THE WHITEWING HOTEL is a relic of the 1950's when it was considered to be one of the most upscale hotels in the Rio Grande Valley. After many starts and stops it appears that something may finally be done about the derelict hotel building on East Hidalgo Ave.

The Whitewing hotel is a relic of the 1950's when it was considered to be one of the most upscale hotels in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Whitewing saw many social events, including wedding receptions, rehersal dinners and elaborate dances and parties. Every fall it hosted dozens of dove and quail hunters from all over Texas.

Sadly, the hotel lost its luster and its reputation. It has been closed to the public for many years and most recently operated briefly as a seedy old folks home. Since then the Whitewing has been home to vagrants, and homeless people, including illegal aliens.

Its walls inside and out covered with graffiti and its windows and doors broken out, or kicked out. The old building was bought by the Patel family seven or eight years ago and they promised to reopen it as a "Super-8" hotel, or something similar. That has not happened.

Although the buyers paid the adva1orem taxes up to date that wasn't the only concern. Vagrants have lighted fires inside the hotel on several occasions and it is a continuing "tort---waiting to happen," as one attorney commented.

Several years ago the city built a chainlink fence around the property and boarded up the windows and doors. In less than a year the vandals had torn down all the safety measures the city erected.

Last nigh city commissioners met with members of the Economic Development Commission on an unrelated matter. That being the new multipurpose building being erected on FM3168. It will house the Chamber of Commerce, the UTB/TSC longdistance learning center and Workforce Solutions.

Cost of the building was estimated at $1.25 million but the cost has since increased to $2.1 million. Most of the funding came from federal grants and the city paid its matching share with real estate the building sits on.

Now, however, due to the cost overuns also mostly paid with grantmoney, the city must come up with $100,00 in additional matching funds.

City manager Eleazar "Yogi" Garcia said the city can use Economic Development funds to pay the match which will free $100,000 the city has in reserve to demolish the old Whitewing.

The E.D.C. board comprised of David Wittenbock, Sandy Pedraza, Virginia Shuey and Zeke Cavazos approved the motion made by Cavazos.

Following the vote, the city commission voted to spend $100,000 to demolish the Whitewing hotel.

The first step is underway. It is an asbestos survey at a cost of $2,100. Second step will be to notify the property owners, the Patel family, they have 30 days to make improvements, or raze the building. The third step if the owners don't act, is to knock down the building and clean up the property. The city will then take a lien on the real estate for which they must be reimbursed when the property is sold.

Rubble from the building will be used to fill the old water reservoir on Canal Street, Garcia said, after first filling in the two swimming pools on the old hotel property. The palm trees will be left on the site, he said.

Mayor Orlando "Lonnie" Correa and Commissioners Mary Gutierrez, Yolanda Alexandre and Zeke Cavazos voted in favor and Commissioner Clifton Smith was not present and did not vote.