Rio Vista Community Center Rehabilitation

The Rio Vista Community Center Rehabilitation in Socorro is complete, having passed its final TDLR accessibility inspection in August 2026. This renovation of Building 17, now designated as the Bracero Museum, totals 3,730 square feet. The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in March 2025, marking the final step in a construction process that began in early 2025.

Project Scope and Design

The work involved the rehabilitation of a single municipal building to serve as a museum space. The scope includes 1,665 square feet of interior building space and an additional 2,065 square feet of shade canopy, bringing the total area to 3,730 square feet. Treanor, the design firm of record, oversaw the architectural plans for this alteration. The City of Socorro is the owner of record for this public project. The estimated cost for the rehabilitation was $788,064, which calculates to a cost of $211 per square foot.

Construction Timeline and Status

Construction on the facility started in February 2025. The filing scheduled completion for July 2025, but the final inspection did not occur until August 2026. This timeline reflects a build window of 178 days from start to scheduled completion, which is longer than the 120-day median for similar renovation projects in El Paso County. The project is now marked as Inspection Complete in the TDLR records.

Local Context and Comparison

This project is one of several renovations undertaken by the City of Socorro, which has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $4,247,172. These include the Rebecca Way Park, Marie Ann Park, and Horizon Park Unit 1. The estimated cost of $788,064 is above the county median of $204,735 for renovation and alteration filings. Similarly, the $211 per square foot cost is above the county median of $67 per square foot. The project utilizes public funds and is located on public land in El Paso County.

The Bracero Museum addition complements the existing Rio Vista Community Center facilities. Treanor has also designed other significant projects in Texas, including the Barbara Culver Juvenile Justice Center in Midland and the UTEP Cotton Street Building in El Paso. The completion of this museum space adds a cultural dimension to the Socorro community center complex.