Yes, I have recommended demolishing the San Juan Hotel – Rio Grande Guardian

This HTML code appears to be a webpage discussing the Downtown Development Plan for San Juan, Texas, with a focus on the potential replacement of the historic San Juan Hotel with a downtown conference center.This HTML code appears to be a webpage discussing the Downtown Development Plan for San Juan, Texas, with a focus on the potential replacement of the historic San Juan Hotel with a downtown conference center. Key points from the text: * Brian Godinez, CEO of ERO Architects, hosted an “Open House” to present the Downtown Development Plan. * Godinez stated that ERO was hired by the City Commission to design a preliminary plan for a downtown conference center. * Renderings of the proposed conference center show it as a replacement for the San Juan Hotel. * Godinez recommended demolishing the San Juan Hotel. * Local residents raised concerns and voiced their opposition to demolishing the hotel. * Gabriel Ozuna, a member of the Hidalgo County Historical Commission, emphasized the importance of historic preservation and tax breaks available for preserving historic buildings. * Ozuna believes the San Juan Hotel is a valuable landmark and should be incorporated into the downtown development plan. The text includes a video link to a question-and-answer session from the “Open House.”

Brian Godinez, President and CEO of ERO Architects, led an “Open House for the Downtown Development Plan” on June 26, 2024.

SAN JUAN, Texas – Brian Godinez, principal and CEO of McAllen-based ERO Architects, sought to set a record regarding his firm’s involvement in plans to replace the historic San Juan Hotel with a downtown conference center.

Godinez hosted an event hosted by San Juan Economic Development Corporation titled “Downtown Development Plan Open House.” During the meeting, held at the San Juan Memorial Library, planners used a Power Point presentation to show San Juan residents what a revitalized downtown could look like.

The planners, some of whom were from ERO, didn’t talk about demolishing the San Juan Hotel or building a new conference center during their 45-minute presentation. But when it came to the Q&A with residents in the audience, that all changed.

Godinez opened it up to questions from the audience. But before he did that, he said he wanted to set the record straight.

“For the record, the City Commission hired my firm to develop a preliminary design for a downtown conference center. That preliminary design has now been officially presented to the City Commission,” Godinez said.

“We’ve had a series of discussions and meetings with staff, and we’re going to be meeting with the city commission soon to give our presentation report or a preliminary design that would be (along the lines of): What would the floor area be? looks like? How big would it be? How many square meters would it involve? How much of the country would it include? What could it look like? How long would it take to build? How much would it cost?”

In addition, Godinez said, “some very nice drawings” would be presented to the City Council, “when they are ready to be presented by us.”

No renderings of the conference center were on display at the meeting. Ben Arjona, San Juan’s city manager and interim director of the San Juan EDC, showed them to the Rio Grande Guardian last week. The renderings, produced by ERO, show the conference center as a replacement for the San Juan Hotel, but also incorporate some aspects of it.

Godinez said the city commission will decide what to do once his company releases its report on the proposed conference center.

“So I just wanted you to know that, for the record, that’s where we are. You asked about renders. The City Commission hasn’t been officially presented with any renders yet, but they will be renders,” Godinez said.

When questioned by local residents, Godinez confirmed that he recommended demolishing the San Juan Hotel.

“I was asked by a city commissioner what our advice would be after we had done our own inspections. And I said it should be demolished. That was clear when I said that. I don’t deny that I said that,” Godinez said.

Godinez continued, “Okay, just to be clear. I want to establish this because you’ve all asked about the convention center… and I’ll say it again… the mandate and mission of this commercial development plan has nothing to do with the convention center downtown or the San Juan Hotel, or specific buildings. We’re simply presenting a vision for areas in the downtown area of ​​what can be built, either by the city or private investors or a combination of both.”

Godinez then asked the audience for their opinion. They were given a maximum of two minutes to speak, although some stayed longer.

Hidalgo County Historical Commission member Gabriel Ozuna spoke at an open house about the Downtown Development Plan on June 26, 2024.

Gabriel Ozuna, a member of the Hidalgo County Historical Commission, was one of the speakers.

“I came to the last workshop you all had, and I had a single goal in mind, which was to talk about the importance of preservation as part of any downtown development plan. That’s a word that didn’t make it into your presentation. And if that’s any indication, it probably won’t make it into your final report and recommendations. I think this is a big mistake by everyone on this project.”

Ozuna said he has talked ad nauseam about the historic preservation tax breaks available to the city of San Juan.

“If you own a historic building that is eligible to be placed on the National Register, you can receive a 20 percent federal tax deduction and a 25 percent state tax deduction through the National Park Service’s Texas Historical Commission to purchase those buildings revitalize them and make them economic engines. That’s why the federal government passed the National Historic Preservation Act and amended it in 1980 to do these things,” Ozuna said.

Ozuna pointed out that the city of San Juan already has a preservation ordinance on its books. He said it was passed in 2002.

“There are so many benefits to a program like this. Take your heritage, take your history and integrate it into this downtown development. Mr. Godinez is right when he says the San Juan Hotel is not the centerpiece of this development. The problem is that it is mine. Because when you think of San Juan, when you think of downtown, this is the first thing that comes to mind. It is the number one site that comes up when you google the city.”

Ozuna said he saw no objections in the planners’ presentation.

“But if you don’t include the hotel, you’re the most visible landmark, something that can draw people, draw visitors, draw tax visitor dollars, heritage tourism dollars to downtown, then you’re missing a big part of this,” Ozuna said.

“So I urge you to take another look at your planning, include preservation, and make the Historical Commission, either the County Historical Commission, or the Texas Historical Commission, your allies and your friends. We want to help you. There is money available. There are public services. And we are happy to help. But we feel like we are not being invited to the conversation.”

Ozuna received applause from the audience for his comments.

Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of the question and answer portion of the “Downtown Development Plan Open House” hosted by San Juan EDC:

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