BROWNSVILLE, Texas – In a Zoom interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Helen Ramirez has discussed Pineapple RE Holdings’ proposed five-story Hilton Garden Inn.
Ramirez is deputy city manager for the City of Brownsville and executive director of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.
Last month, Brownsville City Commission approved a funding agreement for the Hilton project. The operator, Pineapple RE Holdings LP, plans to build a five-story Hilton Garden Inn in a high traffic and retail area on W. Morrison Road.
The prototype will be built on a five-acre site and will feature a minimum of 150 guest rooms. Some of the amenities will include a full-service restaurant and bar, minimum of 10,000 square foot conference and meeting space, swimming pool, health spa and fitness, a sundry shop and Wi-Fi in all guest rooms and hotel public spaces.
“The hotel will include 10,000 square feet of event space. So, we will be able to hold different groups and events,” Ramirez said. “Just having that full service hotel is something that we very much need.”
Ramirez pointed out that the City of Brownsville commissioned a 2021 feasibility study to see whether the city needed more hotels.
“That demonstrated that we had strong demand that was not being met,” Ramirez said. “Our need is very great right now. We could actually take on another full service hotel if we wanted to.”
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News release
The City of Brownsville issued a news release about the Hilton Garden Inn project. Here are some excerpts:
“We are excited and honored to develop the Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center Hotel. A hotel of this scale was long overdue in Brownsville given its current growth and future. With the city’s support, we will make sure to bring a beautiful hotel for our visitors and citizens of Brownsville. We look forward to what the future brings us to this great city!” said Julio Graña, on behalf of Pineapple RE Holdings.
The estimated investment is a minimum of $27 million and is anticipated to generate up to 65 jobs when fully operational. The tentative start date for development is the fourth quarter of 2022.
An economic impact analysis performed by TXP, Inc. Economic Analysis Consulting Firm determined the hotel’s 10-year revenue projections show an estimated property tax revenue of $2,157,737, estimated city sales tax of $268,071 and an estimated city 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax (tax collected from rental of rooms) of $4,356.712.
“The City’s open for business approach and growing demand for hotel rooms had led to an agreement to build its first full-service hotel with conference space that will accommodate its strong business and tourism sectors.”
The City of Brownsville will reimburse 100% of the project’s Hot Occupancy Tax (HOT), over the next 10 years, provided that figure does not to exceed $4 million.
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