When Jimmy Hayley, president of the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce, makes his annual report to the Texas City Civic Club (and to many other groups) the mood is generally upbeat.
But not this year, though the outlook is getting less gloomy, especially in the neighborhoods where some new building is going on.
Hayley, who talked last Monday to the club, first noted the construction of two completed schools and the beginning of construction for a wonderful new Texas City High School, which apparently aims to be quite a showplace.
In the future, there’s also a new school administration building planned to replace what he called really cramped quarters.
I’ve got an opinion about that which is probably not popular. As the enrollment numbers in Texas City Independent School District decline, maybe the powers that be ought to think about decreasing some positions. Texas City has done the same as most every school district I know of, making lots and lots of chiefs, fewer and fewer Indians.
But I do applaud the new high school, because it apparently is going to be very high tech.
Among other buildings springing out of the ground are apartment complexes. One out near Loop 197 and named for Moses Lake has one- and two-bedroom apartments, a pool and a weight room. This is for senior citizens.
Regency Apartments on Bay Street are having a major overhaul, thanks to a Galveston doctor.
Apparently the most popular enterprises, according to Hayley, are designed for senior citizens and people of more modest incomes, because the people who build them get extra credit for doing so.
There will be more apartments designed for low-income folks on land between College of the Mainland and the hospital. Hayley added Beeler-Manske Clinic plans a free-standing office building in that area.
We have another new “extended stay” motel, the 41-room Candlewood Suites, off state Highway 146, which rent for a few nights, or for a few months. They have nice kitchens, laundry facilities and a store, Hayley said.
Another similar facility, Valiant Place, is on its way out on the freeway. All these places are meeting the needs of travelers and construction workers, he added.
Housing starts are almost nil.
“If I wanted to buy a new house in Texas City, I don’t think I could find one,” he said.
There were 85 permits last year and 22 this year.
The county has bought the “old” Walmart for lots of offices, including the health department. FEMA still is occupying the bottom floor of the former Dillards.
There’s a new restaurant, Stingers, in the Mall of the Mainland. Hayley’s suggestion for making that mall a success is for all of us to go there to shop — “Highway 646 is killing us,” he added.
Hayley, however, is upbeat about the future. “We are better off than a lot of people,” he said.
He does, after all, run the chamber of commerce.
Cathy Gillentine is a columnist for The Daily News. She may be reached at cgillentine1(at)sbcglobal.net.
