The El Jardin Hotel Key to Revitalizing Downtown

After a five year absence, you come back to Brownsville and decide to go to downtown to check out what’s new. As you approach downtown from the 77/83 Expressway, you begin to notice something strange, thinking that you vision is somewhat blurry. You rub your eyes and take a look at downtown again but it’s still there. Or are you seeing double? As you get closer to downtown, you then realize that you’re not seeing things but instead, two El Jardin Hotels! One behind the other!

You arrive at downtown and immediately head over to the hotel on 12th St. When you reach Levee St, you see a site that downtown had been waiting see for a long time; the El Jardin Hotel renovated and as a plus, an exact twin right behind it. The Capitol Theater is finally under going renovations as had been proposed many years before. New businesses are sprouting up to reap in the profits of the 510 people living in the hotel. But wait a minute, who would live in a hotel? Well, by this time, it’s not a hotel but student housing for UTB/TSC! Students are walking to the campus and to ITEC (former Amigoland Mall and now part of UTB) via sidewalks that mirror the paseo on campus. The Village at El Jardin (as it could theoretically be called) is only 2 ½ blocks from campus and only six blocks from ITEC.

As you drive around the El Jardin and head on to Elizabeth St, you begin to see the extent of the revitalization that had happened since the El Jardin was renovated. HEB tore down the old building and rebuilt it into a much larger facility to handle the influx of not just the Mexican Nationals but the students living just blocks away. There’s also a Star Bucks, Hard Rock Café, The Gap, and other businesses that have begun to take advantage of the influx of students. Other historical buildings that have several floors or more are beginning to renovate the upper floors to accommodate the still growing university student population. By now, UTB has grown to 15,000 students and 17,000 including staff and faculty. The campus is now twice the size it was just five years back with new buildings sprouting along University Blvd. Tourism has increased as the majority of the students are out-of-town and foreign students living at the El Jardin and at the Village at Fort Brown at UTB. The Capitol Theater has now begun its renovation into a major performing arts theater that encompasses most of the block. Shock has now set into reality and you begin to think to yourself, how did all this happen in just five years? Vision. Someone saw an opportunity to turn the El Jardin into student housing and took a risk and paid off.

Of course, the above is just a taste of what could happen if the El Jardin Hotel is renovated. At this point in time, the El Jardin could only be profitable as student housing because of the growing university. It would not make money as apartments, or condos, or even as a hotel. The population is not there nor is the infrastructure such as a major grocery store, national retail stores, etc that people would want close to their home as opposed to students who would have no choice but the Village at Fort Brown, The El Jardin, or some far away apartment that would require you to drive a long distance to get to school.

Why is the El Jardin Hotel the key to revitalizing downtown? As I mentioned in my article below, it’s the chicken or the egg. What comes first, people or businesses. In my opinion, people must come first, but more specifically, students. As mentioned earlier, students need food, grocery stores, night clubs, hang out places, clothes, and so on. Downtown currently has all these things. Attracting people who live in the north part of Brownsville will not be easy because of the explosion of stores, restaurants, major retail stores, etc. Students are easier to attract because of their limited choices for housing, especially those that are not from here and would rather stay close to the university for security and ease of getting there. Students that are not from here generally have more money to spend with. If the university is going to hit 20,000 by 2015 or so, then the problem becomes with housing many of these students. Currently, there are about 250 rooms available at the UTB dorms. I don’t think that UTB will have the funding to build new dorms or be able to buy up all the condos in the peninsula and renovate existing structures in time to house these students. Students needing housing will find it elsewhere. This is why turning the El Jardin into dorms is of the utmost importance.

There was a company that had intentions of buying the El Jardin Hotel. They were going to renovate the existing structure and build an exact twin behind it with a beautiful plaza in the middle, a food court, and a first floor retail section. The combined space would be able to handle 510 students and staff! Five hundred students living in the downtown district ready to spend and help downtown flourish within a short few years. It was a magnificent report and drawings of the proposed student housing but unfortunately, UTB turned it down for whatever reason they may have had a few years ago. The company then decided to not buy the hotel and nothing came of it. Not the hundreds of students walking the streets of downtown, shopping, eating, or hanging out. No major retail stores to handle the influx of students or other owners turning their buildings into dorms. Just the same old downtown with the same people who are only attracted to the dollar stores and second hand stores.

Nothing will change until the El Jardin rises up from its grave. The El Jardin is the key and only hope of ever seeing downtown regaining its former glory. Till then, we can dream just like my dream at the beginning of this article.

Revitalizing Downtown Brownsville

Once a vibrant and growing part of our city has now fallen into despair as national stores, hotels, restaurants and people moved out into the western and northern section of the city over the last four decades. As new highways and boulevards were built, many people and businesses soon followed leaving downtown behind for good.

