Atkinson: Sports Park site generating commercial interest

As the City Commission moved Tuesday to loan the BCIC $3.2 million to buy 262 acres of land adjacent to the Sports Park, investors attracted by the infrastructure in place are eyeing the park site for commercial development.

This could draw the likes of retail giants such as Macy's and Bass Pro Shop, said City Commissioner Charlie Atkinson, who also chairs the Brownsville Community Improvement Corp.

"We have investors calling," he said.

"We're freaking out," he said. Atkinson added that he has even seen commercial development plans and said that the city "could still keep the soccer fields and work with private investors."

There is a growing trend in urban development to have sports venues surrounded by retail, he said, making such the proposal "a win-win situation."

Atkinson said he met with officials from the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corp. and the Brownsville Economic Development Council, who said "April 1 is when Macy's will probably give us a commitment."

"We will then sit down as a group to see what we can do to work everything out. If not, we still go ahead with our plans for the Sports Park," Atkinson said.

BEDC marketing and communications director Gilbert Salinas said Thursday that, "we have been working with several investors from the area and outside the area interested in building a lifestyle center that would resemble the shops at La Cantera in San Antonio."

"We have been working for the past two years and this seemed to have gained momentum in the past two months," Salinas said, noting that BEDC is facilitating planning. Because of confidentiality concerns, he declined to say who the investors or interested companies are at this planning stage.

On Monday, BCIC voted to ask the City Commission for the loan to buy the additional acreage. On Tuesday, the City Commission approved the request without seeking an appraisal on the land.

Atkinson said Wednesday that the land could be worth twice the amount in a couple of years and said that if it doesn't spur commercial development that it could be used to expand the Sports Park.

At the beginning of the commission meeting, resident Fernando Ruiz urged the commission to have the property appraised before purchasing it. "We're up to our neck in investments," he said.

Because his vote was not required to break a tie, Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr., a certified appraiser, did not vote. He said Wednesday that although he believes that an appraisal should first be conducted, he also thought the amount was reasonable.

"Based on my expert opinion, the value is there," Ahumada said.

The Cameron Appraisal District lists F. W. Bert Wheeler and F. W. Bert Wheeler Trustee as owners of the adjacent land, BCIC Executive Director Delina Barrera said.

Barrera placed the cost of the property at $3 million and said the additional $200,000 would be costs related to the purchase.

In a recent interview, City Manager Charlie Cabler said that a lot of infrastructure work has been invested in the property, including a lift station, water, drainage and power improvements.

"We can easily extend the infrastructure work onto the adjoining property and it is a huge asset for future development," Cabler said.