EDINBURG, Texas – For those who cannot quite believe Edinburg has more than 60 new subdivisions under construction, check out the GIS map on the city’s website.
The color-coded map shows dozens and dozens of subdivisions listed as under review by city staff and dozens and dozens more listed as under construction. When one places a cursor on the red and yellow boxes the name of the project, along with acreage and square footage is revealed.
“Yes, we still have over 60 subdivisions under construction right now, all over the city. I encourage residents or anyone that’s interested to check out the GIS map on our city website,” said Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza.
“You can go in there and there’s layers to choose from, showing what developments are happening. And you can see all throughout the city where those developments are happening.”
Garza said he always encourages potential investors and developers to use the GIS map.
“It continues, the activity here in our city. That is why it is important that we as a city focus on the improvements that are needed, the public improvements, and that’s our focus right now.”
Garza spoke to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held for the La Sienna Apartments project, just off the expressway, north of Monte Cristo. The ribbon-cutting was co-hosted by Edinburg Chamber of Commerce.
La Sienna Apartments is the first multifamily community within the La Sienna Master Planned Community that is being developed by Burns Development Company. The 15 acre multifamily site officially opened last year with 288 one, two, and three-bedroom apartment homes. Around 200 of them already have tenants.
Praising the development, Garza said: “La Sienna is going to have huge impact to our community, on our economy. Over $33 million was invested here. This project is going to bring more interest to this area and increase our tax base. I think it is going to bring more commercial development to the north side of the city. So it’s going to have a big impact for us.”
Edinburg Council member Johnny Garcia agreed.
“I think it’s an amazing project. Number one, it is bringing growth to north side side of Edinburg. But, second of all, it is bringing quality of life. It’s allowing people to move this way and it’s allowing commercial entities to start investing in the north side of our city. It is just a good opportunity for commercial and retail as we continue to see more rooftops going up.”
Mayor Garza said he can envisage more restaurants and other commercial neighborhood-type establishments move into the northern part of the city.
“They need to be here, to be close to where these families are going live. We have already had a lot of growth on the north side, especially outside of our city, in the unincorporated areas. This is only going to add to that. Really, it’s going to help us promote this area that much more,” Garza said.
“So, I envision a grocery store here on the north side at some point; more options for people to not have to drive into town. We’ll probably also see some retail eventually out here as well, some restaurants.”
According to the 2020 Census, Edinburg is the fastest-growing city in the Rio Grande Valley and one of the fastest in the state of Texas.
Garza said that while it is good to see new private investment coming into Edinburg, it serves as a reminder that city leaders need to continue to make investments in infrastructure.
“We need to ensure that we have the improvements we need for this growth to continue. This (La Sienna) development challenges us to ensure that we keep up with the growth. And we are doing our part. We’re about to expand our wastewater treatment plant. We’re evaluating building a new water treatment facility on the north side. We are building a water tower, actually here on the north side, too. So these developments are helping us ensure that we make those investments (in infrastructure).”
Editor’s Note: The above news story is the second in a two-part series featuring the La Sienna Master Planned Community project. Click here to read Part One.
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