Ozuna: An open letter to Mayor Garza about the San Juan Hotel

Dear Mayor Garza,

The Hidalgo County Historical Commission met recently to address some concerning statements made at several public meetings in the City of San Juan regarding the future status of the historic San Juan Hotel.

In particular, the revelation of discussions the city has had with ERO Architects that would result in its demolition. 

The San Juan Hotel is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, one of only 33 such designated sites in Hidalgo County, and one of the last remaining structures of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley.

As duly appointed members of the County Historical Commission, we are entrusted with the ongoing preservation of Hidalgo County’s historic and cultural resources. We are responsible for monitoring the status of all Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in the county and notifying the Texas Historical Commission of all threats to these designated landmarks. 

Additionally, we are tasked with the promotion and support of preservation efforts in the community at large, including working with state and local agencies, preservation programs, and non-profit organizations to encourage the proper maintenance and treatment of historic properties in Hidalgo County.

As stewards of the county’s historical resources, the members of the Hidalgo County Historical Commission are compelled to voice our strong opposition to any plans or actions that would undermine the historic and architectural integrity of the San Juan Hotel. 

We have agreed to support efforts to protect and save the historic landmark from demolition and inappropriate treatment. We urge the City Commission to work with our members, representatives of the Texas Historical Commission, and preservation experts to study the structural condition of the hotel and consider all possible options for the continued use of the building. 

We recommend that a structural/feasibility study be conducted by a preservation specialist with experience in historic preservation tax credit projects according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The San Juan Hotel in its heyday. (Photo courtesy of Rene Torres).

In the interim, we strongly recommend that the City of San Juan, as the hotel’s current owners, immediately mothball the property as outlined in National Park Service Preservation Brief 31 to protect the hotel from further deterioration. This would include boarding up the doors, windows, and entryways, removing graffiti, and covering exposed parts of the building. These simple and low-cost measures would show a good faith effort on the city’s part and signal to the general public that the building is being cared for while plans are made for its future.

A decision to demolish the San Juan Hotel would be especially troubling given the availability of alternative solutions today that were perhaps not as popular in previous decades. Restoration, rehabilitation, and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings have proven successful and increasingly popular in numerous cities, yielding economic benefits and revitalizing the surrounding areas of those communities while preserving the unique character of those places. 

We urge the City Commission to reconsider its current plans and explore these alternatives in partnership with preservation experts and community stakeholders.

The preservation of historic sites is not merely about maintaining old buildings; it is about preserving a sense of place and fostering a continuity between the past and present, by taking in solemn trust that which has been handed down from those who came before us and stewarding them for future generations. 

But beyond what critics might dismiss as mere sentimentality, historic landmarks like the San Juan Hotel provide educational opportunities, attract tourism, and enhance the cultural richness of our communities, thereby contributing to the social and economic vitality of the entire Rio Grande Valley. 

Our historic resources are exactly that: resources. Assets not liabilities. San Juan is privileged to have such an iconic structure at the heart of its downtown. That is something most cities would love to have.

The City of San Juan has an opportunity to be a leader in the Rio Grande Valley, not just in its commitment to progress and growth, but by pairing new development with a commitment to caring for its historic resources. A revitalized downtown area that utilizes landmarks like the San Juan Hotel can be the model for success the Valley needs. That would be a wonderful legacy.

The Hidalgo County Historical Commission stands ready to assist the City of San Juan in finding a solution that balances developmental needs with proven historic preservation methods. We appeal to the City Commission to engage in meaningful dialogue with our commission and other interested parties. Together, we can ensure that the San Juan Hotel remains a cherished part of our community for future generations. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

Gabriel Ozuna

Preservation Chair, Hidalgo County Historical Commission

Editor’s Note: The above open letter by Gabriel Ozuna, preservation chair of the  Hidalgo County Historical Commission, is based on correspondence Ozuna sent to San Juan Mayor Mario Garza and the City Commission of San Juan on May 30, 2024. The letter appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author. Ozuna can be reached by email via: hchc@co.hidalgo.tx.us

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