{"id":252662,"date":"2025-09-25T03:39:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T03:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/252662\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T03:39:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T03:39:15","slug":"business-leaders-from-san-antonios-market-square-come-out-against-project-marvel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/252662\/","title":{"rendered":"Business leaders from San Antonio’s Market Square come out against Project Marvel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"San Antonio\u2019s Historic Market Square is among the city\u2019s top tourist destinations. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

Representatives of small businesses at Historic Market Square told the Current their members aren\u2019t just skeptical of Project Marvel but actively encouraging residents \u2014\u00a0even those who normally don\u2019t vote \u2014 to cast ballots against it in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can get [Spurs General Counsel] Bobby Perez on TV and tell you this is the greatest thing since sliced bread,\u201d said Yvette Ramirez, president of the Farmer\u2019s Market Association. \u201cBut the reality is he\u2019s not going to have to be in the middle of everything. He doesn\u2019t own a business that\u2019s going to be affected downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Nov. 4, separate ballot initiatives from Bexar County and the City of San Antonio will ask voters to approve the use of county and city dollars to help fund a new Spurs arena, part of Project Marvel, a proposed $4 million development overhauling a large swath San Antonio\u2019s center city. <\/p>\n

Market Square has long been the heart and soul of downtown \u2014\u00a0a destination featured prominently in postcards and tourism ads for decades. However, Ramirez and others who own businesses there said they worry Project Marvel\u2019s massive construction projects will eat into their already sluggish sales.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe city never comes up with a plan to help and support these small businesses,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cIt\u2019s the same thing that happened on St. Mary\u2019s Street, what happened on Houston Street, what\u2019s happening at La Villita, and so on. These projects they bring, they are not for the small-business person. These are for the wealthy. The reason why they\u2019re bringing Project Marvel downtown is to make it a playground for the wealthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The area surrounding Market Square, known as Zona Cultura, has been under construction since 2017, when the city passed a bond measure to enhance pedestrian amenities and streetscape improvements.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although vendors at the Farmers Market Building have received a 75% discount on rent due to the construction, some, including Greg Pe\u00f1a, president of the El Mercado Association at Market Square, said the reduction hasn\u2019t made up for lost revenue. Many vendors have seen their sales cut by half, even during large events such as the NCAA Final Four, he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe construction itself is a deterrent,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said. \u201cPlus, the NCAA tends to keep people within the River Walk area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Potential customers may have traveled to the city, but they didn\u2019t show up at Market Square, he added.<\/p>\n

Veronica Sandoval, vice president of the Farmer\u2019s Market Association, said construction isn\u2019t the only thing endangering Market Square. She said the city hasn\u2019t invested in public transit from Hemisfair and the Convention Center area to the west side of downtown, where the mercado is situated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t see a lot of visitors from conventions. We may have a really high-attendance convention, and we don\u2019t see them,\u201d Sandoval said. \u201cPeople used to come in early and fly home after, but companies now don\u2019t want to spend the extra money to stay a few extra days.\u201d<\/p>\n

All three Market Square business leaders said they\u2019re unclear how Project Marvel will benefit them. They fear another construction project at Hemisfair, combined with work on the nearby minor-league baseball stadium and still-unfinished road upgrades may sound a death knell for one of San Antonio\u2019s most recognizable landmarks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s saying we don\u2019t want the Spurs here,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want the Spurs here at the cost of everybody else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Have thoughts about Project Marvel? Want to explain why you\u2019re voting for or against it? Shoot an email to michaelkarlisreports@gmail.com.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Analysis:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tIf the Spurs\u2019 ownership group wants public support in November, it should be more transparent with taxpayers.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Cityscrapes:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe city\u2019s term sheet with the Spurs leaves many open question voters should be concerned about. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tIn the email, Kaur praised Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and the enigmatic \u2018Tony Robinson.\u2019\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

This article appears in Sep. 3-Oct. 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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