If the development and growth of San Antonio were a motion picture, downtown would be listed as a "feature player" sharing a small trailer in contrast to the posse-packing megastars of the peripheral suburban boundaries.

Corporate relocations, major resorts and housing stock have all flocked to the outskirts of the city, creating a doughnut-like development pattern, threatening to flatline downtown vitality. Until now.

It's virtually been decades since a mayor has pronounced the city center as a priority, say downtown proponents. Reinvigorating downtown with fresh ideas and energy since taking office, Castro declared 2010 the "Decade of Downtown" at the Downtown Alliance Annual Meeting last summer. While some may have harbored a bit of skepticism at first, cautioning that it was merely lip service, Castro has since proved them wrong.

"Public sector leadership, ability and willingness to direct efforts toward downtown are essential to its hope and success," says Andres Andujar, executive board member and former chair of Downtown Alliance. "But we must have a roadmap … goals and expectations, so that we can make the right decisions at every step and turn, taking us toward a common vision … so that every effort and investment made takes us a step closer to our dream for downtown."

Castro is busy laying track on this effort, working with city staff and council and recently passing an ordinance focused on the urban core which eliminates city fees for development projects, a land bank to facilitate desperately needed downtown initiatives and a 10-year tax abatement for eligible developments in the inner city.

In addition, a team of public and private leaders are putting the final touches on the proposed Centro Partnership, a public-private nonprofit development corporation envisioned as the portal for downtown redevelopment, and designed to orchestrate economic development opportunities within the city center.

Ben Brewer, president of Downtown Alliance, whose 300 plus property owner constituency would be synergistically incorporated into the proposed partnership is enthusiastic about the potential. Rallying the troops for over 20 years on the bullish future of downtown, these development incentives and the Centro Partnership are new power tools in Brewer's toolbox in his continuing quest to build a better urban core.

Some might dare to argue those with interest in the inner city are getting an unfair advantage.  On the contrary, says Brewer.

"Greater San Antonio is poised to demand 10,000 to 20,000 new housing units each year with the likelihood of less than 1 percent of those resulting in urban residential units," he says. He believes that as the city offers tax abatements and other incentives to new business to San Antonio, seemingly on the outer perimeters, so must options be created to lure development back to the inner city. 

"Research shows that urban density is imperative to support elements of our city that our residents treasure," adds Brewer.

Andujar, who is a Parsons vice president, agrees and stresses the importance of maintaining downtown as the "hub" of the city by maintaining its economic and cultural vitality.

"Urban residential density plays an imperative role in economic development, in luring new business to San Antonio as well as supporting current business in the urban core," Andujar says. "Its health cannot be solely dependent upon the visitor populations. Fiscal stability from residential development will yield more dollars upon the tax roles, ultimately benefiting San Antonio in a variety of ways."

Downtown links locals and visitors symbiotically in a way no other part of the city can claim; this is the primary reason San Antonio's urban revitalization won't suffice with a quick fix, and why Castro's leadership and a symphony of support is vital to its health.

"While tourism and the convention business is a resounding success, we must consider that our downtown and surrounding assets are the attractions that keep visitors interested," says Andujar. "Thus it is imperative that we invest in the improvements and upkeep of our city center."

Brewer heartily concurs, as it affects the residential component of a city, and it is something he thirsts for. "A strong residential base is truly necessary for a thriving downtown," he implores.

As Castro stumps his way across town, he beats the drum continuously that urban density and revitalization are not only about downtown. In the macro view, it touches everyone. Residual effects will follow, he says, as the healthy urban core proliferates to its outer boundaries and spawns new life within the struggling neighborhoods to the north, south, east and west.  In Castro's view, new urban economic growth will result in a mosaic of diverse, yet connected neighborhoods within our entire community. 

Brewer adds that historically, great city centers have thrived due to the diversity of its residents. He cites new efforts across the country and percolating locally to entice young professionals, those in the creative industries, students and recent graduates back downtown to maintain this balance and energy.

San Antonio's 4-mile downtown urban core currently contains approximately 2,700 downtown residences. In an ideal world, Brewer would like to see a "mandate" seeking 10,000 new units by 2020.

And that, he says, would make for one heck of a "Decade of Downtown."