet of retail space on East Market Street. The plans are up for review this week.

10/14/2022

ALAZAN UPDATE: Opportunity Home San Antonio has applied for $8 million from San Antonio's housing bond for a new public housing development at Alazan-Apache Courts.

Opportunity Home San Antonio has applied for $8 million from San Antonio’s housing bond for a new public housing development at Alazan-Apache Courts.

10/03/2022

North Carolina-based Winston Hotels is set to open its first Texas project, an AC by Marriott, inside the former Riverview Towers later this week. Other phases, including a rooftop bar, are scheduled to open later this year.

Winston Hotels, a Raleigh, N.C.-based developer, is scheduled to open an AC by Marriott on Thursday inside conjoined former office towers at 111 Soledad St.

09/23/2022

The Big Give is today and continues through 6 p.m.!

We know you're being bombarded by Big Give requests from some excellent nonprofits in San Antonio, so we'll keep this short.

All funds raised during The Big Give 2022 will specifically support our explanatory and deep dive journalism.
Your support helps us execute our mission: to play a leading role in shaping a well-informed electorate with our special brand of journalism, which truly puts the reader first.

Will you help us sustain our mission by donating via The Big Give?

Support trusted journalism today. 👇

https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/sanantonioheron

I’m ready to support San Antonio Heron on September 22, 2022 during The Big Give. Learn more about San Antonio Heron and all the other organizations participating in .

09/23/2022

FRIEDRICH UPDATE: Crews are scheduled to begin the environmental abatement process on the ruinous Friedrich industrial site this month, preparing it for the mixed-income 358-unit Friedrich Lofts by 2025.

This month, crews are scheduled to begin the environmental abatement process on the ruinous Friedrich industrial site, preparing it for the mixed-income 358-unit Friedrich Lofts by 2025.

09/17/2022

Downtown San Antonio is changing rapidly. Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter to stay connected. https://saheron.com/newsletter/

Recent editions » June 5, 2022: Aztec building to become ‘pricey’ River Walk hotel; Town hall with D1 Councilman Mario Bravo (event); FW developer to build 340 apartments near St. Paul Square; Update on CPS Energy’s W. Jones property » May 29, 2022: Housing needed at all price points, Nirenb...

09/08/2022

HOUSING: Local TikTok personality Christine Ahuyon has found few options when it comes to affordable housing that's also serves people with disabilities.

Local TikTok personality Christine Ahuyon has found few options when it comes to affordable housing that's also for those with disabilities.

09/06/2022

UPDATED: On Wednesday, the city's design review board gave conceptual approval on Zachry Hospitality's planned 17-story, 200-room hotel.

The design for Hemisfair’s boutique hotel, an at-times controversial project that has gestated over several years, was given conceptual approval by the the city’s Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) without discussion on Wednesday.