1881: Origins as a Railroad Bridge
The story of the Hays Street Bridge begins in 1881, with the westward expansion of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad. To facilitate this growth, the Phoenix Bridge Co. was contracted to construct vital railroad bridges over rivers. One such bridge was erected over the Nueces River, situated west of Uvalde. This very bridge would later find a new purpose and location, becoming the iconic Hays Street Bridge in San Antonio.
1900: Relocation to San Antonio
As the 20th century dawned, the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad continued its westward expansion. Seeking to run mainlines across San Antonio’s East Side streets, the railroad company requested permission from the City. However, the City of San Antonio, mindful of its East Side residents, stipulated a crucial condition: the railroad must construct a bridge over the tracks. This bridge was intended to maintain vital access to downtown for horse-drawn carriages and the emerging motorized vehicles. In a cost-saving measure, the railroad company opted to relocate the existing bridge from Uvalde to San Antonio, giving it a new lease on life and a new name as the Hays Street Bridge.
1982: Closure Due to Safety Concerns
The increasing volume of vehicle traffic in San Antonio eventually took its toll on the Hays Street Bridge. By 1982, the bridge was deemed structurally unsafe for modern traffic and was subsequently closed to vehicles. This marked a period of disuse for a once-essential piece of San Antonio infrastructure.
2000: A Call for Restoration
After nearly two decades of inactivity, a movement to revive the Hays Street Bridge began to gain momentum. In 2000, the San Antonio Conservation Board stepped forward to champion the restoration of the historic bridge. This marked the beginning of a concerted effort to bring the Hays Street Bridge back to life for the community.
2001: Historic Landmark Designation
The significance of the Hays Street Bridge was officially recognized in 2001 when the American Society of Civil Engineers designated it a Texas Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This prestigious designation underscored the bridge’s engineering importance and its place in Texas history.
2002: Securing State Funding for Restoration
Efforts to restore the Hays Street Bridge advanced further in 2002 as the City of San Antonio formalized documents to receive state grant funding. This financial support was crucial for enabling the ambitious restoration project to move forward and ensure the bridge’s preservation for future generations.
2007: City Ownership and Transfer
A key step in the bridge’s restoration occurred in 2007 when Union Pacific, the successor to the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, officially transferred ownership of the Hays Street Bridge property to the City of San Antonio. This transfer of ownership paved the way for the City to take full responsibility for the bridge’s restoration and future.
2010: Reopening as a Pedestrian Bridge
After 28 years of closure and dedicated restoration work, the Hays Street Bridge triumphantly reopened to the public in 2010. Reimagined as a pedestrian bridge, it now spanned from Austin Street to Cherry Street, offering a scenic walkway and a renewed connection between neighborhoods. This reopening marked a significant milestone in the bridge’s history, transforming it into a community asset.
2012: Development Incentive Agreement and Alamo Beer
In August 2012, the City of San Antonio entered into a development incentive agreement with the Alamo Beer Company. This agreement aimed to foster the construction of a new microbrewery complex at 803 N. Cherry and 415 Burnett, near the Hays Street Bridge. A part of the agreement included the sale of City-owned property at 803 N. Cherry Street, sparking future development discussions around the bridge area.
2014: Legal Challenges and Agreement Modifications
December 2014 saw modifications to the development incentive agreement with Alamo Beer Company due to litigation-related delays. The City appealed a District Court decision to the Fourth Court of Appeals in December 2014, indicating ongoing legal complexities surrounding the development near the Hays Street Bridge.
2017: Court of Appeals Ruling and Further Appeals
The legal proceedings continued into 2017. In March, the Fourth Court of Appeals reversed the Trial Court’s decision, finding in favor of the City based on governmental immunity. However, the plaintiffs appealed this decision to the Texas Supreme Court, demonstrating the persistent legal challenges to development plans in the Hays Street Bridge area.
2017: HDRC Rejection of Residential Proposal
December 2017 brought a decision from the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC). The HDRC unanimously rejected a proposal from Loopy Limited to construct a five-story residential structure with retail space at 803 N Cherry, a vacant lot near the Hays Street Bridge. This rejection highlighted the ongoing scrutiny of development proposals in the historic Dignowity Hill neighborhood surrounding the bridge.
2018: Revised Proposal and Continued HDRC Rejection
In March 2018, a revised proposal for the residential development at 803 N Cherry was presented to the HDRC. However, despite revisions, the HDRC voted again, this time 5-3, to deny the proposal. This second rejection signaled continued community and regulatory resistance to the proposed scale and design of development near the Hays Street Bridge.
2018: Conditional Approval by City Manager
Despite the HDRC denials, City Manager Sheryl Sculley issued a decision letter in March 2018 granting conditional approval to the project. This approval included 11 stipulations, requiring further design modifications and community engagement. The applicant collaborated with the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association and the HDRC’s Design Review Committee to refine the design and address these stipulations.
2018: Final Approval and Certificate of Appropriateness
By July 3, 2018, the working group determined that the stipulations for the development project had been satisfied or adequately addressed. As a result, a final approval, a Certificate of Appropriateness, was issued by the City Manager. The Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association also provided written support for the project, indicating a resolution and community acceptance of the revised development plans near the Hays Street Bridge.
