HARLINGEN — The total cost of the convention center has climbed to $16.7 million.
Yesterday, city commissioners and members of the Harlingen Community Improvement Board approved $1.75 million in additional features.
The move comes just days before an Aug. 4 groundbreaking ceremony is expected.
As part of the city’s revised plans, the building expanded from 43,700 square feet to 44,436 square feet.
“We really wanted a premier convention center — a showpiece for the community,” City Manager Dan Serna said at the meeting.
“This is a beautiful convention center — something I think citizens are going to be proud of for many, many years to come.”
The additions and related expenses come along with a pending $2.7 million land purchase.
Commissioners will fund the additional expenses with $1.2 million from the Community Improvement Board’s sales tax revenue; $850,000 from hotel occupancy tax revenue; and $100,000 from the city’s Community Development Block Grant program.
The city expects to close the sale of eight acres with landowner Ezequiel Reyna by early next week, Serna said.
“We’re at a point where I feel we’re ready to go forward with construction,” he said.
As they prepare for construction, officials earmarked $300,000 for fill dirt to raise the site about five feet.
At yesterday’s meeting, Commissioner Tudor Uhlhorn said the project’s additions “will make it a more useful building.”
“I think it’s important we don’t scale down the project,” Uhlhorn said. “If we do it, we’ve got to do it right.”
To spruce up architects’ original design, commissioners approved $362,353 for a brick exterior that will replace a stucco façade.
As part of the additions, $422,503 will fund construction of a 5,536-square-foot pavilion to stand near the building’s entrance.
Commissioners suggested adding the pavilion to host outdoor events such as weddings and live entertainment.
Commissioners also approved $221,064 to expand the porte-cochere that will cover the building’s entrance.
The expanded porte-cochere will make loading and unloading safer while providing more space for cars at the building’s main doorway, Serna said.
Commissioners also approved $182,901 for a fountain and reflector pool to stand near the building’s entrance.
With a price tag of $58,175, windows along the building’s upper area and tall arched windows will give the convention center a “South Texas flair.”
Meanwhile, commissioners approved $45,000 for a boulevard-style entry way to include a roundabout feature allowing for smooth traffic flow.
“We wanted a grand entry coming into our convention center,” Serna said.
While the city funds construction of the convention center, San Antonio-based BC Lynd Hospitality will build an attached 150-room Hilton Garden Inn on eight acres at the corner of Brazil Road and Teege Avenue.
As part of a finance plan, the city will use $9.7 million generated through the Community Improvement Board’s sales tax and $3.8 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue to pay off the debt.
The city also will use $1.96 million from property tax revenue generated through Harlingen’s three tax increment financing reinvestment zones.
