Dedication of City of Mercedes Fire Department

Article by Kristen Mosbrucker from the October 22nd edition of The Monitor newspaper:

MERCEDES — Gleaming red fire trucks sat behind a row of firefighters who stood at attention Wednesday, saluting the American and Texas flags hanging outside the city’s new firehouse.

The $2.6 million, 17,500-square-foot fire station designed by Mata+Garcia Architects is the Mercedes’ new crown jewel for first responders. It replaces the former station four blocks away, built in 1927 and designed by architect Newell Waters, whose firm drew the plans for many Rio Grande Valley buildings, including Weslaco’s former city hall and the Hidalgo County Courthouse.

Mercedes’ fire department employs six paid firefighters supported by17 volunteers, said Fire Chief Jaime Garcia.  Four times larger than the old fire station, the new building will allow the city to add three new paid positions in the next year, the chief said.

“The new facility has dorms, showers, and restrooms that will allow us to staff 24/7,” he said of the two dormitories that can accommodate up to 14 firefighters and kitchen area. “The old living space and building did not meet current code.”

The new fire station will allow for around-the-clock protection, and could reduce fire insurance premiums for business owners in the city — something officials hope will spur more economic development.

“Projects like this aren’t just for protecting the lives of our fellow residents, but they are also imperative for continued business expansion,” said U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, speaking in his hometown.

The $2.6 million project was funded in part by a $500,000 federal stimulus grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and a low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture worth more than $1.5 million.

City, State and National officials cut the ribbon at the dedication of the City of Mercedes Fire Department facility. Front row: Paco Valentin - USDA State Director, Ruben Hinojosa - Congressman for the 15th Congressional District, Jaime Garcia - City of Mercedes Fire Chief, Henry Hinojosa - Mayor, City of Mercedes; and Miss Mercedes - Victoria Barroso.

Program

Congratulations to the City of Mercedes!

El Bombero Newsletter - Issue No. 1

The first issue of El Bombero, our monthly newsletter for the Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility, has been published.  The newsletter keeps our clients and their constituents informed as to the monthly progress of the project.  To get on our mailing list, contact Hector Rene Garcia at hector@matagarcia-architects.com. 

Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility Groundbreaking Ceremony

The former fire department, destroyed by fire December 10, 2011.

The community of Linn-San Manuel gathers for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Linn - San Manuel, Texas

On December 10, 2011 fire destroyed the building that housed the Linn-San Manuel Fire Department and eliminating the first line of protection for the county's rural northern ranches and developing neighborhoods. In time, the lack of a station destroyed the volunteer departments relationship with critical entities: Hidalgo County, the Linn-San Manuel Volunteer Fire Department Advisory Board and the department itself.

On Wednesday a new era began as community and county officials took part in a ground breaking ceremony for the reactivated department's new home: the Luis Flores Jr. - Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility.  The land for the building was donated by Mrs. Vicky Flores and her family in memory of their late husband and father.

The 9,076 square foot, $1.3 million facility was designed by Mata+Garcia Architects. Working with Hidalgo County Precinct 4 Commissioner Joseph Palacios and Pct. 4 ROW Agent, Jesse Ozuna, MGa design includes offices for regional emergency response agencies, a community / training room, a full kitchen, three apparatus bays and department storage.  

J-Con Construction of Palmview, Texas has been selected as the general contractor for this project.

Mata+Garcia Architects presentation board of the new Luis Flores Jr. - 

Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility, completion due March 2015.

North Elevation of the new Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility.

(L to R)  LSMVFD Firefighters Rudy "RJ" Campos, Juan Vicencio, HCPct.4 Commissioner Joseph Palacios, Chief Elia Garza Vicencio, Firefighter Hugo Aguilar, Assistant Chief Alma Diana Guiterrez, LSMVFD Board of Directors Johnny Cozad and John Hart. (Back)  LSMVFD Board of Directors Victoria Rodriguez, Pharr FD Chief Jaime Guzman, and Gerry Guerra.

Dignitaries from various local and county agencies gather with Hidalgo County Precinct No. 4 Commissioner Joseph Palacios for the traditional groundbreaking marking the start of construction for the new Luis Flores Jr. - Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility.

Mrs. Vicky Flores and family members of the late Luis Flores Jr. gather for the groundbreaking of the new Luis Flores Jr. - Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility. With them is Hidalgo County Precinct No. 4 Commissioner Joseph Palacios who spearheaded the project.

Jesse Ozuna, HCPct. 4 ROW Manager and the project manager for Pct. 4 on the Luis Flores Jr. - Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

Luis Flores Jr. Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility Bid Opening Held

Sealed bids were received today by the Hidalgo County Purchasing Department for the proposed Luis Flores Jr. - Linn-San Manuel Emergency Services Facility.  The low bidder was J-Con Construction of Palmview with the amount of $1,350,000.00

Architectural presentation board showing the North Elevation (top left),

the South Elevation (bottom left) and the overall site plan (right).

