Plans for turning a St. Paul Square parking lot into an event plaza with an observation wheel, carousel and miniature golf course were allowed to move forward after a city committee issued a conceptual approval for the project.

Icon Experiences, a company that builds entertainment attractions across the country, is working to build a 213-foot-tall observation wheel and several other attractions on a Hoefgen Street parking lot near Interstate 37. 

The observation wheel, which will be called Grandisimo, would overlook the Alamodome, the Tower of the Americas and downtown San Antonio. The project was originally proposed to be located near the Alamo, but was moved due to concerns about blocking views of the historic building.

In June, Icon Experiences received approval to build Grandisimo and several other attractions in a Hoefgen Street parking lot near VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Robert Thompson Transit Station, which is used for park and ride events. 

On Wednesday, the Historic and Design Review Commission, or HDRC, issued a conceptual approval of the project, asking developers to submit plans for landscaping, signage and lighting, as well as more information about the stucco finish.

“A large part of this is going to be the detailing, and because this is conceptual approval, we’re just not there yet,” said James McKnight, a land use attorney representing the developers. “There’s another big bite at this apple.”

Members of the commission discussed how the new observation wheel would fit into the historical St. Paul Square neighborhood and ultimately let the project move forward.

Renderings of the Grandisimo observation wheel and event plaza proposed at 123 Hoefgen Street in St. Paul Square. Credit: Card and Company

“This is a very unusual project,” said Monica Savino, a commission member. “We don’t have a lot of observation wheels in town, but also because it’s in a historical district.”

Staff with the city’s Office of Historic Preservation said other buildings in the area had similar heights and added that they had focused on project impacts to the pedestrian experience.

Commission member Gabriel Velasquez said the observation wheel felt similar to older projects and buildings at the nearby Hemisfair. The commission voted unanimously to grant conceptual approval.

Documents submitted to the HDRC also included renderings for the project. The carousel, miniature golf course and observation wheel would surround a large plaza with covered seating, a restroom and concession stands.

Bexar County property records show that the lot is currently owned by 123 Hoefgen LLC, a limited liability company registered to Charles Leddy, CEO of Presidian Hospitality. Presidian owns and operates hotels in Texas, including the nearby Staybridge Suites and the Estancia Del Norte, according to the company’s website.