For more than two decades, Portland City Manager Randy Wright said the city had been searching for ways to revitalize its historic “Old Town” district in the southern part of the city. And the process is on its way to being complete with a monumental project breaking ground last week.
The city turned the dirt and broke ground on a roughly $33 million at the corner of 5th Avenue and Elm Street in Old Town on Feb. 21, marking the culmination of more than two years’ worth of work the 5th and Elm Project in its Leisure and Entertainment District (LED).
“It’s like no other project, we think, in South Texas. It’s going to put Portland on the map again, and we’re very proud to get this project kicked off,” Wright said. “….. This particular project is going to be substantial. There’s nothing like it in this area, and we’re very proud to get that going.”
5th and Elm has been a project years in the making, beginning with voter approval of the project back in 2019. From there, the city said it embarked on on a mission to help revitalize the original Portland when the city was created back in the 1800s. Through the” Families on 5th” event series, officials said they hosted a series of resident and business feedback events to get residents’ input on the project.
In fact, some of the additional shaded areas added to later renderings of the project became part of the project thanks to resident input according to city officials. “The road to this groundbreaking moment was paved with dedication and collaboration and extensive consultations with the Old Town committee. Area businesses and homeowners played a crucial role,” Portland Mayor Cathy Skurow said. “We recognize their input as valuable in shaping the direction of this project. As I stand on the brink of a new chapter, I am filled with gratitude for each and every individual who has played a role in bringing us to this momentous occasion.”
According to the city, 5th and Elm will feature a state-of-the-art indoor facility with space for meetings, a restaurant, and general leisure for all ages and interests. The venue will also have various play areas including a turfed lawn, rolling hills with tunnels, an interactive water feature, and a climbing rope tower as well as a concert stage with outdoor seating.
It is unique in more ways than one, according to city officials. In addition to its amenities, Skurow said city officials successfully advocated for legislative changes tailored specifically to Portland’s needs in order to create a proposition to create the LED and permit special alcohol sales - which passed during the May 2022 election.
Deputy City Manager Brian Delatte said the city expects to see $1015 million in additional revenue come to the city as a result of the project. And Delatte said that figure doesn’t even account for businesses the city expects to make Portland their future home as a result of the project when it is built which officials hope will be by late summer 2025.
“Not only is it a financial return of the investment for our residents, but it also gives them opportunities to come enjoy fabulous amenities that they have to go elsewhere for right now,” he said.
Ultimately, Skurow said the project symbolizes not just a physical transformation of the historic spot on 5th and Elm, but is so much more. She said it stands as a symbol of the resilience and vitality and both Old Town and Portland as a whole.
According to Wright, the city ultimately decided a few years ago that the best way to invest in the city was to create a special place for residents and visitors alike that would be a catalyst for development and re-invigorate Old Town.
Officials are confident that the 5th and Elm Project will do just that, and drive the city forward into the future.
“As we break ground today, let us not only celebrate the physical transformation of this space, but also the spirit of unity and progress that it represents,” Skurow said. “Together, we are laying the foundation for a more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous Portland.”
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