Annual report for Downtown Alliance, Centro San Antonio and Centro Partnership.

2. Over the past year, Downtown Alliance has hosted relevant
programming in an effort to educate our membership, as well Table of Contents
as others, on the developments within the center city and the
possibilities for its future. Our standard annual events – the Downtown Alliance......................................................................................................................3
Urban Spaces Tour, Urban Renaissance Luncheons, the Urban Spaces Tour.................................................................................................................3
Downtown’s BEST Awards and the Downtown Golf Tournament
Urban Renaissance.................................................................................................................5
– experienced record attendance and continue to be favorites for
both learning and networking. We also added two new programs BEST Awards...........................................................................................................................7
this past year – Live Centro and the Downtown Alliance Young Golf Tournament....................................................................................................................9
Professionals – both of which will provide education and support
for two key downtown issues, residential development and Live Centro............................................................................................................................11
attracting and retaining young professionals. Young Professionals.............................................................................................................13
Centro San Antonio....................................................................................................................15
As we look forward to 2012-2013, we are preparing for what will
be a critically significant year as we begin implementation of the Ambassador Amigos............................................................................................................16
Strategic Framework Plan for the Center City, which serves as a Maintenance Amigos...........................................................................................................16
road map for the growth and development of the center city over
By the Numbers....................................................................................................................17
the next decade. Key to this plan was the passing of the 2012-2017
Bond Program that includes several projects that will improve parts Streetscaping Amigos...........................................................................................................18
of the center city. Special Projects and Capital Improvements.....................................................................18
In Spring 2012, the Boards of Directors of the four existing non- Centro Partnership......................................................................................................................19
profit organizations – Downtown Alliance, Centro Partnership, PR/Marketing...............................................................................................................................21
Ben E. Brewer, III Centro San Antonio and the Downtown Community Development
President Corporation – voted to adopt the Centro Collaborative as its
organizational model that will serve as a consortium to improve
collaboration, communication and coordination on behalf of downtown and the
CENTRO
COLLABORATIVE
center city. All will be served by a common staff in an agreement that delineates and
strengthens the unique services that each provides. The organizations will continue to
operate much as they always have but with greater efficiencies and collective muscle.
Centralized
In May 2012, SA2020 described the vision for downtown as being a “showcase Administration
for visitors, a center of vibrant activity for citizens to live, work and play, and an
economically inviting locale for businesses to flourish. Downtown’s historic
buildings and character are preserved, its parks and green spaces are inviting, and
the river continues to be treasured as its defining asset.” For over thirty years,
Downtown Alliance has served as the voice of downtown business and is honored to DT Community
support the SA2020 vision of a downtown that is “everyone’s neighborhood.” Downtown Alliance
501(c)6
Centro Partnership
501(c)6
Centro SA (P.I.D.)
501(c)4
Development Corporation
501(c)3
~ Programs & Advocacy ~ ~ Strategy & Policy ~ ~ Public Space Services ~ ~ Project Assistance ~
Be Centro, ∙ Administration ∙ Public/Private ∙ Maintenance ∙ Grants
∙ Membership/Advocacy ∙ Strategic Vision ∙ PSR’s ∙ Donations (Land & $)
∙ Marketing/Communications ∙ Catalytic Projects ∙ Streetscaping ∙ Development
∙ Events/Education ∙ Recruitment/Retention ∙ Future Capital Improvements
Ben E. Brewer, III
Event photography credits: Melissa Burnett, Greg Harrison, Ellie Leeper

3. Downtown Alliance’s annual educational and fun-filled walking tour
provides a first-hand glimpse into downtown’s neighborhood, showcasing
exciting residential, commercial and cultural spaces in the center city. In
2011, the Urban Spaces Tour explored the newly developed River North
cultural arts district on the north end of downtown.
The 2011 Urban Spaces Tour included:
• an Antonio Museum of Art, including a tour of the exhibit 5,000 Years
S
of Chinese Jade Featuring Selections from the National Museum of History,
Taiwan and the Arthur M. Sackler Collection, Smithsonian Institution
• Najim Campus Center at Providence College Preparatory School
• VFW Post 76
• Speegle apartment
• 1221 Broadway, a mixed-use residential development project
• Knapik apartment at the Pearl
• Culinary Institute of America
• Bike World Synergy Studio
• Center for Architecture
4
This year’s tour was sponsored by Peloton, the San Antonio River Authority,
Broadway Bank, The Pearl, Jordan Construction and 1221 Broadway. The
tour was complemented by the fare of True Flavors at the opening reception
at the San Antonio Museum of Art, and Don Strange of Texas at the closing
reception in the Center for Architecture at the Pearl. Refreshments were
provided by Alamo Beer, a consistent supporter of the Urban Spaces Tour,
and The Boiler House, which will open at the Pearl in 2012.
Each tour time slot on the 2011 Urban Spaces Tour was completely sold out
– a first for the event. Tours were led by students from Trinity University’s
Urban Studies program, also known as, “Urban Studs.” This was the first
year that students served as the official tour guides for the event, which is
part of Downtown Alliance’s new effort to engage more young professionals
as volunteers in annual programs.

