Harlingen to bring new developments to medical district

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Through Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ), Harlingen's Economic Development Corporation is planning to bring new developments to the city's medical district.

Orlando Campos, CEO of Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, said the city's medical district is one of three areas that qualifies for TIRZ.

TIRZ is an economic development incentive tool that allows areas to increase property value by adding new developments and re-developments, creating more revenue that can be used for further area growth.

The mixed-use developments will include retail stores, residential properties, hotels and medical offices.

Campos said the city's medical district needs the increase in businesses to provide for the growing attraction to the area.

“We’re seeing quite a bit of growth around the medical district and so there’s a stronger need for more residential developments here in the community and the need to develop new retail areas in clusters within Harlingen," Campos said.

The Harlingen EDC will partner with private developers who own some of the land in the medical district to start the developments.