Dive Brief:
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Clark Construction has begun building the much-anticipated 23-story Frost Tower in San Antonio, TX, according to Commercial Property Executive.
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Developers are seeking LEED Silver certification for the project, which will include 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 400,000-square-foot parking structure. Frost Bank has already leased 250,000 square feet.
- Slated for completion in March 2019, the 440,000-square-foot tower will be the first office project in downtown San Antonio in almost 30 years, and city officials and developers are hopeful that its construction will trigger a renaissance of the city's core.
Dive Insight:
Frost Tower stands to be a boon for San Antonio's economy if it sparks more construction activity downtown. The city could join the ranks of other cities, like Chicago, Boston and Seattle, that are focusing development efforts and investments on neighborhood-driven projects and, in turn, are drawing millennials and baby boomers alike.
Walkability and proximity to cultural events, dining, entertainment and other leisure activities have transformed downtowns into live-work-play communities, and employers are starting to see how they could attach similar strategies to finding workplaces that would attract employees. In Chicago, for instance, a spate of corporate relocations is spurring residential and mixed-use developments in districts throughout the city's downtown.
Transit-oriented developments are another tool vital for drawing in residents who want a tight-knit community experience with access to urban centers. With some of TODs, it's possible for residents within the area to live, work and play as more projects come online incorporating retail, dining, residential and office space.