4. Initiated in 1998, this luncheon series features presentations from the most successful
downtown initiatives and revitalization programs in the country. Speakers cover a
variety of topics such as transit and how transportation impacts, living, working and
transforming downtown. With a renewed focus on the urban environment, issues
like art in public spaces, safety and reenergizing the city center are discussed. The
goal of the Urban Renaissance series is to engage, inform and inspire those who
support downtown San Antonio as the definitive face of the city’s business, arts,
culture, entertainment and political community.
September 28, 2011
Placemaking in the Center City- Making It Happen
Embassy Suites Riverwalk
Downtown Alliance partnered with ULI San Antonio and the City of San Antonio
Center City Development Office for an informative presentation on Placemaking
and the next steps that downtown San Antonio should take to make recent
initiatives a reality. Phil Myrick with Project for Public Spaces discussed the results
of San Antonio’s PlaceMap exercise, as well as some real projects that should be
undertaken right away. The luncheon was sponsored by Baptist Medical Center,
Jacobs and Jefferson Bank.
February 13, 2012
Top 10 Global Trends Affecting Downtowns
Hyatt Regency Riverwalk
This program, sponsored by the Center City Development Office, VIA and
CPS Energy, provided a provocative view of the future and tangible ideas for 6
anticipating change in the context of an increasingly volatile world. Brad Segal,
President of Progressive Urban Management Associates, presented the top global
trends that are currently affecting planning and development decisions for the next
20 years in America’s downtowns, as well as impact of the economic recession and
ongoing changes in demographics, lifestyles and global competition.
In May 2012, Downtown Alliance hired Progressive Urban Management Associates
to study the existing boundaries of the current Downtown Public Improvement
District, as well as opportunities for extending the boundaries as Centro San Antonio
looks to reauthorize the District in October 2013.
April 16, 2012
The Strategic Framework Plan for the Center City
Hyatt Regency Riverwalk
In April 2011, Centro Partnership commissioned HRA to produce the Strategic
Framework Plan for the Center City. The team conducted planning through
research and analysis, community meetings, stakeholder consultations, and close
collaboration with Centro’s board and City officials. At this Urban Renaissance
program, attended by over 500 people and sponsored by SA2020, the Center City
Development Office and Nix Health, Jamie Torres Springer, partner with HRA,
presented the final report and the recommendations to support growth of the
center city in order to meet the goals set forth by the community for the center city
in SA2020.

5. Each year, Downtown Alliance recognizes those who have made a significant
contribution to downtown with the “Downtown’s BEST” Awards. Initiated in
2001, the awards are divided among multiple categories that celebrate people,
organizations and places that support downtown San Antonio. The BEST
Awards Program is a juried event and awards are presented at an annual
luncheon program and serves as a key fundraiser.
The 2012 BEST Awards competition received a record 76 nominations,
doubling the number received in past years. The Pearl was this year’s
presenting sponsor of the luncheon, which was held at the Grand Hyatt on
March 30, 2012. Paula Stallcup, 2011 Downtowner of the Year, passed the
“downtown torch” to 2012 Downtowner of the Year, Pat DiGiovanni, City
of San Antonio Deputy City Manager. Additional Awards program major
sponsors include The NRP Group, San Antonio Business Journal, the
Grand Hyatt hotel and the Center City Development Office.
The winners of this year’s BEST Awards include:
BEST Adaptive Use BEST Residential
TownePlace Suites by Marriott 1221 Broadway
in the Neisner Building
BEST Neighborhood Restaurant 8
BEST Cultural Distinction Liberty Bar
King William Cultural Arts District
BEST Hotel Restaurant
BEST Music Festival Las Canarias
Echale! Latino Music Estyles
BEST in Sustainability
BEST Development/Construction CPS Energy, Green Initiatives
Cevallos Lofts
BEST Work in Progress
BEST Year-Round Cultural Venue University Health System
Promotional Campaign Robert B. Green Campus Expansion
The Historic Pearl Brewery
BEST Way to Get Lost... in
BEST Single Event Promotion San Antonio’s History (Wild Card Category)
San Antonio Cocktail Conference The Hugman Tour
BEST New Business BEST Downtown Neighbor
N ’
S The Bike Waiter (Wild Card Category)
Mission Restaurant Supply
W
O
BEST Public/Private Partnership
T
D O W N
San Antonio B-Cycle Municipal BEST Recognition for
Bike Share System Living the Dream (Wild Card Category)
2
1
Rodney J. Smith
0
2

