McAllen city leaders have big plans for McAllen taxpayers' money

McAllen seeks to draw the ‘creative class' - The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/city_19076___article.html/people_young.html

Last week, the city commissioners gave preliminary approval for $960,000 of projects designed to meet the goal of drawing young, creative people here.

Among those projects is beautification work throughout the city, including landscaping near the airport and La Plaza Mall and accent lighting on public buildings.

Money was also allocated for public art, a campaign to minimize the use of plastic shopping bags and the development of a park-and-ride system for special events.

Almost $2.25 million worth of projects is included in the plan, which city leaders will gradually fund over the next few years, said Mike Perez, the McAllen city manager.

City leaders also hope to create a new music festival, develop a plan for a performing arts center and incorporate the current main library at 601 N. Main St. into the arts community once its replacement is built at the former Wal-Mart building at the intersection of North 23rd Street and Nolana.