6900 Broadway

1. CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Lety Hernandez, Director of Community Development Services
SUBJECT: Case No. 918F – 6900 Broadway St
Request of Eric Baumgartner of LPA Design Studios, applicant, representing the Alamo
Heights Independent School District, owner, for the significance review of an existing
academic building located at 6900 Broadway St in order to demolish 100% of the
existing structure fronting Broadway St and Castano Ave under Demolition Review
Ordinance No. 1860 (April 12, 2010).
DATE: February 12, 2024
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The property is zoned SF-A and is located on the east side of the street between E Fair Oaks Pl
and E Castano Ave.

2. POLICY ANALYSIS
The proposed replacement would require review by all department to ensure compliance with
current zoning and building code regulations. In addition, the new construction would be subject
to review by the ARB and Council under Chapter 2 Administration.
The motion to declare the structure as significant did not receive the four (4) affirmative votes as
required per Section 2-48(a) of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
AYES: 3 (Board Member Ashley Armes, Board Member Larry Gottsman, Board Member
Lyndsay Thorn)
NAYS: 1 (Board Chairman John Gaines, Board Member Clay Hagendorf, Board Member Phil
Solomon)
FISCAL IMPACT
No projected fiscal impact from this project has been calculated.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Web Packet
Attachment B – Response Cards
__________________________
Lety Hernandez
Director
__________________________
Buddy Kuhn
City Manager

3. CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
6116 BROADWAY
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209
210-826-0516
Architectural Review Board Meeting
January 16, 2024 – 5:30 P.M.
Take notice that a Regular Architectural Review Board meeting of the City of Alamo Heights will be held on Tuesday,
January 16, 2024 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers, located at 6116 Broadway St, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, to
consider and act upon any lawful subjects with may come before it.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TELECONFERENCE: The City will make reasonable efforts to allow members of the public
to participate via audio by dialing 1-346-248-7799 and entering access number 86801845240#. If you would like to
speak on a particular item, when the item is considered, press *9 to “raise your hand”. Citizens will have three (3)
minutes to share their comments. The meeting will be recorded.
The City cannot guarantee participation by phone due to unforeseen technical difficulties or provide prior notice if
they occur; therefore, the City urges your in-person attendance if you require participation.
Case No. 918F – 6900 Broadway St (Significance Only)
Request of Eric Baumgartner of LPA Design Studios, applicant, representing the Alamo Heights Independent School
District, owner, for the significance review of an existing academic building located at 6900 Broadway St in order to
demolish 100% of the existing structure fronting Broadway St and Castano Ave under Demolition Review Ordinance No.
1860 (April 12, 2010).
Chapter 5 of Code of Ordinances (Buildings and Building Regulations) requires City Council to consider the ARB’s
recommendation for all demolition/final design review applications. Please check the ARB posted results on the City’s website
after the ARB meeting to confirm any future meeting dates.
Plans are available for public viewing on the City’s website, with the exception of floor plans,
(http://www.alamoheightstx.gov/departments/planning-and-development-services/public-notices/) and at the Community
Development Services Department located at 6116 Broadway St, 2nd
floor. You may also contact Michelle Ramos
(mramos@alamoheightstx.gov) or Lety Hernandez (lhernandez@alamoheightstx.gov) by email or our office at (210) 826-0516
for additional information regarding this case.
Attachment A

4. Attachment A

5. Attachment A

6. Attachment A

7. Attachment B

8. Attachment B

9. Attachment B

10. Dear members of the Alamo Heights City Council:
I remain somewhat mystified over the reluctance of the Review Board to agree outright to the
demolition of the Alamo Heights High School, in order to build a new high school classroom
building on the property at 6900 Broadway.
I don’t know if you have visited the High School lately, but it is well past the time to modernize
it. And the only way to accomplish this is with an entirely new building. For example, the HVAC
system has been unreliable for years. I retired from the library in 2000, and we were on speed-
dial with the maintenance and the technology departments. The demands of technology didn’t
exist when the current building was constructed in the 1950’s. Security in the form of locked
doors and limited access was also unheard of, even as late as five years ago.
Those who are familiar with remodeling as opposed to rebuilding will tell you that trying to
remodel is much more expensive and inefficient. In the case of AHHS, remodeling would leave
columns in the middle of classrooms that need to be enlarged to accommodate new seating
arrangements. Newer more updated curriculum offerings require more technology that should
not be pieced together as is often the case now.
Architectural plans call for a similar façade. The improvements will be accomplished by adding
a third story to the main building. Blessedly, only a few of the existing oak trees will be
sacrificed.
I am aware that AHHS is sort of a landmark for the community, but the new building will
function in the same way on the property. Please give your approval to the request for
demolition of the current high school building.
Kindest personal regards,
Sarah Joe LeMessurier
Attachment B
outside 200ft - Support