6. The Downtown Alliance has held successful golf tournaments for the last fourteen
years. Each year, a portion of the tournament proceeds is donated to a downtown
charity organization, and the remaining proceeds are used to further the DTA’s
educational programs and to keep the downtown constituency informed as to the
importance of a healthy center city. Our goal continues to be a cleaner, safer and
friendlier downtown and the Golf Tournament functions as a fun way to convene
our members and friends, and to raise funds for a good cause. It is yet another
opportunity to reach out to the downtown community and build relationships
between members, businesses, property owners and organizations in downtown
San Antonio.
On May 14, 2012, Downtown Alliance hosted the annual “Downtown Golf
Tournament” at Brackenridge Park Golf Course – “Downtown’s Golf Course.”
124 golfers participated in the tournament, supported by Double Eagle Sponsor,
HNTB. Along with the $800 raised on the activity holes – Designated Driver,
Speed Hole and Play with the Pro – Downtown Alliance donated a portion of
the proceeds to SAMMinistries to support their mission to help the homeless,
and those at risk of becoming homeless, attain self-sufficiency by offering shelter,
housing, and services.
After the tournament, golfers enjoyed dinner in the newly-built pavilion behind the
clubhouse. Golfers dined on fare provided by The RK Group as prizes were handed
out for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the tournament.
1st Place - Embrey Partners 10
2nd Place - Frost Bank
3rd Place - Weston Centre
After dinner, guests participated in the annual raffle contest with prizes from local
hotels, restaurants and businesses. Supporting sponsors of the tournament include:
Baptist Health System Greater San Antonio San Antonio Convention
Block by Block Chamber of Commerce Visitors Bureau
Bohanan’s Prime Steak Greater San Antonio San Antonio
Seafood Transportation Company Commercial Advisors
Catto Catto Gunn Automotive The Sabinal Group
Central Parking Hilton Palacio Del Rio SAMMinistries
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hixon Properties Spurs Sports
Children’s Hospital Hotel Contessa Entertainment
Golf
2012
Creative Civilization ISS Grounds Control Travis Park Plaza
Embrey Partners Marriott Rivercenter TSM Digital Printing
Weston Centre
Tournament Emily Morgan Hotel
Frost Bank
NuStar Energy
Quarter Moon Plumbing
Grand Hyatt Hotel Roger’s Garden

7. In February 2012, Mayor Julian Castro, District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal,
and Jim Mery, interim director for the downtown operations department,
unveiled Downtown Tuesday, a new plan to bring the local community back
to the center city. Downtown Tuesday offers parking at City-operated parking
garages, parking lots and parking meters every Tuesday evening from 5 p.m.
to 2 a.m.
As a partner in this initiative, Downtown Alliance started Live Centro, a
new program on Tuesday evenings that showcases a downtown residential
property and gives those considering living downtown an opportunity to
explore the urban lifestyle, as well as talk to current downtown residents.
In addition to providing residential properties the chance to give tours and
answer questions, Live Centro has also peaked the interest of surrounding
downtown businesses as an opportunity to market themselves to both current
and future downtown residents.
Over 70 people attended the first Live Centro in April 2012 at Cevallos Lofts, 12
a new apartment complex in Southtown. The event was hosted by The NRP
Group and food was delivered by The Bike Waiter. There were also tours
across the street at the Cevallos Modern Contemporary Homes, a small
complex of modern townhomes.
In May 2012, Centre Group Consulting hosted Live Centro at the Vidorra
Condominiums near Sunset Station and over 100 people got the opportunity
to tour four model units, as well as enjoy food and refreshments from
Whole Foods, who catered the event and discussed their downtown grocery
delivery service.
In June 2012, Live Centro enjoyed it’s largest attendance to date at The Vistana
apartment complex. Guests enjoyed amazing city views from the amenity
deck, toured model units and savored appetizers from Luke Restaurant and
refreshments from NOLA Tropical Winery.