Many historical buildings and homes were forgotten, abandoned, demolished, or destroyed by nature in one way or another. Where once people lived high above the ground to beautiful vistas of Brownsville and Matamoros and excellent views of Military and Charro Days Parade have now been reduced to living miles away in one or two story homes or apartments not even exceeding three stories and far away from the grandeur and excitement of the yearly Charro Days Parade. Hotels no longer built high enough to see Brownsville in its most gorgeous view; from above. Hotels such as the El Jardin and the Colonial (then called Travelers Hotel) commanded views and style not seen in any other part of the country. Banks rose proudly to signify their presence like the six story First National Bank (now Wells Fargo, 1950s), the five story State National Bank (Payless Shoe Store now occupies the first floor, while the rest remain empty, 1925), and the four story Merchant’s Bank (top floors empty and an intimate apparel store below, 1912). Then there was the four story Federal Courthouse that prominently rose above most buildings to signify law and order while the three story Cameron County Courthouse (now known as the Dancy Building) stood a few blocks away. Theaters abounded all over downtown such as the Majestic Theater, Queens Theater, Dittman Theater, The Capitol Theater, Victoria Theater, and many more. Far more theaters than any in existence today.

Not only was downtown active and energetic but also has the most styles of architecture found in the Rio Grande Valley and maybe even equal to San Antonio’s equally impressive and varied styles. Architectural styles abound(ed) in the downtown area with styles such as: New Orleans style (the Gem Building and the Bollack Building), Border Brick (San Roman Building), Gothic (The Immaculate Cathedral and the South Western Bell Building), Renaissance (now City Hall), Spanish Colonial (El Jardin and the Southern Pacific RR Depot now a museum), Neo-Gothic (Sacred Heart Church), Victorian (Vivier Cromack Building), Art Deco (The Majestic Theater), International Style (now the Wells Fargo Bank), Mission Style (Market Square and the Kraigher House) and many more. Architects would come and try and outdo the others’ style and architecture. All this incredible architecture died as a result of modernism and company retained architects and Brownsville lost its booming architecture beginning in the 1950s as well as the activity that came with all the above mentioned.

Fast forward to 2005. Downtown is still very active but it no longer is the center of attention. Most people who shop there are from Matamoros and/or low income, which, in turn, attracts many second-hand stores, dollar stores, and other small businesses. Downtown no longer attracts major national stores such as JC Penny’s (used to be in downtown until the 1974), Dillard’s, Beal’s (also used to be in downtown), or other national stores. You won’t find a Hard Rock Café, or Hooters, or any other national restaurant. In fact, the only national store still located in downtown is Payless Shoe Store and only because it caters to lower income shoppers. Although there are people of middle and higher income in the downtown area, there is not enough to support national retailers, restaurants, or hotels. Downtown is effectively dead in this aspect. The only time that downtown attracts people from the north part of the city are when events such as the Charro Days Parade at the end of February, Sombrero Fest, or the Latin Jazz Festival come around once a year. Charro Days attracts upwards of up to 50,000 but generally do not buy at the stores more than just watch the event and go home only to return a year later for the return of Charro Days. Sombrero Fest comes around at about the same time as Charro Days but is located at Washington Park, which is several blocks away form downtown. The Latin Jazz Festival is held every October but does not attract as large a crowd as Charro Days or Sombrero Fest. It has been growing every year but you won’t see the amount of people as the other events. So then, what’s needed to bring back downtown back to life again? It’s the chicken or the egg thing. Which comes first? The chicken or the egg, or in this case, the people or the businesses?

Here’s the problem with revitalizing downtown. When a major business, national store/restaurant, or hotel wants to build, they look into the cities demographics, which include income levels and amount of traffic going through.

Businesses are going to build in a place where the income level is at or near poverty level. A major business is going to build only if there is 1) middle to high income, 2) high traffic count 3) a large population base within that area and only if it meets criteria number 1, 4) an attractive place to build such as a major highway and/or an area undergoing a commercial boom like north Brownsville.

People, on the other hand, want to live in an area that is similar to the above mentioned. So how do you get people and businesses back into a dying section of the city? Do you bring the people first or the businesses since both want essentially the same reasons to return. After a few years of going over it in my head, I finally came to the conclusion that it’s got to be the people, not the businesses. Why? Because is would be easier to attract people to downtown than businesses. Below is an idea of how to attract people back into downtown, which businesses would naturally follow.

