San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-18
CORAL CABLES
Of TEXAS IN
THE MAKING
Olmito, Near Brownsville,
Being Transformed Into
Pleasure Resort.

| BROWNSVILLE, Tex. April IL
The Coral Gables" Of Texas, a city
winding along the banks of beauti'
ful, shaded resaca. with gondolas ply
ling the waters of the lake, and stucco
homes of Mediterranean architecture
lining its banks is what Al Parker OF
La Feria is to make out of Olmito.
Olmito is at present little city Of
several old buildings, on the railroad,
and the highway, about eight miles
out from Brownsville.
Mr.. Parker, who is head of the Al
Parker Securities Company Of La
Feria, one Of the foremost develop
ment companies in the Valley, has
purchased a 900-acre tract of land
which includes Olmito, and two other
tracts of land nearby, making the to-
tai acreage more than 1000.
PLEASURE RESORT.
he has started improvement work
on this tract which will convert it into
one of the most beautiful residential
and pleasure resorts of the South.
More than half a million dollars
will be spent on the tract. A bridge is
being built across the resaca, 90
room tourist hotel is to be constructed
on the bank of the resaca, paved
streets are to line both banks of the
resaca, which is to be known here
after as Lake Olmito, instead of the
Rancho Viejo Resaca; an artificial
lake is to be dredged out, and paved
roads extended around its banks, a
waterworks system and power and
light plant will be constructed, a
bride path viii wind its way through
the elm and ash trees along the bank
Of the river, a swimming pool will be
constructed on the lake bank, near
the hotel, tennis courts, boating, fish
ing and many other amusement fea-
lures will be put in before the first
domestic is sold.
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
All this work will be in the way of
preparations for the city. All of the
accommodations will be put in first.
Then the city will be built by the
domestic purchasers.
And in order that the beauty Of the
foundation work may not be for moth
ing, restrictions as 10 the cost and
character of homes will be observed.
There will not be a frame house in
the resort. The present frame and
brick buildings in Olmito are 10 be
razed. Those that are to be construct
ed must be Of stucco, and they must
be Of Mediterranean type Of archi-
lecture. This requirement will be ex-
tended even 10 the Mexican residence
section, where the homes may be
smaller, but must conform as 10 ma
terial and design.
Construction work on the city is 20
ing forward rapidly at the present
time. About 200 men are working on
the site, and more will be working
in a short time.
BIG BUSINESS.
yohn o. Kelly of McAllen Is in
charge of the bridge construction
work, which is going on at the pres
ent time; Will n. Ampher of La
Feria is in charge Of general engi-
nearing work; John Moot Of La Feria
is handling the general improvement
work, and Henry Virgins of La Feria
is In charge of the street improve
ments; Mr.. Glass, landscape artist,
will be in charge of the Identification.
The Al Parker Securities Company,
which has sold around 1000 acres
of land near La Feria, including the
TOWNSHIP Of La Eeria, has done more
than $1s,OO0,0O0 worth of business in
the five and a half years that the con-
Germ has operated in the Valley.
All the sales force, the developers
and the resources of this concern will
be turned TO the new project. A
branch office is 10 be opened in
Brownsville, and the Olmito develop
ment will be handled through this Of
flee.
About June Is the site will be
opened up 10 the public. At that time
it is expected that between 5000 and
10000 persons will be present for the
opening. Mr.. Parker said that he ex-
poets to sell 1000 lots on the opening
day.