Tuesday, June 12, 2018Improving San Antonio's WestSide by Preserving HistoryPosted By Megan Rodriguez on Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 4:11 pm

Provided by Westside Development CorporationPhoto of the Basila Frocks Building taken in 1933.

In one month the nearly 90-year-old Basila Frocks building will undergorenovations aimed to restore it to its original glory.

The two-story historic building on North Zarzamora Street has been abandonedfor eight years. With its boarded doors and shattered windows it has become astark contrast to the beautiful architectural monument it was in 1929. Standingin the center of Prospect Hill, one of the few non-segregated neighborhoods inthe early 20th century, the Basila Frocks was one of the highest qualitybuildings on the West Side. When it was first built by a Syrian family, it wasused as a factory for women’s dresses and has since been home to conveniencestores, restaurants and gyms.

When co-developer and investor Dan Markson first heard that the building wasfacing possible demolition, he did everything he could to save the monument.Markson’s vision matched the Westside Development Corporation’s five-yearsearch for a community project of this magnitude, leading to a partnership tosave the Basila Frocks.

“The goal of building is to have it be a mixed-use building with all kinds ofsmall businesses,” Markson said. “Some retail, some wholesale, somemanufacturing and to restore the building to its original grandeur.”

While the WDC has past experience in providing technical assistance todevelopers, this is the first time they have partnered with a private developer,which has opened doors for them.

Megan RodriguezThe Basila Frocks Building, built in 1929, is scheduled for renovations within the next month.

“This project will lead us to a new plateau as an organization where we wouldhave real estate under us, programmable space and area to help incubate andsupport small businesses,” said president and CEO of WDC Leonard Rodriguez.

Markson said Prospect Hill has been improving overall with plans for otherrenovation projects from the city and an influx of new homeowners. He said hehopes the Basila Frocks renovation will help continue this trend.

“Vacant buildings bring crime, fire, danger and cost the city more in servicesthan to assist in getting them back online,” Markson said. “This building,instead of being the rotten core of a piece of fruit should be a little star that isshedding light all over the neighborhood rather than something that is aproblem.”

Rodriguez said the renovations, which will keep the historical integrity ofBasila Frocks intact, are expected to take six to eight months to complete. Byfall, Rodriguez said he hopes to open the space for building tenants.

“This is a signature project that is important to the development of theWestside Development Corporation,” Rodriguez said. “It allows us to fulfillwhat the organization’s mission in terms of promoting the development andredevelopment of real estate in our area and then honoring the culture, thehistory and the character of the West Side.”

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Tags: Renovations, Westside, history, historic, Basila Frock Building, Westside Development Corporation, Image

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