Category: Alamobsession

Guarding the Guardians

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Reporter Scott Huddleston of the San Antonio Express-News dropped this gem near the end of his story about the Daughters of the Republic of Texas efforts to trademark “The Alamo:”

Along with the “Allies” campaign, which raises money for Alamo preservation, operations and educational programs, the DRT hopes to collect funds for a new library building on the grounds that eventually could stand seven stories high.

Seven stories high?  And I have been blogging over a banner blocking the entrance to the grounds and the pop-up on the plaza?

Surely San Antonio’s viewshed ordinance protects us from these guardians in need of guarding: 

The purpose of a Viewshed Protection district is to establish regulations to protect, preserve, and enhance views and vistas. The City of San Antonio has many views and vistas of historic places, landmark buildings, and other sites of cultural importance which have always been important to the city.  These views will continue to be amenities and assets of great value to the city, its people, and its economy. 

New development in the vicinity of these important places is usually beneficial, but when construction becomes too tall and begins to overwhelm or intrude, in scale and mass, the main view or vista of a smaller place of significance, then the viewshed located behind the significant property should be protected. 

Viewshed Protection districts are overlay districts that will be used primarily for unique situations regarding views and vistas that are not adequately covered by the standard zoning districts.  No part of a new structure, sign, tower, roof top equipment, or other appurtenance shall be permitted to encroach into any designated viewshed as set forth in this ordinance unless an encroachment was approved legally before the effective date of the Viewshed Protection ordinance.  If the maximum height allowed in any zoning district within the city differs from the height permitted by a protection district, the more restrictive height limitation shall apply.

San Antonio currently has one (1) Viewshed Protection district: Alamo Viewshed (VP-1).  This Viewshed Protection district lies behind the main entrance to the front door of the Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo), a local Exceptional Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.  A brass disc monument named VP-1, Alamo Viewshed, has been set to mark the viewpoint origination in Alamo Plaza in front of the Alamo Chapel….
(see Ch. 35-337 of the Unified Development Code for full boundary description).

If not, fix it quickly.

May 13 Update:  “Another Battle Brews at The Alamo”

June 1 Update:  The Texas Historical Commission’s response to DRT’s plans:  page 1, page 2 and page 3

October 28 Update:  The Daughters of the Republic of Texas are only $40 million away from building a three-story addition to the Alamo grounds….

Bless the Daughters of the Republic of Texas

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Driving through Alamo Plaza yesterday morning, I peered through the remaining bleachers, a hangover from Fiesta, for a glimpse of the familiar blue.  Could it really be gone?  

A reconnaissance mission on foot this morning revealed it truly had disappeared.  All that remained was an unblemished view of the Alamo, minus what had seemed a permanently installed pop-up tent. 

Hallelujah!

The ground where the pop-up had stood for so long resembles a large, freshly-dug, unmarked grave.   The spot cries out for a rest-in-peace sign, but I doubt the ever-present Alamo guard would permit the erection of one. 

Magically appearing, as if to allay fears the popping-down of the pop-up is temporary, was a man with a tape measure.  The Alamo groundskeeper was sizing up the plot to determine the amount of sod needed to restore it as greenspace.

The morning moment seemed out of The Wizard of Oz, the Munchkin chorus whizzing through my head: 

Coroner of Munkinland
Ding-dong, the pop-up's gone.

As Coroner, I thoroughly examined her
And she’s not only merely dead,
She’s really most sincerely dead….

(Munchkin 1)
We thank you very sweetly for doing it so neatly

(Munchkin 2)
You’ve killed her so completely,
That we thank you very sweetly

(Glinda)
Let the joyous news be spread….

 
 

It seems there should be pomp and ceremony, a service excluding prayers for resurrection; this calls for a celebration.  Ah, but I guess there was one – Fiesta San Antonio.

Note Added on April 28:  Remember the Trademark?

Note Added on April 30:  “DRT Drive for Trademark”

Is Anybody Watching Alamo Plaza?

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In this morning’s San Antonio Express-News, Scott Huddleston opens a story with:  “Alamo preservationists are gearing up to fight plans for a streetcar line on land that they say should be closed to traffic out of reverence for the 1836 battlefield.”

But where are the “preservationists” now?  When will they make the Daughters of the Republic of Texas pop-down the pop-up*?

Have these “preservationists” who remember the Alamo as “twice-hallowed ground” walked on Alamo Plaza during spring break?  If this land is hallowed, the halo has just about slipped completely off.  

Unfortunately, I am awaiting the mailman’s delivery of a new battery for my camera, but the everyday sidewalk intrusion in front of Pat O’s has been multiplied ten-fold, or more.  There are hawkers galore, and the front of Fuddrucker’s resembles an out-of-control flea market.   

Does anyone even remember Alamo Plaza is an historic district?

And, holy coonskin caps, just as I was closing this post, a fellow blogger broke the news to me that Fess Parker – the first crush of many a boomer girl – has passed away.

In the Express, Huddleston quotes Bob Benavides, chairman of the San Antonio Living History Association and a Son of the Republic of Texas, as worrying the proposed streetcar line will “take away the magic.”  I fear the “magic” might already be in the same state as Fess Parker.

Note added on March 23:  Perhaps the DRT is in need of instructions on how to take down a pop-up?   I particularly like the wording of Step No. 5: 

Once stood on its side whilst still holding the ‘fabric taco’ together with one hand, use your other hand to grab the poles at the top furthest away from you.  Pull these poles down towards the ground and towards you at the same time.  The tent should fold in on itself and resemble a multilayered disc.

This website warns that, on brand new pop-ups, “the poles are very resistant to folding and will try to re-erect themselves so please be careful.”  As the one at the Alamo might never have been folded, maybe that is the problem.  Try as they might, it keeps re-erecting itself.  Maybe they could purchase a heavy duty roller bag for $76.98.

Note Added on April 27:  Hallelujah!  Maybe they read the instructions.  Bless the DRT.