The work that started in 2015 to show 40 acres of prime downtown San Antonio actual property — that had been basically deserted and left uninviting for over 4 a long time — shouldn’t be but full.
However the man who accepted the problem in 2011 to make a former fairgrounds into a brand new form of city vacation spot often known as Hemisfair the place each locals and guests now flock is handing off the baton.
In February, the board of the Hemisfair Park Space Redevelopment Company, which oversees the park mission, introduced that Hemisfair CEO Andres Andujar plans to retire on April 1.
The board has appointed Hemisfair Director of Actual Property and Finance Melissa Robinson as interim CEO, and plans a nationwide seek for a everlasting chief beginning in Could, with a ultimate choice anticipated in 2026.
Andujar’s retirement, mentioned the assertion from the board, marks “the end result of a rare profession.”
With the second part of the mission opening absolutely in March, plans for a 3rd part within the works — and the town eyeing Hemisfair for a serious sports activities and leisure improvement — Andujar says he leaves fulfilled and gratified.
“I really feel such delight,” he mentioned.
However as work on Civic Park was nearing an finish, Andujar felt the milestone was additionally a turning level in his profession. He thought to himself: “That is possibly time,” to retire, he mentioned.
Whereas what’s subsequent for Hemisfair might take one other 10 to twenty years and be “very thrilling,” the primary phases have exceeded expectations, he mentioned, “delivering such outcomes, such acceptance, such group use and love.”
The sentiment is echoed by those that know him.
‘New and massive isn’t straightforward’
Tech entrepreneur and Rackspace founder Dirk Elmendorf mentioned he met Andujar within the early days of the mission.
“I cared about downtown and I used to be advised this was a mission that might be necessary,” Elmendorf mentioned of the times earlier than Yanaguana Backyard was constructed.
The grand imaginative and prescient for a park for each locals and vacationers is what motivated him to become involved, he mentioned, however it was a battle to make progress.
“Doing one thing new and massive isn’t straightforward,” he mentioned. “However once I go to Hemisfair at this time and it’s packed in any respect hours, I marvel at seeing a lot of his dream has develop into actuality. With out Andres and his dedication to the park and our metropolis, it could nonetheless be an indication that downtown isn’t for us.”
Andujar started his working profession 44 years in the past after graduating from the College of Texas at Austin with an architectural engineering diploma.
When he displays on the ultimate 14 years of his profession, Andujar credit a tradition of open-mindedness and flexibility that buffered the workforce and the mission from swinging advertising circumstances and different challenges.
“I believe one of many virtues that I realized right here that served us nicely is the idea of fluidity,” he mentioned. “It’s by no means precisely what you suppose it’s going to be. That’s why I like to inform my workforce that certainly one of our virtues must be fluidity. Issues continuously are evolving and morphing into its ultimate form.”
What’s subsequent for Hemisfair?
The mission — to create an incredible public park central to the town’s foremost tourism, industrial and historic residential districts — has unfolded over a time period that Andujar mentioned was not surprising.
“What occurs is that improvement is determined by funding circulate,” and public investments weaving their approach by means of bond committees and public enter classes takes time, he mentioned. “Town at all times is taking a look at how can we maximize the bond, and meaning testing each mission.”
All that public enter gave park planning groups confidence in what folks most desired at Hemisfair — water options and shade timber. “The knowledge of the gang was a device that we might use to search out assurances or perceptions,” Andujar mentioned.
A bit luck mixed with effort and know-how additionally got here into play, he mentioned.
“I believe that serendipity is a strong pressure, and typically it’s higher than the planning,” he mentioned. “[Also], it helped that I went to high school and that I’m an engineer, and that I can design. These are all {qualifications} and so they served me nicely on this effort.”
Now a brand new, bigger and much dearer — but in addition controversial — mission for the Hemisfair footprint is on the drafting board. It’s one which Andujar mentioned he didn’t see coming.
“Though I like the concept,” he mentioned of Venture Marvel and plans to construct a sports activities and leisure district anchored in Hemisfair. “I believe that huge infrastructure is healthier served by being shut to one another.”
Andujar attracts a comparability to Hemisfair when he says he additionally thinks the large endeavor to construct a brand new enviornment, land bridge, lodge and extra, is altogether doable.
“We weren’t simply asking for funding from the town and the personal sector, we have been asking folks to alter their opinion about a spot that had develop into deserted and embarrassing,” he mentioned.
What’s subsequent for Andujar?
Andujar’s motive for exiting at age 67 is pragmatic: “I reached retirement age.”
He seems to be ahead to touring overseas extra and already has a visit deliberate for April “to simply decompress,” and put aside his mobile phone and electronic mail for the primary time in a few years.
In retirement, he mentioned it’s potential he might sometime be discovered strolling by means of what’s deliberate for Hemisfair as an space the place folks his age particularly can benefit from the park.
The design is in its ultimate levels and funding acquired from the Kronkosky Charitable Basis, he mentioned.
Parks instill a way of delight in a group, and Hemisfair achieves that as a result of the planners stayed true to a easy imaginative and prescient, he mentioned.
“We have been persistent in our readability and in our imaginative and prescient, and on the finish of the day, that’s creating one of many world’s nice public locations,” he mentioned. “Why would you spend time and cash in attempting to give you a big superlative?”
