Ryan Salchert (2018, June 13). West Side building to be converted to office, artist studio space. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2YDF9J4
“The Basila Frocks Building on San Antonio’s West Side has two new owners and will soon be refurbished after being vacant for six years.
The two-story building was bought by a partnership between the Westside Development Corp. and Dan Markson, The NRP Group’s executive vice president of development. The partnership plans to convert the nearly 20,000-square-foot building into office and artist studio space.
While the price was not disclosed, the building was last appraised by the Bexar County Appraisal District at $316,510. The building, at 502 N. Zarzamora St., was built in 1929 and originally operated as a garment factory. Since then, it has been a boxing gym, multiple convenience stores and, most recently, a La Gloria Mexican Restaurant.
Community members began voicing their preference for rehabilitation and reuse of the building over demolition after plans to turn it into a Dollar General.
“Basila Frocks shares that same potential to foster West Side artisan businesses and allow them to grow.” said Leonard Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Westside Development Corp., referencing the renovation of Warehouse 5, a similar project on the West Side.
Spaces will be built to suit, meaning the number of units will depend on the sizes of spaces that tenants are seeking.
“It is a beautiful structure and provides a sense of history, a sense of space, a sense of belonging. The historic preservation of this building is not only about economic sustainability, but also about cultural and environmental sustainability,” said Markson, partner and investor in Basila Frocks, in a statement.
The Westside Development Corporation’s President and CEO Leonard Rodriguez said renovations on the building will start in the next few months and tenants can be expected to move in by late fall.”
