Olvera Building renovation and Market Square update

We're not going to go into a long explanation of what is happening in these photos but we'll try to post more photos as this and other projects develop downtown as time and opportunity permit.  

 Planters with trees are being placed around Market Square.  

We can suppose these men are pouring cement into cement post cylinders underground which will serve as base for light poles.

 Hard hat worker pouring cement

 Work continues on the cupola.  It looks like they managed to form the dome.  It will be nice to see if they replace blue tiling as it was before.  Check back for updates....

 Not sure what sort of stepped planter or platform this is.

 Sample herringbone brick pattern inlay which will surround walkway areas around the square.

 The Olvera building side facing Market Square.  Thanks to Ricardo Carlos and crew of Rival Builders for welcoming me inside to take these few photos for us.

 The Olvera building side facing E Washington St. has been scaffolded but all the work is being done inside for now.  

 That looks like a well or cistern (not sure how it was used yet in the center of the building.

 Looking down from top of stairs

 Skylight from center open area

Check again for updates.  The building is one of the oldest on Market Sqaure and has a history that goes much farther then the Olvera Shoe Store that existed in it for many years.  It was originally built by one of the Fernandez's ;  a pioneering family in Brownsville, Texas and is now owned by Larry Lof whose name is well recognized as a restorer of historic properties.  Hopefully we can interview him later for a more informative look at the history of this building and future use of it etc..