8. “To be a first rate San Antonio, this city needs to better attract and retain young
professionals. In the desirability race for young professionals San Antonio has
been losing. Too often students leave San Antonio after they graduate from
college, and not enough young professionals come from other locations. For
years San Antonio has been talking about this issue, but now is the time to
act. Successful cities align their values with those of young professionals. San
Antonio should not mimic the strategies of other cities, but rather should focus
on how it can improve upon its current shortcomings related to density, higher
education, and community networks, while likewise capitalizing upon its
unique assets. San Antonio needs to build on its comparative advantages and
highlight its distinct characteristics that no other place can offer.”
The quote above, taken from the SA2020 report completed by
Trinity University Urban Economics students, speaks to the reason
why the Downtown Alliance Young Professionals group was formed in
October 2011. This group is made up of 20- and 30-somethings who have a
mutual interest in social and business networking, community involvement
and professional development, with a primary goal to promote downtown 14
San Antonio as an exciting place to live, work, and play.
The group was built to exchange ideas, interact socially and share
common interests, as well as position themselves as the center city’s leaders
of today and tomorrow for the betterment of our community. Downtown
San Antonio is filled with many opportunities for a young professional, but
sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Joining Downtown Alliance YP
is an easy way to develop several business and social contacts so that the
network of peers continues to grow.
The Downtown Alliance YP group made its debut with a Holiday
Social in December 2011 at The Esquire Tavern, resulting in over 150
young professionals signing up to join the group. The DTA is currently
developing more young professional programming focusing on professional
development, as well as community interaction and public service.

9. Centro San Antonio helps accommodate downtown’s growing residential
population, enhance its office and retail market, and position downtown
as a premier convention and visitor destination through the efforts of the
Downtown Public Improvement District.
Funded by a special property assessment on properties within the
Downtown Public Improvement District, Centro San Antonio provides
services and improvements as a supplement to services provided by the
City of San Antonio. These services are provided by Ambassador Amigos,
Streetscaping Amigos and Maintenance Amigos. In addition to regular
duties, each Amigo serves as additional “eyes ears” for the SAPD
Downtown Bicycle Patrol Park Police. For the past 12 months, all
Amigos have worn pedometers while performing their duties. This resulted
in 59,574 miles walked, or the equivalent of walking 2.5 times around the
earth’s equator.
Ambassador Amigos play an important role in the District as goodwill
ambassadors for downtown’s various users. Their high visibility positions
them to be proactive in assisting downtown conventioneers, visitors,
workers, residents, and downtown’s various law enforcement officials. 16
Equipped with two-way radios and local area knowledge, these uniformed
Ambassadors are strategically situated throughout the District and in
high-pedestrian traffic areas at key times of the day. They form a unique
partnership with local authorities providing maximum assistance and safety
throughout the District, thereby supporting overall crime prevention.
In the past year, the Ambassador Amigos:
• ssisted 883,072 downtown guests, office workers and residents with
A
directions and service needs
• Manned the Mobile Information Kiosk at various locations daily
• Maintained training in specialized historical geographical facts
• aintained a six-member team that is certified as Professional
M
Tour Guides
Maintenance Amigos supplement the City’s maintenance efforts
by performing sidewalk cleaning, graffiti abatement, trash pickup,
power-washing and weed removal. They perform services 7 days a
week, 360 days a year.

10. 883,072 downtown guests, office workers and
residents assisted
In the past year, the Maintenance Amigos:
• Collected over 68,329 bags of trash – a total of 850 tons
• Power washed in District a total of 41 million square-feet of sidewalks
• Power washed 11,054 bus stops
68,329
• Removed weeds from 1,005 block faces of District sidewalks
• Removed 100,247 gum spots from District sidewalks
• Removed 10,120 graffiti tags stickers
trash bags collected • rovided contract maintenance services for City of San Antonio
P
(COSA) Downtown Operations on the River Walk, the San Antonio
41 million
River Authority on the Museum Reach and the Pearl Farmer’s Market
Sunday in the Park
square feet of sidewalks Streetscaping Amigos provide planters and plant materials to help
power washed “soften” downtown’s public right-of-ways. These improvements help
enhance the pedestrian experience for our many downtown workers,
59,574
residents, and visitors. The District is responsible for maintaining
these improvements. This includes watering, fertilization and replacing
seasonal vegetation as necessary. The Streetscaping Amigos program
intends to expand in scope each year, as funds are available.
miles walked by the Amigos
In the past year, the Streetscaping Amigos:
• Planted 2,016 bougainvillea plants 18
Public Improvement District Service Area • Planted 3,360 pansies
• Planted 3,360 petunias
• Regularly pruned, fertilized and treated for insects
• Dispensed thousands of gallons of water to supplement rainfall
• Regularly replaced missing and dead plants as necessary
Over the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the Downtown Public Improvement
District implemented special projects and capital improvements,
including:
• artnering with COSA Downtown Operations to provide funding for
P
a grackle “relocation” program
• artnering with Downtown Alliance and Centro Partnership to
P
provide funding for a downtown strategic plan with focus on housing,
parking, hospitality office attraction
• Purchasing 25 new blue sidewalk recycling receptacles
• tilizing handheld PDA’s to conduct landscaping surveys for COSA
U
on the River Walk, at Milam Park and Travis Park
• dding wi-fi to the Mobile Information Kiosk, as well as outlets for
A
visitors to charge their mobile devices

