One of the Rio Grande Valley’s most prominent homebuilders – Rhodes Enterprises – has broken ground on a major development on north Baseline Road as Mercedes continues to attract major investment in the Mid-Valley area.

The Mercedes Chamber of Commerce along with other community leaders and executives from Rhodes gathered on March 19 to celebrate a groundbreaking on Baseline and Mile 9 N, just north of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show grounds. The new 92-acre community will be called Los Prados. Its first phase will feature 55 lots in its emerging neighborhood with a community park, basketball courts, and walking trails. Phase two includes 84 lots and has received approval from the city.

Los Prados will have quick access to the Expressway 83 in making it an ideal location for families and commuters who can get to any part of the Valley from a central location in the region.

“It’s a wonderful location,” said Joe Flores Jr., the vice president of the Mercedes Economic Development Corporation board. “You can live in Mercedes and it’s 45 minutes or less to either end of the Valley.”

Flores said the Los Prados development is one of many projects the EDC and city are working on in continuing the growth Mercedes has seen in recent years. Los Prados is located just outside of Mercedes city limits and bringing the development to the area is reflective of how city and county planners worked collaboratively to make the project possible.

Rhodes Enterprises is active in major developments across the Valley. It is perhaps best known for its development of Tres Lagos, a master planned community in north McAllen, which borders Edinburg. The site for Los Prados is representative of the areas the builder likes to locate its developments. The Esperanza Homes of Rhodes Enterprises are usually found in areas that sit on the outskirts of a city with good access to the expressway. Small parks and green spaces are typically included in the Esperanza Home developments.  

Working with a major builder like Rhodes demonstrates the strides Mercedes is making in bringing new investments to the city, Flores said.

“Esperanza fits right into what the city and EDC staff are doing to attract these kinds of investors,” he said. “We’re creating the kind of environment that can bring a company like Rhodes to our city.”

Los Prados homes will start in the mid-to-high $100,000 price range and are built with first-time buyers and growing families in mind. The new neighborhood area in north Mercedes will offer homes with open-concept layouts and energy-efficient designs and feature four exterior styles.

“These kinds of developments are essential for Mercedes,” Flores said. “We attract more people to Mercedes and increase our sales tax base and as we continue to make the kind of investments that make our community a better place to live.”

- Ric Cavazos

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