Essex Modern City on San Antonio's East Side was heralded as a potential game-changer for the neglected neighborhood, but is now up for sale.
Investment firms from Texas, New York and Florida have contacted Harris Bay about the Essex site, Harris said. “We solicited JLL to manage those interested groups and see who else may be interested.”
City Council approved zoning changes in April of 2016 to allow Varga and his partners to build 100 units within the mixed-use complex. Harris Bay purchased the site in July of that year, planned a groundbreaking for the following year, but then halted work on the project. In the meantime, seeking to keep interest and momentum going, Harris Bay partnered with an event organizer to host “Second Saturdays,” during which the community was invited to watch artists paint vibrant murals on the loading docks, and produce Essex Fest, a music and arts festival. featuring R&B and hip hop artist Ashanti was not repeated and the site largely grew quiet again except for mural admirers. A planned Dec. 2020 blood drive was canceled due to lack of participation.