Transfer of Lincoln Park Illegal, Clearly A Violation of Texas Parks & Wildlife Code Sec. 26.001

The City of Brownsville has scheduled a public hearing to consider the transfer of Lincoln Park to the University of Texas for October 30 at the gymnasium of Tony Gonzalez Park.  

Mayor Tony Martinez,
Lousy at Real Estate

Before that is even considered, an accurate appraisal of the property should be done including the replacement value of its many amenities.  This is especially appropriate since the University of Texas has no current need for the property and may never have.  We don't want some future mayor or city manager telling us that Lincoln Park can't be replaced for the price UT paid.  "You know how inept Mayor Martinez was in making real estate deals back in 2011-15!"  Let's protect our assets now!

Obviously, $6.5 million is far too low for the 50 acre park.  Acreage in prime areas of the city is selling for $300,000 per acre, undeveloped.  50 acres X $300,000= $15,000,000.  Add a baseball field, a softball field, two nature trails, an amphitheater, a picnic area, basketball court and ample parking pushes the actual value even higher, likely over $20,000,000.

Why would the ultra-rich University of Texas even consider shortchanging the poorest community in the United States, an Hispanic community, on a real estate deal they have no real need of making?  Isn't the reputation of the University of Texas System worth more than one, albeit precious, city park?

City Attorney Mark Sossi,
Asleep at the Legal Wheel

Actually the transfer or sale of Lincoln Park is in clear violation of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code:

Sec. 26.001. PROTECTED LAND; NOTICE OF TAKING. (a) A department, agency, political subdivision, county, or municipality of this state may not approve any program or project that requires the use or taking of any public land designated and used prior to the arrangement of the program or project as a park, recreation area, scientific area, wildlife refuge, or historic site, unless the department, agency, political subdivision, county, or municipality, acting through its duly authorized governing body or officer, determines that:(1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land;

Obviously, there is an alternative to bulldozing Lincoln Park since there is no current NEED for it by UTB as stated plainly by glib spokesperson Irv Downing.

UT-RGV's current facilities are underutilized as recognized in this blog commenter:  "Ah, you hardly get what's really going on here. I've studied at UTB. Half of those rooms are empty. I walk past empty rooms every day on my way to class. Even before the old UTB/TSC faculty was laid off."