Harlingen downtown plan and Valle Vista Mall redevelopment

Harlingen maps a downtown revival with new incentives and a reimagined park system

A “Dine, Shop, Play Local” banner hangs along Jackson Street in downtown Harlingen, where city leaders are weighing new incentives and redevelopment plans aimed at boosting activity in the historic commercial district. Photo Credit | Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza

Harlingen city leaders are expected to approve a new comprehensive plan in the coming months, which includes consideration of new economic incentives and reimagining its downtown district over the next two decades.

The downtown is already a Public Improvement District, which imposes a higher tax assessment on property owners to be reinvested in the commercial corridor. But the city is considering establishing a New Tax Increment and Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), which captures a portion of property tax revenue when a building is redeveloped and uses the savings for infrastructure improvements.

A map — The city of Harlingen’s newest comprehensive plan is the blueprint for the next two decades, which includes improvements to downtown. Courtesy of | City of Harlingen

“The TIRZ is a very helpful tool in helping spur development in the area. It’s certainly something that we will take a look at in addition to other tools that may exist to help spur and expedite new redevelopment projects in the downtown area,” said Orlando Campos, CEO of the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation.

Harlingen already operates three TIRZs, one just south of the Valley International Airport, a second in the Medical District near Harlingen Medical Center, and the third surrounding the interchange of I-69E and I-2 near Valle Vista Mall.