SAN ANTONIO — A downtown San Antonio icon could receive a $19 million facelift in 2025.
The Tower of the Americas project will also come with a new lease agreement. On Thursday, San Antonio City Council will put it to a vote, making the project official.
The repairs are expected to last until December 2025 and could involve a two-month shutdown.
The work involves necessary structural and life safety improvements to ensure the tower will last for years to come.
“We don’t want them to become safety issues and so we’re going to address them right now and it was actually part of our last bond project," District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur said.
$15.4 million would be put forward by the city from fiscal years 2021 and 2022, as well as dollars from the 2022 bond project.
“We do think that is a sufficient amount based on the analysis that was done… and we’re very hopeful that nothing changes when we get in to do the work," Kaur said.
The other $4 million in funds are coming from Landry's LLC, which has leased the Tower of the Americas and operated the Chart House restaurant in the building’s Tophouse since 2004.
Their renovations include refreshing the observation deck, restaurant space, theater and retail components, along with some upkeep on plumbing and flooring in the kitchen.
That’s why renewing the 15-year agreement between the LLC and the city, which is up Thursday, will ensure the refurbishing of elevators as well as interior improvements.
Meanwhile, the city is responsible for the façade of the building and structural components.
“During COVID, it wasn’t renewed, so we’re excited there will finally be another contract in place," Kaur added. "It’s a five-year (lease) with a five-year option, which means in another five years we will be able to reassess.”
The first signs of renovations could come as soon as February 2025, with protection panels being placed on the lower level of the tower. Landry’s expects to remain fully operational during the construction project, but they do anticipate a two month shutdown beginning in mid-April.