Almost every Bryan/College Station resident would admit to driving past the abandoned Plaza Hotel occasionally in their weekly routine, if not daily. The seventeen story concrete shell stands at the intersection of Texas Avenue and University Drive, arguably the two busiest streets in the whole city. And after 6:30am on Thursday, May 24th 2012, this once pivotal structure will be reduced to nothing more than a pile of shattered concrete and useless rubble.

If you’ve driven through the city of College Station in the past few weeks, it’s likely that you’ve noticed the unusual vacancy of the Plaza Hotel. Not that you would be expected to notice a parking lot or diminished business: instead, it is the actual building itself which you would’ve noticed. The windows of various apartments and hotel rooms appear to almost open up to the sky behind the structure. I myself have viewed this spectacle on a few sunset evenings, when the sky behind the Plaza Hotel was painted with the various colors of sunset, the different tones of orange, pink, or Easter purple leaking through the hollowed frame of the seventeen story structure. It’s more than evident then, peering up through the cracks in the concrete frame, to understand how completely abandoned the Plaza Hotel had become. And to hear now that the building will be imploded this upcoming Thursday, you might not be entirely surprised.

But how did this pivotal structure, the hotel that has had such a powerful presence in the history of our growing city, come to such an abrupt end? In such instances as this, it is sometimes important to understand the buildings past in order to appreciate the present circumstances.

What we know today as the Plaza Hotel actually began as a Ramada Inn, the first foundations of which were laid in the late 1950s. Joe Ferreri, the constructor of the Ramada Inn, was approached in the 1950s by Earl Rudder of Texas A&M. Attracted to Ferreri’s success as a drive-inn restaurant owner, Rudder approached Joe with the proposition to construct a badly needed hotel on the Corner of Texas Avenue and University. After appearing hesitant about the project due to his lack of experience in the hotel industry, Rudder encouraged him forward, getting the young businessman to wonder how much different it could be than the food industry.

So Joe began to build. By 1960 the Ramada Inn opened, looking far different than the Plaza Hotel that we know today. The Ramada had been a quaint, two story Inn with an Olympic swimming pool, faculty club, banquet hall, and just over 150 rooms. But this quiet corner served as a focal point for the College Station and Texas A&M community.

The Ramada Inn had immediate success and was consistently pushed to over 90% of its overall capacity. In fact, the hotel had such great business that Ferreri was pressed to expand. In 1980 he began the construction of a new high-rise for his Hotel, and in just one year an additional seventeen story tower was built: making the shell of the structure that you see today.

But despite the initial success of Ferreri’s expanded hotel and the overall consistent business he was receiving from the community at large, only a few years after the construction of the Hotel’s new high-rise, Joe Ferreri was forced to sell the Ramada Inn. In the early 1980s there was a major economic recession, much like the most recent economic events of the late 21st Century. Rising interest rates on the debts incurred from Ferreri’s construction, along with the overall state of the economy and slowing business, forced Ferreri out of his prized construction. The result was a loss of over 32 million dollars in assets and personal funds. Ferreri was left only with his home, a single car, and his family.

Since then what began as the Ramada Inn has switched ownership several times, becoming most recently what it is known as today: the Plaza Hotel. And it would appear that a similar fate befell the success of the Plaza Hotel’s business, the inevitable slip to bankruptcy that caused the hotel to close its doors for the last time in 2010.

Unfortunately, the story does not end there. After the abandonment of the Plaza Hotel, the twelve acre site of prime real-estate has become a hot-spot for crime, vandalism, and drug use. Criminals have been simply unable to avoid the alluring pull of an abandoned, seventeen story shelter full of furniture, walls, and glass. Security has been gradually increasing over the past few months, but authorities have become hard-pressed for the funds to support the coverage of such a broad area when the use of civil authorities is generally looked for elsewhere. So what is the result? Demolition.

The demolition project has been delegated to the local Civil Engineering Company, Mitchell and Morgan. Veronica Morgan is the lead Civil Engineer in charge of the implosion, which is currently set to occur around 6:30am this Thursday, the 24th of May. The event will be free and open to the public. Veronica Morgan herself hopes the implosion “will be an event for the community.” Many are certainly looking forward to the removal of the towering Plaza Hotel, which has been described by as an ‘eyesore’ to the community at large.

