By: Steven Santana | From: My San Antonio

Development is popping off San Antonio is overhauling the heart of the city with projects like the new Alamo museum, upgrades to Hemisfair and a potential stadium for the Spurs in the heart of the city. There are multiple multimillion hotel and apartment projects already underway to capitalize off these investments that could make San Antonio more of a destination city. 

Here are seven apartment and hotel projects you should keep an eye on as we hit the midpoint of 2024.

Monarch at Hemisfair

The Hemisfair has been working on its vision of redeveloping the site of the 1968 Worlds Fair for years. With the second phase of the new Civic Park underway, Zachry Hospitality began work on its 200-room, 17-story boutique hotel called The Monarch in November 2023. The hotel located at 222 S Alamo St., San Antonio, Texas 78205 will overlook the new Civic Park and will be next to our next project to keep an eye on. 

Hemisfair apartments

Developers are still in the planning phase of this 10-story residential tower that will be located next to The Monarch. The project is being led by the Post Lake Capital Partners and the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation. The Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) approved plans for the apartments in June 2023.

Designs include plans for a rooftop pool and patio on top of a separate retail building that connected via a walkway on the second floor. There is also a planned separate retail building will have a lower level with access to the River Walk. 

Hotel near San Fernando Cathedral

This 10-story Residence Inn by Marriott from Meritt Development Group received the nod from HDRC in February. The hotel will be located at 100 N Main Ave., San Antonio, TX 78205 and will have 171 all-suite rooms and 775 square feet of meeting space.  No timeline on this project was disclosed. 

El Tropicano renovation

El Tropicano, the abandoned hotel that capitalized on the popular midcentury tropical style of the 60s, is getting a revival courtesy of three investors — Trestle Studio, Sopris Capital and The Town Lake Company. Investors bought the property in January and plan a "full rehabilitation and restoration" of the hotel that closed in April 2020 at the height of the pandemic. 

Developers filed a construction permit with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in May, saying work on the estimated $46 million project will begin in August.

Gunter Hotel renovation

The historic Gunter Hotel that opened in 1909 and is now operated by Marriott is set for a multimillion upgrade, according to a recent TDLR filing. Details on the renovations aren't fully known but the TDLR filing says the project includes full renovation to all public spaces, 300 guest rooms the existing bar and restaurant. 

The project actually has a projected cost of $45 million and involves the Gunter becoming part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio. 

Work was expected to start in June. 

Coopers Row North

Oxbow Real Estate, the Pearl adjacent residential developer, filed with TDLR in June signaling that work will begin on the apartments project located at 1210 E Elmira St., San Antonio, TX 78212. The six story building will have 75 units and 10,388 square feet of ground-floor retail. Work on this phase of the project is slated to begin in August.