Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-06-01

A structure that 81 years ago was
the finest two-story brick business
building in Brownsville. was being
razed today to make way for q mod
ern two-story business building.
Workmen FOR W. A. Nelten, con
tractor. began the work Of demolish-
ing the roof and IL terror woodwork
a. the east corner Of Eleventh and
Elizabeth streets. preparatory to
starting erection 0f the two story
store and office building for Aziz
Bros, merchants Of this city.
The new building, for which Page
Bros. architects Of Austin and
Brownsville. are the architects, will
occupy space 40 BY 100 feet. tX-
tending from the Elizabeth street
corner hack 10 the alley.
Il Is expected that the work Of de-
molishing the building will require
about month, after which the new
structure will be started.
The lot and building were pGr-
chased By Aziz Bros. in 1928, the
price paid being about S3i 900. II is
understood that Aziz Bros. nave
since received several attractive Of
fcrs for the property but refused 70
sell. desiring TO use the building for
thsir own business.
The lot and building were pur-
chased from the Lorber estate, the
heirs Of which reside in New Or
leans This estate acquired the
property in 1890. and tho building.
erected to accommodate the First Ma
. ticnal Bank, which had just bcci or
ganized hy q. VI. Raphael and as
scciates. was occupied bv that in
stiiution until il erected its present
building across the street. IN 1919.
Records show that the lot in dues-
tion sold in 1850 for $3.50 Several
years later it was sold for $500. and
irst before the close Of the Civil
War. in 1861. it was sold for $3.50.
Az various times between then and
1859 il changed hands at prices
ranging ranging from 5000 20 si25G,
The new Aziz building promises
to he one of the most artistic build
ings in Brownsville.
The firm wlI occupy the front 81
feet Of the building. There will be
two separate stnrerooms at the rear
facing on Eleventh street, who're
there will also be an entrance to the
offices on the second floor.
The building will be succeed,
with n touch of the old Spanish ii
the decorations Five rope columns
will support that part Of the second
floor extending out over the huge
alcove display windows, and these
windows will extend around tie
Eleventh street side, 10 the side en-
trance to the store. The alcove de-
sign was adopted because Of the
narrow width Of the sidewalk, and
To give "window shoppers" full play
This was done In recognition Of the
fact that the corner is perhaps the
huisest in the city.
The windows. according to George
. Clark. representative here for Page
Bros. the architects. viii be the last
word in shop-window designing
Their metropolitan appeara { Z
against the nuasi-modern back
ground will relieve the eve ami rdd
charm AMI originality 70 the build
ing.
A large steel balcony. also Sran-
ish. will overlook the front Of .hr
I store. WIN Nudtits y TltltE4- Ike
window in the background. sim
liar balcony also will overlook the
Eleventh street side ~ the building
Towers on each corner Of the
structure. topped with red tile. lritn
red tile copings and brightly illum-
irutad viii add to the attractiyencss
of the building.
The second floor will contain
eighteen office rooms.
George Aziz and Tom Aziz are the
pfinrinal owners of the Aziz Bros.
establishment The firm located II
Browrsvillr IN 1915. adding this
establishment To n chain. of stores
vhieh includes establishments In
New York citv and in Mexico City
George and Tom Aziz alternatn BE-
tween the Brownsville and Mexico
Cite stores. Tom Ale being In the
Noxican capital at this tine.
The firm hores n occupy their
new building about October ].