Texas General Land Office Purchases Three Historic Buildings

George P. Bush, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, announced official acquisition of three historically significant buildings, said a press release Wednesday. The Woolworth, Crockett, and Palace buildings are all across the Alamo Plaza from the Alamo Complex and the combined square footage is nearly 100,000 square feet, a portion of which is within the original footprint fo the Alamo Mission compound.

"The purchase of these buildings caps an extraordinary year in the history of the Alamo," said Commissioner Bush. "In one year, we have upgraded the state's management of the Alamo complex, re-established the Alamo Endowment Board with Texas titans, begun work with San Antonio on the master plan, and now with the Texas Legislature's support, the state purchased irreplaceable properties adjacent to the plaza. While there will be no immediate changes for the tenants, having the state own these building will help as we all work together to make the Alamo the destination that it should be."

Gene Powell, Chairman of the Remember the Alamo Foundation, stated, "The acquisition of these three buildings is a tremendous boom to the momentum of the revitalization of the Alamo Complex. Thanks to the leadership of the Texas Legislature and the guidance of the members of the Alamo Endowment Board, the GLO successfully negotiated this acquisition, which will now become a key element of our discussions with the community about the future of the Alamo Historic District."

Alamo Director Becky Dinnin said, "The GLO and Alamo Endowment Board are looking forward to working with their partners in the city of San Antonio on the master planning process to create a comprehensive plan for the future of the Alamo. It is an exciting time for all San Antonians, Texans, and all who honor the Alamo." 

The Texas General Land Office and the City of San Antonio announced it would enter into a Cooperative Agreement with the Alamo Endowment to fund and oversee the development of a Joint Master Plan in October. According to the press release, the city and state officials expect the master plan will take up to 12 months, with the expectation that the implementation of the plan could begin on the recommendations as early as 2016.