RESACAWALK: EDC purchases resaca property where new museum, boardwalk will be created

San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez Congressman Filemon Vela is seen with members of the San Benito City Commission and San Benito Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, including Mayor Joe H. Hernandez and Board Chair Pete Claudio.

San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez
Congressman Filemon Vela is seen with members of the San Benito City Commission and San Benito Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, including Mayor Joe H. Hernandez and Board Chair Pete Claudio.

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

The San Benito Economic Development Corporation (EDC) held a ceremony Friday morning to announce the awarding of a $1.2 million federal grant, which has gone toward the purchase of the now-former First National Bank property located off Business 77 opposite the Heavin Resaca Trail.

City of San Benito and EDC officials expressed plans at the ceremony, which was held under a canopy near the banks of the resaca at 500 West Business 77, to use the property to build a new museum which will house what is currently the Museums of San Benito—exhibits consisting of the San Benito History Museum, the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Freddy Fender Museum. Also planned on the grounds is a boardwalk where officials hope to lure retail businesses and restaurants.

Speaking at the event was U.S. Representative Filemon Vela, Economic Development Administration Regional Director Pedro Garza of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and representatives of the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum

“This is a historic event for us,” said Ray Avila, president of the Texas Conjunto Museum and Hall of Fame. “There are no words to describe this.”

Vela presented the grant to EDC Board President Pete Claudio while reading a letter written by Garza and addressed to EDC Director Salomon Torres.

“This is a letter from the United States Department of Commerce, signed by Mr. Garza, to Salomon Torres,” announced Vela. “‘Here, Mr. Torres, I am pleased to announce that the Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, has approved the Financial Assistance Award in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000 to assist in acquiring and developing the San Benito Mix-Use Plaza. Sincerely, Pedro Garza.’”

Claudio said, “Congressman Vela and Mr. Garza, I can assure you that this money will be well spent. As a matter of fact, in anticipation of the award, the San Benito EDC, with the support of the City Commission and this administration, is excited to announce that we have already completed the purchase of the land you are standing on. It is a total of 9.8 acres of prime commercial waterfront property.”

Claudio was referring to the aforementioned property formerly owned by First National Bank; said property was purchased with the grant money for $990,000.

“We actually closed on it on Monday (Dec. 16) of this week,” Claudio said of the purchase. “That was the intent of the grant in the first place, to be able to purchase that property. About two or three years ago, the bank as originally asking for $1.8 million for that property. We got it for $990,000, which didn’t cost the City anything, and whatever is left over from the grant is going to be used for infrastructure improvements.”

Claudio said that the EDC is also discussing plans to extend the Heavin Resaca Trail across Business 77 and into the newly purchased waterfront property, where officials are planning to construct a boardwalk dubbed the Resacawalk.

“Imagine,” Claudio suggested, “Where we’re standing right now, instead of blacktop, it’s going to be boardwalk. That’s what has been discussed. Hopefully we can put it to good use and we can construct this boardwalk similar to the one in New Jersey.”

“It’s been going on for 12 months,” Torres said following the ceremony. “We had to keep it under wraps for that long. Of course, we didn’t know about the award until late September, early October. That’s when we found out about the award. It’s been hard to keep it to ourselves. This is big news for the city, and we wanted to share it as soon as we can but we had to keep it under wraps.”

Torres further explained the need for commercial space to bring more tenants to San Benito, which he said the grant money will make possible.

“This is going to basically create a new zone, a business plaza zone for the city,” Torres said. “It is not renovating buildings here. This is not restructuring what is here. This is about starting from scratch from a prime location that already has the traffic flow. That’s why we think that we’re going to have our choice of development ideas.”

“When this land became available, it was a slam dunk,” Garza said. “You get a chance to build from the ground up. Instead of rehabbing or reconstructing or restoring, you get to build from the ground up. It’ll be a mixed-use project. I see great things for this. As they say in real estate; location, location, location. This location is prime.”

Torres explained the term “Mix-Use,” as it was used during the announcement of the grant.

“We say that because the museum will be a public building owned by the city, but the rest of the facilities will be owned by the EDC,” explained Torres. “We will lease out spaces to the restaurants, the private businesses that want to come here. It’s a partnership between public and private.”

Torres said that the first facility on the property will be a museum, which will house the San Benito History Museum, the Texas Conjunto Music and Hall of Fame and Museum and the Freddy Fender Museum. He said that there will be a six month process in which the museum building is designed before work on infrastructure improvements on water and sewer lines will begin. He also said that there are plans to extend Freddy Fender Lane across Business 77 and onto the purchased property.

“In the end, it’s about creating jobs,” Claudio said. “That’s the ultimate goal. That’s what we’re here to do. This is going to be just the beginning. It is an example of better things to come.”

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/12/21/resacawalk-edc-purchases-resaca-property-where-new-museum-boardwalk-will-be-created/

4 comments

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    • Get A Clue on December 26, 2013 at 9:47 am
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    It seems that the 170 acre track of land for 300k was passed up for a 9 acre lot for 1.2 mil. WOW good business sense. Seems E.D.C. is pulling the wool over someones eyes. By the way, how often has anybody visited the Brownsville museum?

    • sbperson on December 23, 2013 at 4:35 pm
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    wow! something finally being done…smh, now how about you city officials fix my street instead of fixing your offices/ streets (where your businesses are at)..Another museum? who would want to come to san benito to visit the museum? Honesyly, who would? What is so historical about san benito that we need a museum…How about beautifying the city with that money, instead of blowing it all on boring projects… the boardwalk sounds good but in order for the people of san benito to go see and “enjoy” the boardwalk/ museum they have to experience all the potholes san benito has yet to fix first!

    • sanbenitofan44 on December 21, 2013 at 3:43 pm
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    This sounds pretty cool and interesting!
    I hope it turns out great for the city!

  1. It reminds me of the old SAN BENITO ON THE GROW sign. Make sure the museum and boardwalk are built high in case the area is prone to flood waters. It seems all the real politicos faces have passed and a new view of things is starting to appear. Hope Joe Hernandez runs for re-election he’s been through a lot political waves(eyes) and I am sure he is the best experienced man for the volunteer job of being a Mayor. You guysstay Honest and keep up the good work. God Bless you all!

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