OLIVEIRA WANDERS DOWNTOWN

State Representative Rene Oliveira strolled downtown early Saturday morning. His memories regarding Brownsville's historic heart and soul go back several generations. He meets a ghost at every corner.

"My grandfather was a city cop and walking downtown was a part of his beat," said Oliveira as he passed in front of the new bus terminal and admired the building's architecture. "Brownsville used to be the mecca for the entire Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico.

"My grandfather spoke fondly about the trust that existed among the citizenry in those days. You hear about residents who didn't lock their homes, but merchants were so confident about the safety of their stores that they oftentimes forgot to lock the doors to their entrances."

Oliveira insists that downtown's time is now. He contends that Austin's 6th Street and the French Quarter in New Orleans have nothing over Brownsville. He cites McAllen as an example of a community accomplishing its downtown goals with one-tenth of Brownsville's potential.

"Houston and San Antonio are building high-rise condos in their downtowns," continued Oliveira. "Living in the suburbs and commuting an hour every day to work is no longer the American dream for many individuals. They want to be closer to their employment and entertainment.

"We don't have the same traffic problems in Brownsville, but living in a thriving downtown would certainly be an attraction to both young professionals and retirees. I would love to see the El Jardin refurbished into a high-rise condo with a restaurant and businesses on the first floor."

As a hometown product, Oliveira doesn't profess to have the knowledge of the experts at the Brownsville Historical Association or any of the expertise of tour guide extraordinaire Dr. Polyphemous Pangloss, but he appreciates the aesthetic quality of Brownsville's buildings.

"From Levee to Madison we have a wealth of structures that make Brownsville one of the great historical cities in the country," said Oliveira. "Tourists swarm throughout New England and the South to visit the Revolutionary War and Civil War sites. Those communities have done outstanding jobs preserving and promoting their uniqueness. They recognize the economic importance of tourists who want to relive history in an ambience that evokes the past.

"The first two battles of the Mexican-American War and the last battle of the Civil War were fought in the Brownsville area," said Oliveira. "Before Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, Juan Cortina and his followers took over Brownsville. With our wonderful weather and picturesque scenery, visitors would come in droves to experience Brownsville historically firsthand through our restored buildings. The birders are amazed when they observe parrots living in palm trees on Washington Street."

Among the many buildings that never fail to capture his admiration, Oliveira cites the Bollack, San Roman and Yturria Bank buildings on Elizabeth, the Stillman House on Washington, the San Fernandez Hotel on Adams, the Old County Courthouse on Jefferson and the Dosal-Cross House on Madison as among his favorites as testimonies to Brownsville's diverse background.

"Harlingen, McAllen and many other Valley communities are revitalizing their downtowns with a handful of constructions that date back to the 1920s and 1930s at best," explained Oliveira. "We possess this fabulous early 20th century architecture in numbers far superior to our sister cities, but we don't notice these edifices because they're lost in the luxurious riches of our 19th century architecture.

"The momentum is here. I stopped for breakfast at Aranda's Restaurant on the recommendation of my good friend State Senator Eddie Palacios. He was right. The food was excellent. I hope that our mayor is dedicated to revitalizing downtown.

"The private sector, headed by the likes of Adrian Foncerrada, is committed to restoring downtown to its former stature. In spite of the challenging economic times, Brownsville is moving forward. The movement downtown captures that spirit."