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By Roberto Hugo González | Texas Border Business
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The City of McAllen is preparing to transform the Boeye Reservoir site into one of its most ambitious mixed-use developments to date—a 70-acre project envisioned to combine housing, retail, and hospitality near the city’s thriving Convention Center district. City Manager Isaac J. “Ike” Tawil described the plan as a “prime opportunity” for investment and growth during his presentation at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Series.
“When you look at those 70 acres and where it’s located, talk about an opportunity,” Tawil said. “An opportunity for prime housing, for retail, and for a hotel-resort style attraction that complements everything already happening at the Convention Center.”
The Boeye Reservoir redevelopment is still in the planning and design stages. Still, city officials have been working to reimagine the site as a high-quality urban destination that connects seamlessly to McAllen’s entertainment and event corridor. “Over 800 events a year take place at the McAllen Convention Center,” Tawil noted. “With the proximity of the Boeye development to that venue, think about the level of conferences and visitors we can start attracting and what that will bring to our economy.”
Tawil explained that the city chose to slow down initial plans to ensure thoughtful design and long-term sustainability. “Rather than rush into that project, we decided to take a step back, look at it, and really think through the potential of the site,” he said. “We reworked it, we massaged it, we talked about it, and there were a lot of conversations that went back and forth. The goal is to create something exciting, something we haven’t seen here before.”
According to Tawil, the city envisions the development as a modern, multi-use district featuring residential options that appeal to both local and international investors, particularly from Mexico. “People from Mexico are looking to invest in the United States, and we know the kind of housing they’re interested in—single-family, condominium-style, and multilevel units,” he said. “We see tremendous potential for that at Boeye.”
The site’s location near the Convention Center, hotels, and shopping destinations such as Palms Crossing makes it ideal for a high-density, pedestrian-friendly design. Urban planners working with the city are expected to incorporate open spaces, walkways, and mixed-use zoning to balance living, working, and recreation.
City leaders have emphasized that the project will serve as a model for how public and private sectors can collaborate to drive economic development.
In addition to its economic benefits, the Boeye project is seen as an opportunity to enhance McAllen’s image as a destination city. “We want to provide an experience that’s unique to McAllen—local in character, but with modern amenities that attract regional and international visitors,” Tawil said.
The city manager added that mixed-use developments like Boeye are part of a bigger vision to sustain growth while maintaining a high quality of life. “When we talk about economic development, it’s not just about numbers,” Tawil said. “It’s about creating places where people want to live, work, and stay.”
Once completed, the Boeye Reservoir redevelopment is expected to serve as a catalyst for additional private investment across McAllen’s west side, reinforcing the city’s position as one of South Texas’s most dynamic urban centers.
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