Clashing Over Urban Redevelopment
1959-1970

1959
Conservation Society helps defeat multi-story tourist information center planned in Alamo Plaza.

Lois Graves elected Conservation Society president.

Conservation Society purchases O. Henry House, sells it to be moved to Lone Star Brewery grounds.

1960
Conservation Society leads opposition in defeating city highway bond issue including North Expressway through Olmos Basin floodplain.

1961
Resubmitted North Expressway city bond issue passes. Conservation Society joins Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in lawsuit to stop expressway.

Vivian Hamlin (Terrett) elected Conservation Society president.

Yturri-Edmunds House on Mission Road donated to Conservation Society.

1962
North Expressway right-of-way acquisition begins as litigation continues.

A Night in Old San Antonio annual profits for historic preservation first exceed $100,000.

1963
Lillian Maverick Padgitt elected Conservation Society president.

World’s Fair site chosen on property to be developed with urban renewal funds.

Mission Road improvements link Spanish Missions.

1964
German-English School restored as HemisFair headquarters.

Conservation Society, other San Juan acequia owners, win court battle with San Antonio River Authority to restore water flow in San Juan acequia.

Restored Navarro House complex opened to public.


1965
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word drop North Expressway litigation with city, Conservation Society votes to carry on alone.

Conservation Society begins purchase of Old Ursuline academy complex.

Peggy Tobin elected Conservation Society president.

Conservation Society passes a resolution calling for twenty-two historic buildings within the HemisFair area to be preserved and incorporated into the fair site.

1966
U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough gets amendment to block unreasonable transfer of parkland for expressways, another to require maximum preservation of historic HemisFair site structures. U.S. Department of Commerce chooses Conservation Society to oversee preservation of HemisFair sites.

1967
Conservation Society sues to halt North Expressway project.

City of San Antonio sues Conservation Society for unpaid property taxes.

Lorraine Reaney elected Conservation Society president.

City of San Antonio adopts its first historic zoning ordinance.

First San Antonio Missions National Historical Park legislation introduced in Congress by Congressman Abraham “Chick” Kazen.

1968
Restored buildings on grounds draw wide praise during six-month HemisFair, which also provides city with modern convention center.

La Villita territory enlarged as part of HemisFair urban renewal project.

Lita Price elected Conservation Society president.

A Night in Old San Antonio presented at second American Folklife Festival on Capitol Mall in Washington.

1969
Pinkie Martin elected Conservation Society president.

Two-year Historic American Buildings Survey of San Antonio landmarks is completed with Conservation Society paying one-third of the cost.


1970
San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation established to own and manage society properties.

Conservation Society drops litigation against North Expressway, which opens eight years later as McAllister Freeway.

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