Jackson Street District Is Heart of Harlingen
Jackson Street is considered the heart of Harlingen, and the heartbeat of the thoroughfare is stronger than ever these days.
The main road in downtown Harlingen is dotted with antique malls, galleries, specialty stores and cafes. What makes it especially attractive is that it features a diversity of businesses.
“There are service industries, offices, a bit of residential and some historic buildings,” says Cheryl LaBerge, downtown manager for the City of Harlingen. “There are banks, law offices, dry cleaners and excellent restaurants. And Jackson Street gets better all the time.”
A new green space called Centennial Park has recently opened on Jackson Street at the railroad tracks, and all of the flower beds along Jackson Street have recently been redesigned or replaced.
“Jackson Street and much of downtown Harlingen received much damage in July 2008, when Hurricane Dolly hit the city,” LaBerge says. “But since then, new street signs have been erected, a new sidewalk installation project has been completed, new palm trees have been planted, and improvements to a downtown city parking lot have been made. Things have been exciting around here lately.”
LaBerge adds that after the hurricane, an incentive grant program was established to renovate and improve buildings throughout the district.
“As of July 2009 – a year after the hurricane – 23 grants were written for downtown property owners to improve their buildings,” she says. “Harlingen is also affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Texas Main Street Program, so the district is always trying to project a beautiful, interesting image. And the downtown district provides the only pedestrian sidewalk environment in all of Harlingen.”
LaBerge says that even with the national economic downturn, 200 businesses and organizations are still operating in the Jackson Street District.
“There is also a new events center on Jackson Street at Third, and Re/Max Lone Star has moved to the district,” she says. “Jackson Street continues to be a cultural, commercial and residential destination in this city.”