While future construction in the Plaza Hotel area is still unclear (there has been speculation about student housing, shopping/eating centers, night clubs, etc.), it is obvious and in popular demand that the archaic, outdated shell of the 1960s Ramada Inn be destroyed and replaced with a more aesthetically appealing structure. While the overall value of the land has decreased 28.7% from 2008 to 2010, it is still located in a prime location with an excellent promise of prosperous business. The city allegedly has had multiple propositions processed over the past several months, and the entire community is excited to find out what the future will hold.

PS – Susan Hilton is Bryan College Station, Texas’ real estate specialist in foreclosure sales and real estate agent career building so if you need help – CALL! 979-219-3970

College Station offers a variety of galleries, centers, and museums to promote this universal sharing of beauty. Local artists share their work with others and offer it up to be enjoyed by the public on a regular basis.

Benjamin Knox is a well-known, local artist who sets himself apart by capturing the spirit of College Station and the spirit of Aggieland in his paintings, drawings, and photographs. The Benjamin Knox Gallery is a beautiful venue, wine bar, art gallery, and offers custom picture framing. Their elegant selection of mats and frames ensure that your precious keepsakes will be safely preserved and complimented. The gallery was opened by Knox as a replica of the 1900 College Station Train Depot, the original depot for the university. Art from Knox as well as from students and other artists in the community are housed at this unique location.

The permanent collection at the J. Wayne Stark University Center Galleries centers on American paintings, prints, sculptures, drawings and photographs of the 19th and 20th centuries. The President’s Advisory Committee on Art Policy is responsible for making sure each piece of art passes through a rigorous process of evaluation before it is allowed into the gallery. J. Wayne Stark is a Texas A&M University graduate, class of ’39 and opened the gallery to help offer students a more well-rounded academic education. After serving in WWII he had a desire to raise civic awareness and bring a high-quality level of artwork to the Texas A&M campus.

MSC Forsyth Center Galleries is one of the university’s art galleries. It is home to a world-class selection of English Cameo glass, Tiffany and Steuben glass, and other important 19th and 20th century art glass. It also houses many American paintings and rotates 6 to 8 temporary exhibits throughout the year. The temporary exhibitions are presented to offer a variety of artwork spanning a large assortment of time, place and culture.

The Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center is a museum that is dedicated to the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. It offers the public over 60 exhibits and the state’s biggest firearms display as well as a library with over 3,000 military research volumes. There is no other way to more fully experience the true Aggie tradition and history without visiting this museum, which presents both tradition and history throughout the years at Texas A&M.

The Texas A&M Sports Museum brings to life the spirit of Aggieland. It is located in the Zone of Kyle Field and functions as a storehouse for precious, historic sports relics. Different exhibits in the Museum include the Time Wall, Legends Gallery, sport-by-sport perimeter displays and interactive computers. It is the nation’s only all-sports museum funded primarily by former athletes.

The Texas Gallery offers permanent exhibits of works from regional and Texas artists, sculpture, paintings and artifacts from around the world  that date back to the 11th century. It offers a range of artwork from hand-blown glass, jewelry, paintings, to much more.

The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History hosts tours, classes, and lectures. Many different opportunities are available to children such as nature camps, birthday parties and school field trips. Discovery kits are for teachers, home schoolers or scouts to use on their own. The museum emphasizes the relationship between people and their natural environment and seeks to raise awareness of nature and a responsible relationship with it. Exhibits include fossil exhibits, sculptures, antique farming and survey equipment, a discovery room with more than fifteen varieties of live animals, dozens of taxidermy mounts, educational resources and several rotating exhibits.

The Carnegie Center of Brazos Valley contains many historical collections from the Brazos county and surrounding areas. Historical pieces of information and artifacts are continually being added to this Center. Featured collections are the Ana Ludmilla Gee Ballet Collection, Harvey Mitchell’s verneir compass and sketch for the original site of the City of Bryan, and a miniature replica of the “Blue” or “Steamboat House,” which was an early Calvert home that was burned down. The museum also contains city directories and old historical telephone books in addition to antique adult and children’s books. Genealogical research takes place in the center due to a collection of materials on ethnicity and areas contributing to discoveries of what immigrants first came to the area.