11. In the recent SA2020 planning process, a vision for downtown was
created – “In 2020, downtown is the heart of San Antonio and is everyone’s
neighborhood.” In April 2011, Mayor Julian Castro called on the Centro
Partnership to take the lead on updating a strategic plan for downtown
and the center city. The Centro Partnership, a public-private partnership,
worked with other stakeholders to raise funds for and to develop this plan
and help facilitate a series of public workshops. In December 2011, a report
called The Strategic Framework Plan for the Center City was completed.
In April 2012, Centro Partnership partnered with Downtown Alliance
to host an Urban Renaissance Luncheon, where Jamie Torres Springer,
partner with HRA, presented the final report and the recommendations
to support growth of the Center City in order to meet the goals set forth by
the community in SA2020. In an effort to engage the younger generation of
professionals, a targeted demographic of SA2020, Centro Partnership asked
a new young professionals group called LOOP – Leadership Organization
of Professionals – to place a member at each luncheon table and facilitate
discussion about the Strategic Plan and the future of downtown.
In May 2012, Centro Partnership became the official lead partner for the 20
Downtown Development vision area of SA2020, with a responsibility
to provide strategic assistance and meaningful data measurements to
maximize impact of that vision area, as well as work closely with SA2020
to develop productive community networks of investors and ensure
accountability among all of the lead partners. Among the goals for the
Downtown Development vision area are:
• Increase downtown housing units
• Increase the number of people working downtown
• Increase transportation mode options
• Decrease downtown crime rates
• Increase activities and visitation by local San Antonians to downtown
Also in Spring 2012, Centro Partnership released a statement of support
for all five propositions within the City of San Antonio’s 2012-2017 Bond
Program. This bond mapped out $596 million in capital improvements
in San Antonio, including over $110 million in capital improvements
that will directly impact the areas in and surround the center city. All five
propositions passed with voter approval.

12. At the Downtown Alliance Annual Meeting in 2009, Mayor Julian Castro
declared this the “decade of downtown” and downtown San Antonio has
experienced an increase in interest from local media ever since, including
Ben Olivo’s Downtown Blog and regular updates from the Express-News,
the San Antonio Business Journal, San Antonio Magazine and the local
television outlets, just to name a few. In 2012, former Express-News editor,
Bob Rivard, introduced The Rivard Report, a new media web site dedicated
to San Antonio’s urban renaissance with a platform that encourages citizens
to contribute commentary as well as move discussion about the center city.
Downtown Alliance continued to share news about downtown on
downtownsa.org, including national news coverage on San Antonio’s
rankings in several key areas. This past year San Antonio was ranked in the
top 10 of happiest cities for jobs (Forbes.com), ranked as the 25th fittest city
in the country (Men’s Fitness Magazine) and ranked as the nation’s best-
performing city by the Milken Institute, a story that ran in U.S. News and
World Report, Yahoo!News and Forbes.com.
Downtown San Antonio also received positive national television coverage
on TNT during the 2012 NBA Western Conference Finals, as well as 22
coverage of our city’s culinary scene on Bravo’s “Top Chef - Texas.”
In addition to the Downtown Alliance web site, daily updates on news
and events were provided on Facebook and Twitter. Conversations on the
social media outlets were introduced via local news on downtown, as well
as national stories on revitalization in other downtown cities. According to
Facebook Insights, interaction in the form of “Likes” was up 54% over the
past year.
In January 2012, Downtown Alliance unveiled a new look for the monthly
e-newsletter, including the addition of a Member Spotlight section, which
features a Downtown Alliance member and their thoughts on the future of
the center city.
In Spring 2012, the home page of downtownsa.org was redesigned to
highlight news and events of each particular non-profit within the
Centro Collaborative. In addition, an Amigo Feedback page was created
in the Centro San Antonio section of the web site to showcase the positive
feedback received about the Amigos from downtown visitors.
PR MARKETING