I. Renovate the upper floors of the mid rise buildings in downtown. The Bollack Building (3-story building with New Orleans Style on Elizabeth St) is a shinning example of this idea. The owner has spent considerable amount of money to renovate the exterior and interior for lofts. Each floor is about 5,000 square feet! You can either divide it into two 2,500 sf or as one 5,000 sf condo. Other downtown buildings have been renovated and converted to apartments and homes but there are still many other buildings that could be converted into apartments and condos. Renovating a building in such a way that it looks elegant and comfortable inside that would attract wealthier people who love to live in restores historical buildings, and there are many like that. Other buildings that have several uppers floors are the Merchant’s Bank, State National Bank, The El Jardin Hotel, and many other buildings.

II. Renovate the historical homes in and around downtown. There are many historical homes that have been renovated and wealthier people are living there but there are still numerous other homes that do need to be renovated. The homes that are not historical and are in dire straights could be demolished and new ones built in the style of the neighborhood. In fact, BHA (Brownsville Housing Authority) has begun to do just that. BHA is in the process of buying up empty lots and non historical buildings and is going to build beautiful homes in the style of the historic neighborhood. Although BHA deals with low to middle income families, building new attractive homes helps attract other developers to do the same. The more people that more into an area, the more attractive it is to developers to build there. Developers may then concentrate on developing subdivisions for middle and higher income people just like is happening at the Paseo de la Resaca between FM 802 and Paredes Line Rd.

III. Student Housing. As UTB/TSC grows, so does the demand for housing. One great possibility for attracting students to the downtown is the use of the El Jardin Hotel as dorms. There were plans from a company that wanted to buy the El Jardin, renovate the existing structure and build a twin El Jardin behind it for a total capacity of 510 students! Talk about major attraction of people to the downtown area. Students would then go out to buy groceries, which the HEB would then need to tear down the old one in downtown and rebuild a larger one to accommodate the students. Students also need places to eat, buy clothes, etc. I truly believe that if downtown is to return to life, this is it. The El Jardin Hotel is the key to revitalizing downtown in such a way that no other method would prove better and faster than bringing student housing to downtown. This idea is an article onto itself that I will write about and post very soon! Many out-of-town students and foreign students bring more money to our area than any other way. They need all the above mentioned and to live in an attractive place. I’ve seen the plans and it blew me away. Too bad that UTB turned down this idea. It would have been the beginning of a Renaissance for the future of downtown. Stay tuned for this article!!

Once the downtown has been repopulated with people of middle to high income levels, then, businesses will surely follow. So the chicken and the egg dilemma has been answered. Now, who will step up to the plate and begin the revitalization of downtown Brownsville?

Historic Battlefield Hike and Bike Trail

At left is the Federal Courthouse where the soon to come Linear Park will be located in front of the courthouse. The Historic Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail would begin here and follow the old rail road tracks almost exactly north to the Palo Alto National Battlefield Park.

In the near future near future, Brownsville will have the longest hike and bike trail in South Texas and maybe even San Antonio. Once it is completed and stretched linearly, I calculated about 9.1 miles long but doesn't include the section of the trail that UTB/TSC is going to build (called College Park) and the Paseo de la Resaca trail on the intersection of Paredes Line Rd that is already built that will eventually connect to the Brownsville hike & bike trail! Putting these together would equal to about 17 miles of hike and bike trail stretching from the Lincoln Park near UTB/TSC to the Palo Alto Historic National Battlefield Park near Los Fresnos.

Phew, that's on massive trail for the happy joggers and bikers around town and another way for Brownsville residents to get their exercise. Let's start from the beginning of the Historic Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail.

Historic Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail

This trail will begin at the footsteps of the Federal Courthouse between 6th & 7th St as pictured above. The future Linear Park will be at this location. From here, the trail goe east along the old railroad tracks (now removed) under the 77/83 Expressway and then turn left along the city Buena Vida Cemetary. It keeps going straight north paralleling the Paredes Line Rd along the old tracks crossing several major roads and boulevards.

The first crossing is the Boca Chica Blvd. This is a seven lane (center lane included) blvd and would be the most dangerous to cross. After this crossing is the Price Rd crossing, which is five lanes across. Then comes FM 802 or Ruben M. Torres Blvd (don't care for the name of the latter!) that is also five lanes across. From here is a long stretch next to the Brownsville Country Club and the Brownsville Event Center all the way to Alton Gloor (former Tejon Rd) Blvd, which is also five lanes across. The final strecth of the trail crosses on more major raod called FM 511. The Palo ALto Battlefield Park is located on the corner of FM 511 and Paredes Line Rd (FM 1847). The trail would have to cross over FM 1847 and your there; 9.1 miles of hike and bike just using the Historic Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail!