The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley is another creative outlet opportunity. Young children are impressionable and learn at a young age how to express themselves. The gallery encourages artistic and imaginative work from children of all ages and is a world where they are free to go wherever their imagination takes them. The Barbara Bush Library that the museum offers has a wide selection of books and the construction zone allows children to slap on a hardhat and get to work pounding out a playhouse. Mrs. Giggly’s Garden is a safe place for toddlers to explore and fidget with small toys, the music corner offers a place for kids to jam out and be a superstar for the afternoon, and the HEB Kids’ Market gives kids a small dose of the creativity behind putting together a meal. The health station lets children play doctor by testing their eyes and checking their heart rate, and the Spaceship and Control Center is a multilevel rocket.

ENJOY!

Kathy Massey

PS – I am Kathy Massey and I can make your “Dreams” a “Realty” when buying or selling real estate in the Brazos Valley Bryan College Station area.

Was this you?????  Do you wish you had been paying attention during your knitting lessons?    This March, on the Texas A&M campus, TAMU students with the help of the Visual Arts Committee, the Brazos Valley Knitters Guild, The Hook and Needle, and Magda Sayeg, dressed the light poles on Military Walk in a printed rainbow knit. These tube socks that were knitted around the poles are part of a nation-wide craze known as Yarn Bombing.

Textile art has gradually made its way onto the contemporary art scene. This new form of art is said to serve as a ground where textile production is neither solely for the female nor the male. Despite gender, race and age, this art speaks beautifully and carries a presence unlike any other art form.

Over the past few years, yarn bombing has become more and more prevalent; beginning with urban areas and moving throughout the rest of the country. It is practiced regularly in a few major cities in areas including Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  And though this form of art is catching on, it is still not very widely known. Other names for the practice include knit bombing, guerilla knitting, yarn storming, and urban knitting.

Trees, sculptures, statues, phone booths, gates, handles, poles and any other object of reasonable size is at risk of being bombed by this craze. There are even cans of spray yarn (similar to spray paint), used to graffiti walls.

Magda Sayeg was a guest lecturer on the Texas A&M campus this year and the founder of Yarn Bombing. Her work has grown to include the knit-covered bus in Mexico City, her first solo exhibit in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione, covering the AC ductwork of Etsy.com’s headquarters located in Brooklyn, and she is finishing an installation at the Williamsburg Bridge working with the NYC Department of Transportation.

She has worked with companies worldwide, including Absolut Vodka, Madewell, Insight 51, Mini Cooper, and Smart Car. She has also participated in art shows at Milan’s Triennale Design Museum, Le M.U.R. in Paris, and the National Gallery of Australia.

She has begun experimenting with new techniques and additions to her artwork, such as using lighting with her knitted material. She has joined forces with the integrated media company 1stAveMachine as a director. This position will push her to new varieties of experimentation and collaboration.

Are you wanting to learn how to knit? Checkout our own LOCAL YARN KNIT SHOP in Bryan College Station! Checkout The Hook and Needle!  If they can teach me to knit they can teach YOU!

PS -  Susan Hilton is Bryan College Station, Texas’ real estate specialist in foreclosure sales and real estate agent career building so if you need help – CALL!             979-219-3970

The townhomes are also located near the new HEB Towerpointe shopping center that just opened off of Highway 40. This shopping center is quickly expanding and already offers sandwich shops, sushi shops, fast-food, banks, hair salons and so much more.

Some of the quality parts of the townhomes include the three texture exterior finish which includes stone, brick and hardy and the entire exterior except for the roof is maintained by the homeowners association. The roof has a 30-year warranty. Nine foot ceilings and crown molding can be found throughout the townhomes and add to the open spacious feeling of the homes. Granite countertops, sleek custom kitchen cabinetry and a stone eating bar complete the kitchens. Kitchens also come with full appliances and stainless steel appliances are available. Stained concrete floors in the living, kitchen and bathrooms allow for easy clean-up and carpeted bedrooms invite a cozy atmosphere. Granite vanities are in every bathroom. Light fixtures, ceiling fans, and kitchen hardware is oil rubbed bronze hardware. Digital a/c thermostats are in each home, with two zoned thermostats in the two-story homes.The townhomes offer maximum security by offering private reserved parking for each unit, pre-wiring for security alarms, and deadbolts. Wood stained fences also allow for privacy and increased security as well as private concrete patio or backyard areas for each resident. The spacious yard areas offer a

All of the outdoor landscaping and fencing is maintained by the homeowner’s association as well. Sprinkler systems are also included with each unit.

