Business center opens as San Juan grows north
SAN JUAN— Nine-year-old Miranda Ramirez is the youngest in her family, but she already has her own housing development and, now, business plaza.
Ramirez cut the ribbon Thursday at Miranda Plaza, a new collection of businesses at 4810 N. Raul Longoria Road. Her mother, real-estate developer Mary Ramirez, built the center adjacent to a Miranda Estates housing development she created and named after her daughter in 2005.
The plaza represents a development trend in San Juan as the city moves incrementally northward.
“As Edinburg and San Juan grow together, we have a good band of development on the north side,” said Economic Development Corporation Director Miki McCarthy.
McCarthy added that, while there has also been growth on the south side of town, much business is moving north and the EDC has been pushing northern development.
Most of the businesses in Miranda Plaza relocated from other areas.
The plaza contains Chris Ryan Homes and Investments and Highland Mortgages, owned by Mary and Michael Ramirez. It also holds 2 Cuzins and Me Scrap Booking Paradise, Unique Creations & Gifts and Express Tax & More. There are two open suites which Mary Ramirez is planning to lease to a speech therapist.
She said she wanted to lease only to people who would operate within normal business hours and wasn’t interested in restaurants or bars.
Most of the owners who have leased space are people Mary Ramirez met through building houses for them. Three businesses are owned by family members of Rosie Rodriguez, who lives in Miranda Estates.
Across the street lies another patch of land where Mary Ramirez plans to begin building a matching business plaza in a year or two. She said it is important to her to contribute to development in the city.
“I was raised in San Juan and we always get a bad rap, but it’s not as bad as everyone says,” she said.
EDC Assistant Secretary Eddie Garcia said in a speech he was amazed at the city’s sprawling growth.
“Whoever thought we’d be out this far?” he said. “This is the new San Juan.”
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Elizabeth Findell covers Pharr, San Juan, Alamo and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.
