City Council voted to approve a zoning change in the historic Barrio del Guadalupe, leaving the neighborhood divided. 

The plot of land north of Marsha Sharp near 3rd Street, on the south side of the Guadalupe neighborhood, was changed from commercial use to multi-family. This opens the door for developers who want to build an apartment complex called the “Guadalupe Villas” on the plot of land that has been empty for over 40 years. 

Texas Tech Chancellor Emeritus Kent Hance is a key investor in the proposed “Guadalupe Villas,” a multi-unit complex that will be limited to senior citizens aged 62 and over. 

The vote came after a crowd packed the City Hall chambers, with standing room only. Resident after resident came forward to express their concerns. 

“What we don’t want is this type of development to erase our legacy or not include us in the decisions that are going to be happening,” Nicholas Muniz said. 

Muniz said he’s the third generation of his family to live in the Guadalupe neighborhood, and urged council to remember the historic aspects of this area of town. 

Other residents begged the council to reconsider, bringing up concerns of traffic and crime that a multi-unit complex could bring. The asked for a more sustainable solution, like single-family housing. They said, they worry renters of any kind, even the elderly, won’t provide the stability and family-dynamic they hope to uphold in the barrio.  

On the other side of the aisle, sat the residents of the neighborhood whose homes are directly across from the contested land. Juan and Gloria Escobedo have lived there for 25 years, and look out at the “eyesore” every day.

“We’ve got prairie dogs, trash, homeless issues,” Gloria said. “We’ve had several problems. We’d prefer something that is community living.”

They worry if it was to be left zoned for commercial use, anything could pop up, like a bar, warehouse, or hotel. They added they’d gladly welcome some new neighbors with a complex like this one, especially senior citizens. 

“They are people who are planning to stay for a while, and would hopefully be part of the neighborhood,” Gloria said. 

But when Gilbert Salinas, opposed to the change, asked the crowd at city council to stand up if they were also against the change, the majority in attendance stood. 

“It is not the long-term vision we have for our community,” Salinas stated. 

Council voted in favor of the change, saying they hope it will be good for the neighborhood as well as the revitalization of the downtown area. They reminded everyone this was only the first reading, and the vote only applies to the zoning change, meaning there are a few more steps that have to take place before the “Guadalupe Villas” could be built.