Grim Decisions

City faces tough decision as it weighs hotel’s future viability

Things got a bit raucous Monday night at the Texarkana, Texas, City Council meeting. A lot of folks showed up, mostly to discuss the proposed renovation of downtown's landmark Grim Hotel.

Developer Jim Sari has been working on the deal for nearly a decade. Originally it was to be a mix of market rate and low-income apartments, with some retail and office space as well.

Now it looks like the apartments will all be geared to those of limited income.

And that doesn't sit well with some folks.

Sari said it's all about the numbers. To get financing and a return on investment, low-income apartments just make more sense. He added that two other downtown properties he wants to develop, the old Sears building on Pine across from the Grim and the Rialto building next door to the hotel, would be market-rate rentals.

But there are plenty of people who oppose the idea of affordable housing at the Grim. They spoke at the meeting and we have seen a lot of comments on social media as well. The common theme seems to be that low-income units will do nothing to revitalize downtown. That low-income residents aren't the type needed for a revival of the city's center.

We will pass over the stereotyping of low-income folks to concentrate on the bigger picture: There are some unrealistic expectations here.

Since the early 1990s, the Grim has been sitting empty, vandalized and rotting away. No one has come forward with financing in hand to turn it into anything that would attract those able to pay the kind of rents a renovation would require.

Now Sari, who has a good track record in these type of projects, has a plan and is ready to move forward. But some Texarkana residents don't like this revised proposal, which is understandable. So what are the options? Wait until someone with a bucket of cash and willingness to risk it renovates the Grim into a luxury development? Let's get real. There is no shining knight coming on a white horse to turn the Grim into treasure.

According to the 2016 census about 24 percent of residents fall below the poverty line and we imagine a larger number are struggling paycheck-to-paycheck. Where are the market-rate tenants going to come from?

Are crowds of more affluent folks from out of town chomping at the bit to relocate downtown? Are many of the project's critics planning to do so?

Texarkana doesn't have a lot of choices. Two are obvious: Let Sari proceed or watch the Grim fall further into neglect and disrepair.

You may not think affordable housing is ideal, but is it any worse than an unsightly, derelict Grim looming over State Line?

We only wish there were a better answer.