Alamo Brewing could lure downtown traffic to the Eastside, if the city cuts a deal

Coutrtesy photos

An artist’s rendering of proposed Alamo Brewery off the Hays St. bridge.

Another view of the proposed Alamo Brewery.

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Mildred Bailey, a resident of Dignowity Hill for 40 years, said she doesn’t see the need for a brewery but is ambivalent about another park because “the biggest concern is having the sidewalks fixed” and drainage improved.

Microbreweries have a history of becoming part of the community when located in urban areas. Most notable is Brooklyn Brewing Co. in New York, where on Friday nights the neighbors come out to the brewery to mingle with each other and a few beer tourists. But it has become a victim of its own success as former vacant lots and warehouses around it now thrive, leaving the brewery no place to expand. A new Saint Arnold Brewing Co. located in a once-rundown part of downtown Houston now draws 1,000 people for Saturday tours and 100 to 300 for daily tours.

Jim Gipson, who moved to San Antonio’s east side in 2003, said an Alamo brewery would be an enhancement with its proposed restaurant, added lighting, and possible increase in police presence. “I would rather see a well-maintained building than what we have now, which is a wasteland.”

“There’s a lot of support bubbling up in the last month for a brewery,” Garcia said.

On Monday, the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association heard from park advocates nearly a month after hearing from Alamo Beer representatives, and voted to endorse the brewery concept.

City-coordinated meetings to discuss the former Dawson land and other Eastside issues will be held at 6:30 p.m. on July 27 and Aug. 4 at locations still to be determined. •

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