Main Street advisory board welcomes new manager
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Members of Beeville’s Main Street Advisory Board welcomed their new Main Street Manager Michelle Wright and said goodbye to their departing manager, Molly Young, when they met Tuesday evening.
Young is going to New York City to continue her education and Wright recently returned to Beeville from a job in California to head the Main Street program here.
The meeting was held at Hensley’s Ca’Fae, 307 N. Washington St. in downtown Beeville.
“We’ve got something to show people for that three and a half years,” County Commissioner and board member Susan Stasny said of Young’s term as manager.
Board members mentioned the facade improvements made during those years in the downtown area.
Board President Gilbert Herrera said his business was the first to receive a grant for facade improvements and the work done on his building turned his business around and made it more successful.
After that a number of downtown businesses joined the program, receiving grants with funds provided by the Beeville Tax Increment Finance District.
Although board members admitted they did not know the total amount spent in the downtown area, the figure so far was around $11.7 million.
Board members said one of the largest single improvements made possible through the Main Street program was getting the Texas Department of Transportation to pay for a majority of the work being done presently in improving the drainage situation in the downtown area.
At one point during the meeting, Wright said, “I think you’re right that we’re going to start seeing a return on our investment.” She was commenting on improved business conditions in the downtown area made possible by the facade improvements and the drainage work.
Stasny said many downtown businesses had said they would be reluctant to spend much money on their properties downtown as long as the drainage problems persisted.
She said that in 2007, as much as 14 inches of rain fell on Beeville during July and most of the downtown properties ended up with water in them.
Board members also discussed plans for improving future farmers market events, promoting several proposed fall events and making downtown Beeville an exciting and inviting place to be this year at Christmastime.
The board discussed ways to combine events in an effort to make downtown a place to be during other celebrations.
Herrera urged the board to call another meeting next week to begin planning future projects.
Young is going to New York City to continue her education and Wright recently returned to Beeville from a job in California to head the Main Street program here.
The meeting was held at Hensley’s Ca’Fae, 307 N. Washington St. in downtown Beeville.
“We’ve got something to show people for that three and a half years,” County Commissioner and board member Susan Stasny said of Young’s term as manager.
Board members mentioned the facade improvements made during those years in the downtown area.
Board President Gilbert Herrera said his business was the first to receive a grant for facade improvements and the work done on his building turned his business around and made it more successful.
After that a number of downtown businesses joined the program, receiving grants with funds provided by the Beeville Tax Increment Finance District.
Although board members admitted they did not know the total amount spent in the downtown area, the figure so far was around $11.7 million.
Board members said one of the largest single improvements made possible through the Main Street program was getting the Texas Department of Transportation to pay for a majority of the work being done presently in improving the drainage situation in the downtown area.
At one point during the meeting, Wright said, “I think you’re right that we’re going to start seeing a return on our investment.” She was commenting on improved business conditions in the downtown area made possible by the facade improvements and the drainage work.
Stasny said many downtown businesses had said they would be reluctant to spend much money on their properties downtown as long as the drainage problems persisted.
She said that in 2007, as much as 14 inches of rain fell on Beeville during July and most of the downtown properties ended up with water in them.
Board members also discussed plans for improving future farmers market events, promoting several proposed fall events and making downtown Beeville an exciting and inviting place to be this year at Christmastime.
The board discussed ways to combine events in an effort to make downtown a place to be during other celebrations.
Herrera urged the board to call another meeting next week to begin planning future projects.
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