(Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
More than 100 people, many of them realtors or professionals in the housing industry, mingled with city, county, and state leaders, as they gathered last Friday to witness to a groundbreaking of the San Sebastian Subdivision.
For those who are in the market of owning their own home, it costs $1,000 to reserve a lot in this subdivision located along Business 77 and Oscar Williams Rd. in San Benito (322-326 FM 1846).
The minimum building requirement to construct a home in this subdivision of 179 future lots is 1,300 square feet with space for a one-or two-car garage.
Commercial properties adjacent to the homes is also part of this major endeavor.
San Benito Mayor Pro Tem Pedro A. Galvan, who was one of a half dozen leaders and stakeholders to speak in front of groundbreaking ceremony visitors, said he is continuously asked about development in the city he represents. “I keep being fielded questions about when are we going to move forward. Now we are moving forward,” Galvan said. “We have another commercial development fronting (Business) 77. We’re going to have a lot of residential development behind it with many amenities.”
Those amenities include residential areas to play basketball and soccer, hiking trails and dog parks, and areas for children’s playgrounds, according to the developers.
During the ceremony, a four-minute animation video was shown on a giant screen of what the subdivision would look like from ground level and from high above.
Project Manager Sergio Origel said San Sebastian development will come in three phases on 47 acres, initially with 56 lots, followed by 72 lots in the second phase, and 51 lots in the third phase.
Some construction will be completed, weather permitting, by the early summer, Origel said.
“Rooftops” are an essential part of San Benito’s growth pattern, especially if city leaders expect to attract future commercial businesses.
City Manager Fred Sandoval alluded to this during his time speaking to guests, saying there are major retail outlets that would entertain the idea of making San Benito home.
“Retailers won’t come to San Benito unless we have rooftops, and (San Sebastian) is a major lifestyle development,” Sandoval said. “We are at a very crucial crossroad right now in the city. Things are lining up for us.”
He said there are more commercial and housing groundbreaking events planned this year.
When city leaders and staff plan “correctly” positive things happen in terms of development, Sandoval added. He mentioned how the upper Rio Grande Valley has continued to enjoy the fruits of progress and it’s “now San Benito’s time.”
San Benito Mayor Rick Guerra honed in on the topic.
“I don’t know how much I can stress this; I don’t want to beat Harlingen, I don’t want to beat Brownsville,” Guerra said. “I want San Benito. I want to be able to sustain what we’ve got, to flourish and give the people of our city what they deserve.”
Alicia Villarreal, who is the owner and real estate broker with Access Realty, based in Brownsville, said the subdivision is in a high traffic area, and estimates there are 19,000 vehicles traveling here per day. San Sebastian will also have eight “prime” commercial lots in the near future.
On Thursday, a day prior to the San Sebastian Subdivision groundbreaking, the City held a similar event just down the street, marking the construction of a new Stripes which is being built on the corner of Oscar Williams Rd. and Bus. 77.
To contact Villarreal or Access Realty, call 956-435-9265.
Recent Comments