Restoring Plaza Florita Historic District…

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CITY MAKES MOVE ON OLD STORE PURCHASE FOR $37K 

“BRING THE PLAZA BACK TO WHAT IT USED TO BE…”

A plan by the city of Cotulla to enhance the historic district in and around the Plaza Florita has taken its next step with approval by councilors last week to purchase the disused Jimenez grocery store for renovation.

The unanimous decision by those present at the October 13 meeting in the AB Alexander Convention Center came after a brief presentation by City Administrator Larry Dovalina, who said the price tag for the real estate has been set at $37,000.

Delinquent property taxes on the building total at least $4,000, according to City Hall, and Dovalina said he hopes that other taxing entities – the school district, county and Wintergarden water district – will forgive the back taxes if the property can be saved from the wrecking ball.

City taxpayers will not foot the bill for the building purchase or any renovation work at the site. Cotulla expects to pay for the purchase with funds from its Hotel Occupancy Tax, a surcharge applied to every hotel and motel room in the city. Revenues generated by the hotel tax may only be used for specific purposes.

Eligibe uses include those that enhance tourist attractions or venues that attract visitors, thereby boosting the city’s other tax revenues and helping the local economy. Much of the city’s downtown restoration efforts, including those overseen by the Main Street Program, have been funded by the hotel tax.

“We have negotiated the purchase with the building owners,” Dovalina told councilors last week. “The plaza area is a nationally recognized historic landmark, and we want to recreate the neighborhood as it was when the plaza and the school were active.”

Dating to the early 1930s, the open space once listed on city maps as the Mexican Plaza was landscaped and furnished with stone benches and a gazebo that would be dedicated to Florence Maltsberger, a community activist and co-founder of the local library, who advocated for education opportunities and advancement for the under-served and economically disadvantaged families on the east side of Cotulla.

When it was upgraded through a joint project between the city and La Salle County governments more than 20 years ago, the plaza was given a pavilion, restrooms and playground equipment courtesy of a grant from the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife. Those fixtures may soon be moved to another site in order to restore the view of the historic Welhausen School (also a nationally recognized historic landmark) and to return the plaza to its original appearance of 90 years ago.

Dovalina has reminded city councilors that the plaza and the neighborhood surrounding it are considered of historic value for their cultural significance to the development of Cotulla and the many community- and church-related activities that took place there. It is that restoration and the salvage of empty or dilapidated buildings nearby as well as construction of new restrooms, placement of a bronze statue of Maltsberger, new parking areas, and the overall revitalization of the plaza’s original features that will be paid with hotel tax revenues and make the area attractive again, the city administrator said.

“The people are looking forward to that,” Dovalina said. “We are going to bring the grocery store back into shape. This is an eligible activity for the hotel tax funds.”

The city administrator said he believes plans for the building include restoration of the exterior and clearing the inside for multiple uses.

Approval for the real estate purchase to proceed came on a motion by Councilor Tanis Lopez, seconded by Councilor Manuel Rodriguez.

Hotel tax revenues to City Hall have recovered from a pandemic slump, according to both Dovalina and finance director Jorge Flores, who submitted a report in absentia last week, showing that Cotulla collected at least $304,000 more by the end of September this year than last.

“We have almost completely recovered,” Dovalina said of Flores’ report, adding that the city regards its present revenues to be equal to or better than “pre-pandemic levels” in 2018.

A plan by the city of Cotulla to enhance the historic district in and around the Plaza Florita has taken its next step with approval by councilors last week to purchase the disused Jimenez grocery store for renovation.

The unanimous decision by those present at the October 13 meeting in the AB Alexander Convention Center came after a brief presentation by City Administrator Larry Dovalina, who said the price tag for the real estate has been set at $37,000.

Delinquent property taxes on the building total at least $4,000, according to City Hall, and Dovalina said he hopes that other taxing entities – the school district, county and Wintergarden water district – will forgive the back taxes if the property can be saved from the wrecking ball.

City taxpayers will not foot the bill for the building purchase or any renovation work at the site. Cotulla expects to pay for the purchase with funds from its Hotel Occupancy Tax, a surcharge applied to every hotel and motel room in the city. Revenues generated by the hotel tax may only be used for specific purposes.

Eligibe uses include those that enhance tourist attractions or venues that attract visitors, thereby boosting the city’s other tax revenues and helping the local economy. Much of the city’s downtown restoration efforts, including those overseen by the Main Street Program, have been funded by the hotel tax.

“We have negotiated the purchase with the building owners,” Dovalina told councilors last week. “The plaza area is a nationally recognized historic landmark, and we want to recreate the neighborhood as it was when the plaza and the school were active.”

Dating to the early 1930s, the open space once listed on city maps as the Mexican Plaza was landscaped and furnished with stone benches and a gazebo that would be dedicated to Florence Maltsberger, a community activist and co-founder of the local library, who advocated for education opportunities and advancement for the under-served and economically disadvantaged families on the east side of Cotulla.

When it was upgraded through a joint project between the city and La Salle County governments more than 20 years ago, the plaza was given a pavilion, restrooms and playground equipment courtesy of a grant from the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife. Those fixtures may soon be moved to another site in order to restore the view of the historic Welhausen School (also a nationally recognized historic landmark) and to return the plaza to its original appearance of 90 years ago.

Dovalina has reminded city councilors that the plaza and the neighborhood surrounding it are considered of historic value for their cultural significance to the development of Cotulla and the many community- and church-related activities that took place there. It is that restoration and the salvage of empty or dilapidated buildings nearby as well as construction of new restrooms, placement of a bronze statue of Maltsberger, new parking areas, and the overall revitalization of the plaza’s original features that will be paid with hotel tax revenues and make the area attractive again, the city administrator said.

“The people are looking forward to that,” Dovalina said. “We are going to bring the grocery store back into shape. This is an eligible activity for the hotel tax funds.”

The city administrator said he believes plans for the building include restoration of the exterior and clearing the inside for multiple uses.

Approval for the real estate purchase to proceed came on a motion by Councilor Tanis Lopez, seconded by Councilor Manuel Rodriguez.

Hotel tax revenues to City Hall have recovered from a pandemic slump, according to both Dovalina and finance director Jorge Flores, who submitted a report in absentia last week, showing that Cotulla collected at least $304,000 more by the end of September this year than last.

“We have almost completely recovered,” Dovalina said of Flores’ report, adding that the city regards its present revenues to be equal to or better than “pre-pandemic levels” in 2018.