UTRGV seeks possible purchase of land from regents

Brownsville art building, Port Isabel facility also in agenda

If approved by the University of Texas System Board of Regents, UTRGV will be authorized to purchase land in Harlingen, McAllen and Edinburg for future campus expansion.

The UT System Board of Regents will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. Thursday in Austin. 

The Rider tried to contact Patrick Gonzales, the vice president for University Marketing and Communications, but as of the publication of this story, it had not received a response. 

UTRGV is seeking authorization to purchase about 1.05 acres of land in Harlingen with a 6,506-square-foot vacant medical office building, surface parking lot and driveway located at 1601 Treasure Hills Blvd., according to the Feb. 19-20 UT System Board of Regents agenda. The agenda states the property would be used by the School of Podiatric medicine.

The university is also seeking authorization to purchase a vacant tract of land that is 7.22 acres and located at 1100 North McColl Road in McAllen.

In Edinburg, UTRGV is seeking to purchase 26.24 acres of land located to the east of the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium, which is being “expanded and enhanced” in preparation for the inaugural football season later this year. The university intends to use the land for future campus expansion, which may include additional parking to Vackar Stadium, according to the agenda.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey is scheduled to address the UT System Board of Regents to amend the current capital improvement program to include the Port Isabel Marine Ecosystems Research Facility project. 

The project will consist of seven labs for the Marine Science program and will include graduate student workspace, conference and administrative support areas. 

The program is currently housed in five portable research buildings, which are “nearing life expectancy” as a result of the exposure to marine conditions. The total project cost is $21.5 million. 

Bailey is also scheduled to address the board to amend the capital improvement program of the Brownsville Visual Arts Complex. The amendments include a total project cost of $39 million and the design development plans.