(Ed.s Note: The City of Brownsville has cordoned off the sidewalk in front of the aging El Jardin Hotel structure. Apparently, a large plate glass window was busted out by vandals or fell out on its own. A few months ago, someone started a fire on the roof of the abandoned structure and fire a fence was erected to keep them out. The windows on five floors have been boarded, but two stories still contain some glass that could potentially hurt pedestrians below.
Some of the stucco and roof tiles have already come off the top, but fortunately no one was reported hurt. Will someone have to get injured before something is done with this danger?
This year, the board of trustees Brownsville Independent School District removed the hotel and 22 other properties from historic tax exemption status. It is listed appraised value is $4451,453 because nothing had been done to restore it or improve its appearance. Cameron County, the City of Brownsville, the Brownsville Navigation District, and Texas Southmost College continue the 100 percent tax exemption status.)