Tax Credit Program Highlight: Old Alamo National Bank

San Antonio, Bexar County

1902

Designation	Listed in National Register as part of Alamo Plaza Historic District
Historic Use	Bank
Current Use	Offices and restaurant
Total Rehabilitation Cost	$1,155,153
Qualified Rehabilitation Expenses	$1,155,153
Date Certified	June 15, 2016
	Certified for state and federal tax credits.

History

Constructed in 1902, the eight story Old Alamo National Bank Building exemplifies the Renaissance Revival style and marks a classic phase in the career of San Antonio architect James Wahrenberger. In 1912, the stone building was raised onto rollers and shifted back by 16 feet due to the widening of East Commerce Street, which was an effort by the city of San Antonio to increase its development potential. This move is noted as one of “the most remarkable relocations to take place in San Antonio.” The uppermost three stories of the building were added in 1916 after the move.

Rehabilitation Project

A decade past its hundredth birthday, the building received a full exterior restoration, which included cleaning and repair of its grand limestone and concrete masonry exterior, and repair and repainting of its wrought-iron window grilles. The massive original copper cornice, which had been moved and reinstalled three stories upward at the time of the building’s 1916 expansion, was carefully repaired and stabilized as part of this work. New copper elements were custom-made to replace missing pieces of the intricate cornice. In addition to qualifying for state and federal tax credits, the project received a 2016 Building Award by the San Antonio Conservation Society.