College Park Hike & Bike Trail

The University of Texas @ Brownsville/Texas Southmost College (UTB/TSC) will be constructing its own hike and bike trail called College Park. Basically, the trail will wind around the existing resacas (ox bow lake to you northerners!) with sidewalks. I believe that the trail will go around the famouse "horseshoe" shaped resaca as well as the Lozano Banco Resaca (behing the new Education & Business Complex). The Lozano Banco Resaca already has a 300 foot bridge that connects the Business & Education Complex with the rest of the university. The new Fall 2005 Issue of the university's newspaper Orange and White (the new online issue isn't up yet) shows the beautifull bridge with students crossing it. I've been on it many times and just love the view of the resaca, the many species of birds, turtles, fish, and the campus. See the view of the UTB/TSC for better reference. Then from here, the College Park trail would connect with the Lincoln Park located next to the levee and the Los Tomates Int'l Bridge. It also has its own hike & bike trail but only about 0.25 or 1/4 mile long. College Park would eventually connect with the Historic Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail through downtown but I'm not exactly sure which streets would be used for the connection.

Paseo de la Resaca Park Hike & Bike Trail

And finally, the last segment of the hike and bike trail is the Paseo de la Resaca Hike and Bike Trail. This trail is very nice because of its many bridges over man-made resacas that when stretched, would cover about seven miles of trail. The resacas have a "finger like" shape to them because you have one main resaca and "fingers" sprouting from the main one. See the drawing of the Paseo de la Resaca to get an idea of what I'm talking about: Paseo de la Resaca. The trail is part of the larger picture of the Paseo de la Resaca. Bewteen the corner of Paredes Line Rd (FM 1847) and FM 802 and the corner of Hudson Blvd and FM 802 (see above link for map) will be the featured Village Center. The Village Center is a Power Center that will have retail, restaurants, and a 150 room hotel some of which will line the resaca for a beautiful vista. Click here to see a preliminary design of the Village Center. Once it is completed within the next five years or so, the view from the trail as your jogging in this area will be magnificent. Mr. Hudson (Managing Director of the Paseo de la Resaca) envisions a San Antonio style river walk once completed. Already there is a Bank of America and a Wendys located there and hopefully more will come in the near future.

Trails, Trails Everywhere!

Once all the trails mentioned above have been completed, Brownsville residents will definately benefit and make our city even more beautiful and pedestrian friendly. Those living within a quarter mile from these trails can use it to go to work, school, shopping, or just travel from one side of the city to the other, either by walking, jogging, or bicylce! Brownsville was definately due for something like this. Ever tried walking in the north part of Brownsville? I have and it sucks!! These trails will make it easier and safer to traverse Brownsville in a healthy way.

Now, if only the city's Historic Battlefield Hike and Bike trail could add bridges to go over the dangerous boulevards and roads as mentioned earlier. Welcome Brownsville to the healthier 21st Century!

TonyL

The MultiModal Terminal Facility

Note: The picture at left is not the current design of the MultiModal Terminal. A newer preliminary design has come out and can be viewed on the BUS newsletter. Below is the link to the newsletter.

Brownsville is close to building a one stop bus station called the MultiModal Terminal Facilty within the next year or so. This new terminal will be built between E. Jefferson St and E. Adams St and as far back as 13th St. Click here to see the BUS Newsletter that shows the close approximation of the design of the new terminal: MultiModal Terminal.

This terminal is will house all the bus companies such as Greyhound, Adame, Expresso, etc and the city busses into one terminal, hence the term MultiModal Terminal Facilty. I believe that BUS (Brownsville Urban System) has received funding for their project just recently so hopefully construction can begin within the next year or two.

This new terminal will hopefully accomplish the following:

1. Have one central location for all bus companies instead of sprouting all over downtown.

2. Make transportation easier for UTB students as the terminal would be right across the campus.

3. Revitalize the downtown area with new retail and restaurants.

4. Motivate owners of historic buildings and homes to renovate their properties.

5. Any other spinoff that may result in the revitalization of downtown.

The preliminary design is very nice and incorporates styling of its surrounding, most noticably of Spanish-Colonial that also includes a dome. The design features a two story building with a dome and two retail buildings. A multistory garage was in the design but unfortunately, the funding does not provide for a garage. The city would have to pay for its construction. A garage is definately needed in downtown that can be used for the terminal and the dowtown area. Parking is dreadful most of the time and needs to be remedied (another good topic for this blog). I do hope the city can find money to build it or find funding elsewhere.

This new terminal is a win-win situation for dowtown and Brownsville as a whole. Students would have better access to campus and therefore provide incentive to ride the bus rather than bring their car, which in turn, reduce gas consumption, reduce pollution, increase public transportation, and have other bus options available to the general public. The North Transfer Station is currently under construction on FM 802 across from HEB and Paseo Plaza. This station will help reach more riders from the north part of town and more routes will undoubtedly be added.

Can't wait to see it built!

TonyL