To offer and promote a community-oriented feeling, the Barracks Townhomes has an exercise track and gated dog-park. Pets are allowed and are well provided for with this luxurious park that keeps both the pet and owner in shape. These not only encourage people to get outside more often and meet new people in the neighborhood, but they also encourage a healthy lifestyle. A swimming pool is also part of this unique community which comes complete with a tanning deck, the perfect solution to a stressful week.

Lakefront options are now also being offered! These are the only lakefront townhomes in College Station, and the Barracks Townhomes built their very own Cable Wakeboarding Lake to make lakefront townhomes in College Station a reality. The units offer an escape from the ordinary flow of the city and offer a haven right in your front yard. This increases the value of the townhomes immensely due to the fact that the lake provides innumerable activities for residents to participate in. The lake is the perfect accessory for any group gathering or romantic evening. These units are also available with a rooftop patio as well as a lower level patio, giving you a two-story party patio perfect for entertaining any size group of friends or family.

The Barracks Townhomes offers you a referral bonus. If you recommend the townhomes to someone, they will give you a cash bonus!

If you are interested in leasing a townhome, the rates are as follows: 4 Bedrooms=$525/Bedroom; 3 Bedrooms=$550/Bedroom; 2 Bedrooms=$750/Bedroom.

For more information about availability, or for a personal tour, visit www.AggieLeasing.com. To get in contact with the Barracks Townhomes, you can call 888-567-5757, text 313-Gig-Em-Ag, or email Info@BarracksTownhomes.com

The large star seen on the side of the ring symbolizes the Seal of Texas, and the wreath of olive and laurel symbolize achievement and the desire for peace. Oak leaves symbolize the strength to fight for one’s state and country. The joining of the leaves at the bottom demonstrates the need for both achievement and peace to better serve.
The rifle, cannon, and saber on the other side of the ring show Texas Pride. It acts as a reminder of Texans who defended their land. The crossing of the Texas and United States flag represent pride and servitude to both nation and state.
Traditionally, the student will wear the class year facing them to signify the fact that their time at A&M has not yet been completed. Once graduated, the ring is turned to show the year facing the world. Long ago an Aggie Sweetheart Ring was also available.
Though this college ring presents itself to be complex, the overall message of the ring is clear. It embodies self-respect, discipline, loyalty, and honor. The strength in the unity of the rings is the fire that burns the notable A&M network. It is a tradition withstanding the test of time and will forever live in the hearts of Aggies past, present, and future.

PS -  Susan Hilton is Bryan College Station, Texas’ real estate specialist in foreclosure sales and real estate agent career building so if you need help – CALL!

Thank you to Nikki Romero for use of the beautiful photo of a precious baby and family rings. Nikki is the owner of Everlasting Photography. Call her when you want a FABULOUS photo taken!

Thank you to Doug Klembara TAMU Class of 2011 for the fabulous Aggie Ring photo. Need a local photographer? Call Doug!

This partnership has produced the absolute best portfolio of Class A Student rental housing in Aggieland (College Station TX) AND some of the Best Real Estate investment opportunities on the planet!

Aggies, Check out www.aggieleasing.com

Investors, Check out some of these cash flow scenarios: www.barrackstownhomes.com

Call us anytime on our new hotline at 888-567-5757 or Text us at 313-Gig-Em-Ag

Thanks & Gig-Em’

The City of College Station is ranked by The Business Journals as the brainiest city in Texas among those with populations between 50,000 and 100,000. Some 28 percent of College Station residents hold a bachelor’s degree and another 28.23 percent have a graduate or professional degree. A lot of this has to do with Texas A&M faculty as well as so many Aggies staying here after graduation!

The Business Journals ranked 483 mid-sized U.S. cities using 2009 U.S. Census Data. The rankings were based on the percentage of population with each level of educational attainment.  Not only were we #1 in Texas, but College Station ranked No. 31 nationally.

So, next time someone makes an Aggie joke, make sure and let them know that they are actually making fun of the smartest city in all of Texas!

For all your real estate needs, Call Farrah B Spears at 979-229-0919

For all your real estate needs, Call Farrah B Spears at 979-229-0919