Category: San Antonio Parks

Let the Alamo Guardians Retaliate

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No official comments from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have been submitted to any of the posts about The Alamo on this blog; so it seems only fair to share their official stance on diverse topics with readers.  Sort of an equal-time kind of thing. 

This way to give the custodians of The Alamo their opportunity to vent about attacks against them in the media is courtesy of The Alamo Wake-Up Call Channel on YouTube.

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

June 18 Update:  “DRT Now Under State Investigation”; Attorney General Gregg Abbott’s Request to Examine DRT; related editorial; and Alamo without Director

June 23 Update:  Reports on the saga continue:  “Hopefully, we will be successful in narrowing the scope and extending the time window, as DRT is in the middle of gathering information for our upcoming audit,” Atkins wrote.

July 1 Update:  Editorial pointing out the Alamo’s cracked roof as symbolic of the DRT’s problems.

Update on October 19:  John Branch editorial cartoon:

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”