The north elevation of the proposed emergency services facility will use 

hand-formed brick for the office/residential areas and metal siding for the

apparatus bay. The design blends a classic ranch aesthetic in a

contemporary composition that will highlight the facility at the intersection

of Interstate Highway 69C and State Highway 186. The completion target

date is March 2015. 

Town Hall * Hidalgo County Pct. 4 Projects

Newspaper Article Published Friday, June 28, 2013 by: Jared Janes | The Monitor

Hidalgo County Precinct 4 will expand parks and roads, work on economic development and partner with other governments to save money, Commissioner Joseph Palacios said Thursday as he laid out ongoing projects and future plans for his precinct. The precinct is expanding 10th Street through to Monte Cristo, adding 80 acres of new park space (designed by Mata+Garcia Architects LLP) and starting work on drainage improvements funded by last year’s bond referendum, Palacios said at the first of a series of town hall meetings. But Palacios said the traditional role of a county commissioner is evolving to encompass increasingly complex issues: economic development and health care. 

Joseph Palacios, Hidalgo County Pct. 4 Commissioner addresses constituents at a town hall meeting Thursday, 

held at the City of Edinburg Commission Chambers, to lay-out ongoing precinct projects and discuss future plans.

“As we grow, there’s going to be a great demand for every experienced people who are out there committed to learn and figure out how to solve the problems of today and tomorrow,” Palacios said. “It’s not just paving streets and maintaining roads; the evolution of the role of a commissioner has to be rooted in a comprehensive experience in everything.”

Palacios hosted the town hall meeting Thursday to share upcoming projects and plans for the precinct, including parks, drainage, public safety, new facilities and road construction. Palacios also announced his intent to seek a second term as Precinct 4 commissioner when the seat is on the ballot again next year.  He secured an endorsement from his prior opponent and former Commissioner Oscar Garza, who introduced Palacios at Thursday’s town hall.

Palacios told constituents that one of the precinct’s priorities is completing drainage projects funded in last year’s $184 million drainage referendum. In Edinburg and McAllen, the precinct’s home base, the drainage referendum will fund eight major projects designed to add additional capacity to existing drainage ditches through a system of pumps and gates. By using in-house construction and engineering crews, Precinct 4 also saved an estimated $2 million off about $7 million in previously funded drainage work, Palacios said. The precinct has also worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to leverage local resources with state dollars to reduce traffic congestion and improve highway safety.

Rendering of the proposed Emergency Services Facility for the San Manuel / Linn area in northern Hidalgo County. The $1.3 million facility will house the local fire department and be a satellite office for county and state law enforcement agencies. Mata+Garcia Architects LLP was selected as architect for the project; consultants include Chanin Engineering (Structural),  Sigma HN Inc. (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing) and LeFevre Engineering (Civil).

Precinct 4 is working with TxDOT to reconstruct and widen 10th Street from University Drive to Monte Cristo. The $13.7 million project is being funded with only about $3.3 million in county funds. The county also kicked in about $1.2 million on a $13.2 million partnership between TxDOT, McAllen and the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization to develop Ware Road from Mile 3 North to Mile 5 North.

Phase One of the proposed Sunflower Park, at the corner of Hwy. 107 and Sunflower Road in San Carlos, Texas. The park was designed by Mata+Garcia Architects LLP, CLH Engineering (Structural), Prodigy CM (MEP) and LeFevre Engineering (Civil). The park includes a pavilion, walking trails, playground, picnic shelters and support facilities.

But Palacios said he was proudest of the precinct’s efforts to improve quality of life in its neighborhoods. This spring, the precinct will begin work on parks in the Linn-San Manuel and San Carlos areas that provide recreation and amenities to rural residents that are generally reserved for cities, Palacios said. With only one other park in the precinct, the 80 new acres will expand existing acreage by 400 percent.

Rendering of the Sunflower Park Master Plan - designed by Mata+Garcia Architects LLP.

The precinct is also building a $1.2 million community resource center in San Carlos (designed by Mata+Garcia Architects LLP) — replacing one outgrown by the community of about 6,000 people — and plans to construct a multi-purpose facility for emergency services in Linn-San Manuel (designed by Mata+Garcia Architects LLP) that will serve as a home for its volunteer fire department and law enforcement agencies. Palacios said his office built its list of planned projects around the comprehensive needs of its residents. “We’ve got growing pains and needs,” Palacios said. “It’s never going to be done. Our job never ends.”

 East Elevation of the proposed San Carlos Community Resource Center and designed by Mata+Garcia Architects LLP, Chanin Engineering (Structural) Sigma HN Inc. (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing) and LeFevre Engineering (Civil).