Heimann Building
Also known as: I& GN Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 at the corner of Houston and Medina Streets in San Antonio, this three-story brick and stucco building was designed to serve rail travelers arriving at the I&GN station across the street. Businessman Silvia Heimann hired architect Atlee B. Ayres to design it. The ground floor held a saloon, restaurant and drug store, and hotel rooms filled the upper floors; it operated as the I&GN Hotel from 1910 until the 1960s. Its Mission Revival features include stepped parapets, red clay tile and a two-story balcony. Cattleman's Square, once a crossroads for the Chisholm Trail and a gateway to Mexico, declined as rail travel faded. The building was recently rehabilitated, with the historic balcony recreated from photographs and a one-story neighboring building reconstructed as an addition. It is recognized for its role in the commercial growth of the district and as a local example of Ayres's early work in the Mission Revival style.
Significance in brief: The building is tied to the commercial development of San Antonio around Cattleman's Square and the I&GN railroad, which brought heavy passenger traffic to the area. It is also a local example of a Mission Revival commercial building designed by prominent architect Atlee B. Ayres.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04001396, listed January 27, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118 N. Medina St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | January 27, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1909 - 1955 |
| Architect / builder | Atlee B. Ayres |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Mission Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently rehabilitated through the tax credit program, with reconstructed balconies and a reconstructed adjoining building added to the south. It now serves as offices and childcare space for a nonprofit organization. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.42913, -98.50477 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04001396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001605
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.