San Antonio authorizes eminent domain to take Alamo Plaza bar property

Councilman Clayton Perry said that this move from the city was “distasteful” because it infringes on property rights, but he also wasn’t sure the two weeks was enough time to negotiate. 

Castillo was also in support of delaying a vote two weeks for negotiations. She said that she didn’t want Thursday’s actions to send the message to small business owners that they are in danger of land grabs. McKee-Rodriguez motioned to delay the item two weeks but it failed 4-7. 

“It is sad that we’re here,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg, adding that this type of action is not taken lightly. 

However, Nirenberg did not support the delay. He said authorizing the use of eminent domain would only accelerate any negotiations he felt that two weeks of no action would not lead to any movement. 

A seat at the table

Cantu, owner of Moses Roses, said at the council meeting that he found out about the city’s rare move through locale news coverage. He said throughout six years of dealing with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and Alamo Trust, that he has only received offers that were only 50% above the property value and never got a seat at the table. 

He said, identifying as Mexican American, he did not get a seat at the table to negotiate his asking price, $17 million, unlike the Phillips family, which owned and operated the Ripley’s Haunted Adventure and Tomb Rider attractions in the neighboring Woolworth Building. The Phillips family, who he says are white, received $14.4 million from the GLO for the Woolworth Building in February 2022.

“Is it because my last name is Cantu and his last name is Philips? You know, racism can be found if you look for it, and I can’t find any other reason why they wouldn’t at least try with me as they tried with them.” 

Kate Rogers, executive director of the Alamo Trust, said the group overseeing the redevelopment offered Cantu a seat at the table to discuss negotiations but he refused. She also said that Cantu has had an eminent domain attorney for two years, implying that he knew it would get to this point.

Rogers said that Cantu has refused offers of $2 million, $2.5 million, and most recently $3.5 million. 

Councilman Manny Pelaez, who motioned to move forward with the eminent domain process, pointed out that there have been Latinos on the Alamo Trust board. 

The Alamo Project

The Alamo Trust and the city want to build a $150 million Alamo museum and visitors center in the Crockett and Woolworth buildings that sit in front of the Alamo. The Moses Roses property is included in those plans.

Rogers said that Texas is considering a $400 million investment into the project this legislative session and the state wants the project completed and open by March 2026.

What comes next?

Initiating the eminent domain process does not mean that Cantu has to stop negotiating a sale price for the property. Eminent domain is governmental power to take private property from an owner for public use and provide compensation for the land, whether or not the property owner agrees.

In the meantime, Rogers says that she is open to having Cantu come to the table to negotiate a sale price. Pelaez said action like this will get the negotiating parties to “sober up and get a little bit more reasonable.”

“I know that Mr. Cantu and his lawyer want an additional two weeks to be able to negotiate. Go. Negotiate. Two weeks starts today,” Pelaez said.