Auditorium Circle to be renamed Veterans Memorial Plaza

City Council today approved an ordinance changing the name of the “Auditorium Circle Historic District” to “Veterans Memorial Plaza Historical District.” The change, initiated by District 1 Councilman Roger Flores, renames the area surrounding Municipal Auditorium in honor of San Antonio veterans.

Currently, there are three military veterans’ memorials located within the district. Municipal Auditorium is dedicated to American soldiers killed in WWI. Two sculptures – one dedicated to Vietnam War veterans and the other dedicated to Korean War veterans, also are located within the district across Auditorium Circle at Jefferson and Martin Streets. Several organizations have requested the placement of additional memorials in the downtown area to honor local military veterans. The Veterans Memorial Plaza may serve as the city’s single, central area for veterans’ memorials and attract tourists as well.

“Veterans Memorial Plaza pays great honor to the thousands of military veterans from our community, whether they are living or deceased,” says Flores. “It will remind our citizens and visitor why San Antonio is called Military City U.S.A.”

The renaming will not affect or eliminate any of the existing zoning, building or design requirements for the historic district. The City will attempt to develop a specific site plan for future development of the district in 2007.