The University of Texas at San Antonio plans to demolish the Texas Institute for Cultural Studies (ITC) building downtown and move into temporary housing at the end of 2025.
The university received permission to do so after the Texas Historical Commission granted UTSA a demolition permit to allow for plans to redevelop the Hemisfair campus, according to a release from UTSA.
In April of this year, the ITC Museum suspended operations in its former space in the Texas Pavilion in preparation for its move to Frost Tower and continued its search for a permanent location. Since then, the museum continues to travel to local schools to tell the story of Texas history.
“The redevelopment of the ITC Museum is part of UTSA’s larger vision for expansion in downtown San Antonio,” the release states.
The permit is good news for the city and the developer’s plans to redevelop downtown through Project Marvel, a multibillion-dollar sports and entertainment district that includes a new arena for the San Antonio Spurs.
There were concerns that the ITC’s history could prevent its demolition and that it would be a major hurdle to development in the area.
Last month, at the request of the San Antonio Preservation Society, the Texas Historical Commission designated the former ITC building as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). That means it cannot be altered or demolished without commission approval.
The City of San Antonio already has an exclusive option to purchase or lease approximately 13.59 acres of land within the ITC and Hemisfair campuses, which has been conditionally granted by the UT System Board of Governors.
These 13.59 acres are widely believed to be for a multibillion-dollar district the city is secretly planning called “Project Marvel.”
“As part of the process, UTSA will continue to partner with THC to ensure the legacy of the Texas Pavilion is brought to life through community engagement and future digital exhibits at the museum,” the release states.
The ITC Museum is scheduled to reopen in late 2025 as an interim home for the Frost Tower.
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