STATEMENT

To: Xavier Gonzalez, Chair, and Members,
Historic and Design Review Commission

Re: Agenda Item No. 9 - Case No. 2010-249
San Antonio Food Bank

The San Antonio Conservation Society is aware of the proposal by the San Antonio Food Bank to encourage the display of orange colored lighting on downtown buildings in order to raise awareness of the San Antonio Food Bank’s mission. Because the changes to the lighting are temporary and are only planned for one month, we do not anticipate an effect that will have a noticeable impact on the historic character of our historic buildings and our downtown historic districts. Temporary lighting, such as the holiday lighting scheme of the Tower of the Americas, can have the impact of highlighting historic architecture.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Rollette Schreckenghost
President

August 4, 2010

STATEMENT

To: Xavier Gonzalez, Chair, and Members,
Historic and Design Review Commission

Re: Agenda Item No. 11 - Case No. 2010-231
Emily Morgan Hotel

The San Antonio Conservation Society questions the appropriateness of a proposed 14 ½ foot wide by 134 foot tall sign to be placed on an east facing wall of the Emily Morgan Hotel. Located at 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio architect Ralph Cameron designed the Gothic Revival style Medical Arts Building in 1926. The 13-story building, featuring a flying buttressed corner tower and distinctive terra cotta ornamentation, served as the first medical office building in the city. The building is now a local landmark of exceptional significance and part of the Alamo Plaza Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We have several concerns:

1. For the organization which helped lead the charge against placing any more billboards in view of our highways, and more recently fought against digital billboards, it would be hypocritical to promote a banner over 6 times larger than a single billboard. Think of the impact of 6 brightly colored billboards stacked on top of each other, 13 stories tall. Fortunately there are no plans to light it at night.
    
2. The Historic and Design Review Commission has been instrumental in controlling the city’s skyline by not allowing shapes, features and colors that would detract from the character of our unique downtown.
    
3. Landmark buildings should be treated with a certain reverence, not as signboards. Those 1920’s landmarks that were the sky scrapers of their day contribute to the distinct visual 360 degree character that distinguishes San Antonio. For some of these early high rise buildings blank walls are a part of their character.
    
4. In 1985 the Conservation Society entered into a perpetual preservation easement with the owners of the Emily Morgan Hotel in order to protect the façade from incompatible alterations, including inappropriate signage.
    
5. If the easement were written today, it would have included all exterior walls in order to meet Internal Revenue Service rules for tax deductibility. Unfortunately, in 1985 only the East Houston Street and Avenue E. facades were included for protection.
    
6. Seven months is a long time for a temporary sign—no matter what it is advertising and even if what it is advertising is historic. Permitting a very large special purpose sign for such a long period of time could set a dangerous precedent.

Thank you for consideration of our comments.

Rollette Schreckenghost
President