Saturday, July 20, 2013

EL JARDIN, CAPITOL, CARCASSES OF FORMER GRANDEUR

By Juan Montoya
The stories from Brownsville old timers are replete with memories of looking into the lobby of the old Jardin Hotel
El Jardin Hotel has stood since 1927, and among some of its famous guests were included such personages as Howard Hughes, Charles Lindbergh and Joan Crawford.
In fact, Hughes' doctors stated in his death certificate that the billionaire recluse died as he crossed into U.S. airspace from Mexico aboard his private jet on his way to Houston.
Until the Brownsville Housing Authority's High Rise was built, it was one of the tallest building in Brownsville, visible to Matamoros residents from the other side of the Rio Grande.
In 1986, when Matamoros businessman Marte Martinez bought it, its restaurant had closed and guests lodged in only two of the building’s eight floors.
With Martinez's death in 1988, the project stalled amid Mexico’s peso devaluations, said Hugo Martinez, the patriarch's grandson.
Martinez told a reporter last year that the family had bought it as an investment, and were initially thinking of sinking some $4.5 million to remodel and reopen it said.
But with the older Martinez's death and the peso devaluation that followed, those plans came to naught and now the hotel is an eyesore that mars the entire character of the historic city. It has been for sale for the last 15 years.
Some have complained that the owners of the building have not complied with an existing city ordinance prohibiting demolition by neglect. However, no one has followed through on deciding what to do with the building. Renovation is now pretty much out of the question and demolition, if it was to occur, would cost millions because of the existence of asbestos, lead and other hazardous materials. Until something is decided, it will continue to deteriorate before our eyes and continue to be the home of birds, rodents and God knows what else is living in it.
Right across the street is the old Capitol Theater. Almost every kid who grew up in Brownsville in the 60s remembers Saturday mornings with a quarter in his pocket, going to watch "The Land That time Forgot," for a dime, plunking down a nickel for popcorn and a coke and walking out an hour later. Not a bad deal.
Built in 1927, it seated an amazing 900 patrons in its cavernous insides. It opened its doors on Valentines Day 1928.
It is reported that a Kilgen theater organ opus 4013 size 2/3 style U07 was installed that year at a cost of $2,642.50.
A nonprofit, the Historic Capitol Theatre Restoration Project, exists on paper but lists its assets at $100 in its latest report.
In 2001, Paul E. Westlake, an associate of Van Dijk Pace Westlake, conducted a Capitol Theatre Feasibility Study, and told city commissioners at a workshop that the project to restore it would cost between $15 million and 18 million in 2001 dollars. Westlake said the restoration includes the renovation of also defunct Dewalt Hotel, which is next to the Capitol. After restoration, he said the theater would be about 45,000 square feet and seat between 1,000 and 1,200 people. So far, nothing has come of it.
About the only time that the gutted theater is now open to the public is when the Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival – described by members of the Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts as a fusion of music Latin jazz from all over – is held in October. There has been a free concert for the public held on Levee Street between the El Jardin and the theater  for the past 16 years.
Today, the north side of the block has become a hangout for local streetwalkers who can take a willing customers to the corner hotel which can comply with an hourly rate or who simply hop in the car as it turns the corner into downtown. Many people don't like to walk that block because it smells like an open latrine, the funky stench emanating, it would seem, from the very cracks in the sidewalks and crannies in the buildings. That's the state of Browntown's former glory.
What to do with the remnants of downtown's former grandeur? Does anyone know of any realistic plans afoot?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Back in 1926, the citizens of Brownsville raised $65,000 to be given to anyone who would build a "tourist hotel" in the city. The James-Dickenson Company of Brownsville along with J.M. Nix of San Antonio stepped up to the plate and built the Hotel El Jardin at a cost of over $600,000. The hotel was the largest and most elegant hotel south of San Antonio with its beautiful lobby and lounge along with its Palm garden and garage which had a stage for performances. J.M. Nix suffered a stroke in 1932 in the hotel lobby. There is a lot of great history that is associated with this hotel that needs to be preserved, its story is a unique one. I think the citizens of Brownsville should raise money to help preserve it. It can be done.

Anonymous said...

I would like to see the hotel turned into a mix of residential and hotel space with retail on the first floor.

Anonymous said...

I understand Obama is being blamed for the Downtown Entertainment District not working out.

Venado said...

in the past few years i have tried to make contatc with owners on tax rolls to offered many times my services to help out with brining in grants or other types of funds, money etc but no one is interested especially the owners i beleive its a cat and mouse game now to see how far city officials will go on the demolition, my guess is that the owners from what i have seen are really not interested in doing anything with this grandur building, cost is very prohibitive now, let it go too long, im not happy to say this but realistic its probably cheaper to do a demolition on this site.

Anonymous said...

The Capitol in the 60's, a quarter got you 2 features, a newsreel, and a cartoon to go with the popcorn and coke. Van Vaugh

Anonymous said...

If the building is allowed to continue to deteriorate, the specter of it coming down on its own could haunt the owners investments in the US when class action suits spring from accidental lead and asbestos exposure. Remember this building predates the World Trade Center. I am willing to bet there is more hazardous material in El Jardine then there ever was in the WTC. Right now abatements costs are low due to diminishing demand. Think about it.

Anonymous said...

(I think the citizens of Brownsville should raise money to help preserve it. It can be done.)

Tear it down. And open up a flea market! Waiter, another round for the house!
Dags.

Anonymous said...

I think the city needs to take over control of this building and do something with it. Its a historic building and it should be preserved, the building is part of the history of the city.

Anonymous said...

What about if we open a putero? like the one in front of the building?
Dags.

Anonymous said...

I remember the glory days of downtown Brownsville in the 40's and 50's. It is very sad to see the decay and stench there now.

I can't even go down there for the sadness that comes over me. I fear that area is lost cause and will only continue to rot. Even if large amounts of money could save a few buildings, nobody wants to thread the needle through the rest of the area to get there.

Anonymous said...

Let the little brown toad deed this building over to UTB. Then they can fix it up with their immense fortune. Haha!

Anonymous said...

For your information Juan, about a year and a half ago the city was given some monies for the Capitol Building from BCIC to clean up, make some minor repairs and and do a paint job on the exterior. Nothing happened.... Nada! What happened to that money? They have not spent a single dime on this building. Pls investigate. Start with BCIC.

monkey shines said...

juan i say put the dozer to it and tear it down, city inspections dept needs to start the condemnation process ya. what is the city folks waiting for? they cant see it, and its right next to their offices everyday.

rita