Texas Border Business
By Agustín García, Jr.
With construction and related building activities in Edinburg from January through August 2015 totaling almost $86 million, area leaders on Thursday, September 17, gathered at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance to celebrate the grand opening of the city’s latest architectural showpiece – Day Surgery at Renaissance.
Day Surgery at Renaissance, located at 5520 Leonardo Davinci, immediately east of Women’s Hospital at Renaissance, is a 90,000 square foot, two-story outpatient surgical center that features eight operating rooms, 40 pre-operative beds, 40 recovery beds, and 10 endoscopy suites.
The medical complex serves as a convenient alternative to hospital-based outpatient procedures, focusing on delivering same-day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures, “in a modern and cost-effective environment,” according to Kelli Owen Quin, Manager of Corporation Communications for DHR.
“Day Surgery at Renaissance will revolutionize the outpatient surgical experience for patients in our community. With all services conventionally located in one building, patients have access to pre-admission testing, laboratory services, imaging, and registration as well as financial counselors and a cafeteria all under one roof,” Mrs. Quin explained. “Services provided at Day Surgery at Renaissance will include gastroenterology, endoscopy, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, orthopedic and hand surgery, and urology.”
Day Surgery at Renaissance, based on the building permit issued more than a year earlier, in August 2014, by Edinburg’s Code Enforcement Department, represents an investment of $14 million for its construction.
Since the building permit for Day Surgery at Renaissance was issued last year, the value of its construction is not included in the construction figures of almost $86 million for January through August 2015.
A building permit includes the estimated value of the work, but does not include the costs of the lot, equipment and furnishings.
In general, a building permit is legal permission given by the City of Edinburg to erect, construct, renovate, maintain, or conduct any other specified activity on any building or structure, or on any installations or facilities therein. The term “building permit” includes but is not limited to building permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, and plumbing permits.
Ellie M. Torres, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, and who also is a member of the Edinburg school board, was on hand for the 2 p.m. standing-room only event.
“This outstanding facility will have significant economic and quality-of-life benefits for our hometown and our neighboring cities,” said Torres. “Along with our other excellent hospitals, physicians, health care professionals, and our University of Texas medical school that will open in the Fall of 2016, Edinburg continues to build on its deserved reputation as a preferred city in which to live, raise a family, work or own a business, and succeed.”
Mayor García: Edinburg Hospital Systems Make National Rankings
Mrs. Ellie M. Torres, along with Edinburg City Manager Ramiro Garza, Jr., McAllen Mayor Jim Darling (who also serves as DHR general counsel), and Rep. Óscar Longoria, Jr., D-La Joya were among the business, medical, and community leaders who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Day Surgery at Renaissance.
Mayor Richard García noted that Edinburg is blessed with nationally-recognized hospital systems.
“In mid-July, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance and South Texas Health Systems, which includes Edinburg Regional Medical Center and Edinburg Children’s Hospital, were ranked among the top 20 hospital complexes in Texas, according to U.S. News and World Report,” Mayor García said. “Across-the-board, from education to health care, from entertainment to construction, these and other economic development advances continue to lead to new jobs and stronger businesses.”
EEDC Board President Iglesias said the city’s construction activities so far this year also reflect strong growth in new homes.
“From January through August 2015, Edinburg has seen 223 new single-family homes, valued at more than $31 million, authorized to be built – including 41 homes approved for construction during the month of August alone,” Mr. Iglesias reported. “During the same eight months in 2014, there were 199 homes, valued at more than $23.8 million, issued building permits. Those statistics, and more, reflect the overall strength and consumer confidence that speak volumes about our city’s economy.”
The EEDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mark Iglesias as President, Harvey Rodríguez as Vice President, Ellie M. Torres as Secretary/Treasurer, and Mayor Richard García and Richard Ruppert as Members.
Written and submitted by Agustín García, Executive Director for the Edinburg Economic Development Corportation, in Edinburg, Texas.
