This record consolidates 17 research observations while retaining source distinctions, location precision and unresolved fields.
| Operator / developer | NOT_FOUND (applicant not publicly identified) |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Brownsville, TX |
| Address | 7480 Padre Island Highway |
| Location precision | street address |
| Coordinates | Not published; no coordinate inferred |
| Capacity | Not established |
| Aliases | Brownsville former Walmart / Casa Padre data center conversion - WITHDRAWN · 7480 Padre Island Highway (former Walmart Supercenter / Casa Padre / Southwest Key facility) · Casa Padre data center · former Southwest Key facility data center |
| Project profile | 0 rows |
|---|---|
| Intent / permits | 0 rows |
| Civic / infrastructure | 1 rows |
Adaptive reuse of a big-box retail building. Application withdrawn August 2026; a 90-day citywide moratorium followed.
Key data: Brownsville Public Utilities Board | ERCOT (South) | NOT_FOUND | Ordinance No. 235-2026-017-S (Specific Use Permit in Regional Center district)
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Owner: Randr Ventures LLC (principals Mohamed Ryad Bakalem and Rafael Chacon; Olmito, TX), owner since 2018 | Property entity: Randr Ventures LLC | County: Cameron | Research region: East Texas / South Texas-RGV / Statewide Rural Gap Pass | Parcel IDs: Lot 1A, Block 1, LR Cowen Subdivision Replat No. 2 | Lot 2, Block 1, Padre Play Subdivision
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Key data: Utility: Brownsville Public Utilities Board | Grid area: ERCOT (South)
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Key data: Zoning case: Ordinance No. 235-2026-017-S (Specific Use Permit in Regional Center district) | Jurisdictions: City of Brownsville Planning & Zoning Commission | Brownsville City Commission | Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Application withdrawn; city pursuing 90-day pause on all data center projects while drafting policy (Commissioner-at-large Nurith Galonsky)
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Key data: Surrounding infrastructure: Near Port of Brownsville
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Key data: Surrounding infrastructure: 265,000 sq ft building built 2004, renovated 2018; prior tenant Southwest Key Programs
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09-05
Data center proposed inside former Walmart near the Port of Brownsville
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-07-18
Specific Use Permit item (Ordinance No. 235-2026-017-S) withdrawn from Planning & Zoning agenda
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-08-06
City leaders move forward with 90-day pause on all data center projects; finalization expected via P&Z and city commission
Claim classification: Not yet assigned
Status date: 2026-09
A Specific Use Permit request to allow a data center in a Regional Center district at 7480 Padre Island Highway, filed as Ordinance No. 235-2026-017-S, appeared as item 3 on the August 6, 2026 Planning & Zoning agenda and was withdrawn.
Key data: Ordinance No. 235-2026-017-S withdrawn
Claim classification: official_record · Verification: primary_source · Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Status date: 2026-08-06
Limitation: Applicant identity not stated in the city notice.
The proposed data center would have occupied the former Walmart / Southwest Key Casa Padre building at 7480 Padre Island Highway near the Port of Brownsville.
Key data: 7480 Padre Island Highway, Brownsville
Claim classification: reported_fact · Verification: corroborated_two_sources · Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Status date: 2026-07-18
The building is a 265,000 sq ft structure on about 32 acres, built in 2004 and renovated in 2018.
Key data: 265,000 sq ft on ~32 acres
Claim classification: reported_fact · Verification: single_source · Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Status date: 2026-07-18
Limitation: Appraisal district record not fetched directly.
The property has been owned by Randr Ventures LLC (principals Mohamed Ryad Bakalem and Rafael Chacon, Olmito, TX) since 2018; the prior tenant was Southwest Key Programs.
Key data: Owner: Randr Ventures LLC (since 2018)
Claim classification: reported_fact · Verification: single_source · Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Status date: 2026-07-18
Limitation: Deed records not directly retrieved.
The site is legally described as Lot 1A, Block 1, LR Cowen Subdivision Replat No. 2 and Lot 2, Block 1, Padre Play Subdivision.
Key data: Lot 1A Blk 1 LR Cowen Replat No. 2; Lot 2 Blk 1 Padre Play
Claim classification: official_record · Verification: primary_source · Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Status date: 2026-08-06
Limitation: No numeric appraisal-district account ID published in the notice.
After the application was withdrawn, Brownsville leaders moved toward a 90-day pause on all data center projects, expected to be finalized through the planning and city commissions by September 2026.
Key data: 90-day pause pending; application withdrawn
Claim classification: reported_fact · Verification: corroborated_two_sources · Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Status date: 2026-09-02
Limitation: Final ordinance text not yet published.