GOING DOWN — Demolition of the 32 Brown Villa buildings that housed 80 units began Tuesday in preparation for construction for a multifamily residential complex. Completion of the demolition is expected in 45 to 60 days depending on the weather. Joe Garcia, job supervisor for the demolition, is pictured at the controls of the building Brown Villa demolition begins crushing excavator. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) Work has begun on demolishing the Brown Villa public housing buildings in preparation for construction of townhouses and apartments beginning this

year. The new $8.5 million multifamily residential rental community will be renamed The Heights at Corral and built at its present location of 1000 W. Corral.

The new development community will be comprised of 80 units of town houses and apartments on about eight acres of land.

Many of the trees located on the Brown Villa site will be salvaged such as this avocado tree. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu)

Eight two story buildings and 24 single story buildings housing 80 units will be constructed.

“It’s very good for affordable housing and very positive for the families and the community,” said Cory Hinojosa, Executive Director of the Kingsville Housing Authority.

“The city officials have been very supportive of the progress we are trying to make for affordable housing,” she said Tuesday.

The residential units will feature covered entries with spacious floor plans, nine-foot ceilings, energy efficient appliances, washer, and dryer connections, and covered private patios and balconies with a storage closet. Units designed especially for residents with mobility, hearing, or visual impairment will also be available. The new units will be built with stucco, hardy plank, and rock with neutral colors.

Interior fixtures at The Brown Villa units, such as kitchen cabinets, are being removed as structures are demolished. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) “The beautifully furnished community building will include a residential kitchen, activities and fitness room and community laundry,” Hinojosa stated. “Children’s playgrounds and barbecue grills with picnic tables will provide for outside enjoyment.”

The abatement process began on Monday and the actual razing of the buildings began Tuesday. The demolition and abatement should take between 45 to 60 days. Joe Garcia, job supervisor of the 32 buildings, said the job could be finished in 45 days weather permitting. He is the job supervisor for the demolition and abatement for South Plains Contracting of San Antonio. The South Plains Contracting company demolished the old Gillett School, according to Garcia. RGV. Asbestos Removal LLC. Asbestos Abatement Specialist of Weslaco will take care of the abatement, according to Garcia.

Work has begun on the demolition of the Brown Villa public housing facilities. (Photo Brown Villa by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) Brown Villa has 32 buildings that house 80 units for the residents. The Brown Villa rental dwellings, built in 1954, have been home for families of low to modern moderate income.

“There are approximately 75,000 square feet of structure that will be demolished,” Garcia said.

On Monday workers were also marking some of the trees that can be salvaged on the property. Actually, the total Brown Villa area encompasses about 11 acres of land with many mesquite trees and also avocado trees. Garcia said they also plan to take the crape myrtle trees to other public housing locations. A new irrigation system will also be included in the new project.

Jed. A. Brown, one of the building developers was on the scene Monday. He serves as Vice-President-Development of Brownstone Construction Ltd. with his office based in Laredo.

He anticipates that completion of the project will take from 10 to 12 months.

“We at Brownstone are very excited to have been selected by the Kingsville Housing Authority Board to transform Brown Villa into the new development known as The Heights of Corral,” Brown said. “Where once stood 80 outdated housing units will soon stand 80 modern town homes and apartments that residents will be proud to call home.”

Brownstone Construction, with headquarters in Houston, is currently working on five housing developments statewide.

The 78 families who lived there relocated late last year with assistance from the government. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funded $367,436 to the Kingsville City Housing Authority.

The funds were awarded as vouchers to the families who live in Brown Villa that needed assistance in finding new homes, according to U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz, who made the announcement last year. He stated that the Housing Choice Vouchers Award would help the residents with the transition.

Most of the families were able to find homes within the city and were assisted with relocation and all the Brown Villa residents were gone by December.

The demolition project was anticipated for December, but was delayed because of the economy, according to Hinojosa.

She related that the next project would be Casa Ricardo, a 60 unit housing facility for the elderly and disabled. They have submitted an application for funding to the Texas Department of Housing and Community affairs.

“The application has been preliminarily reviewed, and it is looking very positive,” Hinojosa said.

Previous Brown Villa residents will have priority when they apply for housing at the Heights at Corral.

Occupancy will be based on income. Rental rates, subject to change, preliminarily range from $180 to $599 per month. For more information contact Hinojosa at the Kingsville Housing Authority at 361-592-6738.

The development of The Heights at Corral is a collaboration of the Kingsville Housing Authority and Brownstone Affordable Housing/Brownstone Construction of Houston. Funding partners include JP Morgan Chase Bank and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. UAH Property Management of Dallas will professionally manage the property.

The Kingsville Housing Authority is headed by Rene Canales, board chairman and directors Wayne Sheffey, also vice-chairman; Tommie Martinez, Lisa Turcotte, and Crispin Trevino. Key staff members besides Hinojosa are Annette Villalobos, Director of Operations and Orlando Zepeda, Project Manager.