By Wise                                              H.C.R. No. 226

         75R13242 BNL-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The city of Weslaco has been named a Main Street

 1-2     City, and this achievement is indeed worthy of special legislative

 1-3     recognition; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Administered by the Texas Historical Commission, the

 1-5     Texas Main Street Program provides designated cities with advice

 1-6     and assistance on downtown revitalization; cities must pass a

 1-7     rigorous screening process to earn inclusion in the program, and

 1-8     residents must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to long-term

 1-9     community planning; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Weslaco's program will focus on restoring the

1-11     downtown to its appearance in the 1920s and 1930s, when elegant

1-12     Spanish-style stucco buildings and terra cotta tile rooftops graced

1-13     the downtown area; as a unique finishing touch, building cornices

1-14     and reliefs were skillfully accented with neon lighting, earning

1-15     the town's nickname as "the City with the Neon Skyline"; and

1-16           WHEREAS, One of the highlights of the restoration will be a

1-17     refurbishment of the Cortez Hotel; built in 1928, the hotel was

1-18     the center of the town's social activities for many years, and its

1-19     new owners have pledged to return the picturesque building to its

1-20     former glory; and

1-21           WHEREAS, With its beautiful palm trees, historic buildings,

1-22     and wide array of family-owned businesses, Weslaco is in a prime

1-23     position to further enhance its reputation as one of the finest

1-24     communities in the Rio Grande Valley; the city's participation in

 2-1     the Main Street Program will undoubtedly add new luster to the

 2-2     community's growing downtown area, and these improvements will

 2-3     benefit future generations of residents and visitors for many years

 2-4     to come; now, therefore, be it

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-6     hereby commend the people of Weslaco for their hard work in earning

 2-7     the town's designation as a Main Street City and extend to them

 2-8     best wishes for the success of this worthwhile project; and, be it

 2-9     further

2-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-11     prepared for the board of directors of Weslaco's Main Street

2-12     Program as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of

2-13     Representatives and Senate.