AS THE FACADES GO DOWN, DOWNTOWN HISTORY PEEKS THROUGH

(Ed.'s Note: As workers take down the facade of the building on the corner of 10th and Elizabeth streets downtown, its original design – called old Spanish colonial revival style or Spanish Mediterranean – is emerging. An despite the fact that new owner Benito Garcia has told everybody within earshot that he intends to demolish the building, the building complex is located in the city's heritage district and can't be demolished or its exterior destroyed as per district restrictions. Garcia, who owns the old HEB building and other real estate downtown, found this out when he tried to demolish the old Sinclair Gas Station at the corner of 10th and Levee streets across Levee from City Plaza. 

The building at the corner of 10th and Elizabeth has seen many uses, including housing the old Fisher's Cafe, Texas State Optical and lately, some discount stores. According to some sources, Garcia, who has opted to make a commercial parking lot of the property on which the old HEB building is located, also wants to include the space of the buildings pictured above. 

Old time historians like Gene Fernandez says that numerous historical personages like Frederick Hicks, Enrique Manautou, among others, once occupied the buildings and ran various commercial enterprises. Fernandez says he was assured by Brownsville's Historic Preservation Manager Juan M. Velez that the commission was closely monitoring the work being done on the building and would not permit its alteration or destruction. If you pas by the corner as the facade and metal bracing is removed, you will once again see a part of Brownsville history resurface.)