Tuesday, March 16, 2010

NAI Rio Grande Valley's own Mike Blum weighs in on the importance of border infrastructure and why it is crucial to the growth of McAllen/Reynosa

NAI Rio Grande Valley's own Mike Blum weighs in on the importance of border infrastructure and why it is crucial to the growth of McAllen/Reynosa
McAllen Economic Development Corporation

Building up the infrastructure between the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Northern Mexico has long been a goal for citizens and public officials. Even with the recent opening of the Anazalduas International Bridge, the fastest growing area on the U.S.-Mexico border faces challenges, in part to the burgeoning population.

Mike Blum, former city planner for the City of McAllen and current partner and managing broker for NAI Rio Grande Valley offered his insight and opinion on “Building Up Border Infrastructure.”

Click here to hear the full report from the Ron Whitlock Reports show.

New Owner for 'Empire State Building of the Valley'?

New Owner for 'Empire State Building of the Valley'?
The Brownsville Herald

HARLINGEN (Brownsville Herald) – Some call it “the city’s biggest eyesore.” Others say it’s the Empire State Building of the Rio Grande Valley.

But the 81-year-old Blaschka Tower has survived three hurricanes and served as a fallout shelter in World War II. And now the nine-story, mostly vacant structure may get a new owner.

Grupo Ayusa, a Brownsville-Matamoros development company, has approached owner Wayne Blaschka and the city about purchasing the 40,000-sf building.

Officials said the group wants to rename it Centennial Tower and use the top two floors for its own office. Grupo Ayusa also plans to turn the first floor into a restaurant or café and lease the remaining floors as office space.

Downtown District board member Bill DeBrooke said it would cost about $4 million to clean and inspect the inside of the building to make it inhabitable for business.

Click Here to Read More from The Brownsville Herald

Tyco flows into $20M expansion in Harlingen - Rio Grande Valley, TX

Tyco flows into $20M expansion in Harlingen
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation
02/10/2010

(Harlingen) - Tyco Flow Control plans on a multimillion dollar investment to add a 33,000-sf expansion and additional equipment to its 80,000-sf facility. The expansion could bring the total investment in the Harlingen facility to nearly $20 million.

Tyco Flow Control currently employs 120 people with plans for over 50 new jobs with the expansion.

Construction will commence as soon as plans are complete and the estimated new jobs are planned to be added within one year of occupancy.

The expansion will allow Tyco Flow Control to provide four product brands including industry-leading valves and controls, services, and other solutions, to customers in more than 60 countries.

“Harlingen has always been a productive location for Tyco Flow Control,” according to Ed Rushing, vice president of operations. “The continued positive business climate of Harlingen and work by the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation helped us to decide to expand our Harlingen facility.”

Source: Harlingen Economic Development Corporation

88,000-SF Boys & Girls Club of Los Fresnos construction

88,000-SF Boys & Girls Club of Los Fresnos construction
The Brownsville Herald
2/16/2010

(Los Fresnos) - The Boys & Girls Club in Los Fresnos should have a new 88,000sf home at Memorial Park by April.

The new complex will cost about $1.4 million. A full-sized gym is part of the first phase of construction. The next stages will add more offices, an exercise center and storage space.

The new space will allow better service to the city’s student population of a little more than 9,000 children.

Click Here to read more from The Brownsville Herald

Mixed-use space under construction in Brownsville

Mixed-use space under construction in Brownsville
The Brownsville Herald
3/2/2010

Retail options near the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (UTB-TSC) campus are expanding. University Plaza, a 6,000-sf shopping mall between Burger King and Expy. 77/83 on University Blvd., is under construction and should be open by late March.


No tenants have signed leases yet, though a restaurant should be among them, according to Claudia Ayarzagoitia, an agent for Southern Commercial Real Estate Group, which is leasing the mall for the developer, Servicios Integrales de Arrendamiento LLC of Matamoros.

The development includes office suites as well.

The development sits on 1.4 acres inside Brownsville’s historic overlay district. An additional 2,000 sf of the parcel probably will be developed after the initial phase is finished, and could include another small restaurant.

Click Here for more from The Brownsville Herald