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A year ago Harlingen celebrating the opening of the Bass Pro Shops at the Cameron Crossing Shopping Center.

On Monday afternoon, it was the grand opening of the LongHorn Steakhouse.

But city officials say there will be much more to celebrate by this time next year.

Land is being cleared next to the steakhouse and construction has already started for several projects.

Harlingen Pct. 5 City Commissioner Joey Treviño said a hotel, retail stores and restaurants are all among the projects being discussed.

"The community has been waiting for something like this for a long time," Treviño said. "We've changed the atomosphere, the environment of doing business in Harlingen the last three and a half years. We're open for business."

An AT&T store is being built next to the LongHorn Steakhouse while land is being cleared and sewage lines are being installed on a large strip of land on the other side of the restaurant.

Treviño said a large-scale retail store is being built on a piece of land just north of the Bass Pro Shops.

The new projects should all be open for business by December 2013.