City of Edinburg plans to build multimillion dollar public corridor in downtown district
Published: Tue, 01/24/23
City of Edinburg plans to build multimillion dollar public corridor in downtown district
The city of Edinburg is planning to create a multimillion dollar public corridor to be located downtown.
ValleyCentral.com
by: Joel Flores
Posted:
The city of Edinburg is planning to build a multimillion dollar public corridor that will be located downtown.
The Ramblas Corridor will include amenities like a splash pad, a special needs park, an outdoor food court, and the new home of Casa Cultural.
Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia said the project is all part of his plan to revitalize the entire downtown area.
“When I was mayor at the very beginning, I started in ’03, I had this idea,” Garcia said. “That’s why we built city hall where we did and cut off McIntyre, of connecting the university and downtown, because I had seen a pedestrian corridor, very much used in Barcelona, Spain.”
The $8 million project will be located in front of the Edinburg Fire Department. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its medical school, the Hidalgo County courthouse, and an upcoming multi-use bus terminal, are all within walking distance from city hall in Edinburg.
“The dream will be complete once we reach that position and we have a brand new courthouse at the other end and we have the square rezoned, so that we have a residential downtown,” said Garcia.
An Austin-based consulting firm conducted a master plan for revitalization and planned a “residential downtown,” which includes construction of apartments and condominiums in the area.
“It sounds great for all the tourism, and it helps all kinds of people out like special needs,” said Edinburg resident Esteban Reyna. “Although, I’m kind of worried if it’s going to increase taxes, as well.”
The splash pad and special needs park will be paid for by the city’s park land funds. The city’s general fund, which comes from taxpayer dollars, will cover the cost of the food court and a parking lot.
Casa Cultural, which offers arts programs for the public, will be paying on their own to repurpose Sam Houston school.
Construction on the special needs park is expected to begin by the end of the year. Ramblas Corridor is expected to be completed by 2019.
Garcia added that the city will continue attracting other investments into the area.