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TOP JOBS

By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

Tyler City Council members took steps to change the face of downtown Tyler at their regular meeting today.

They approved the purchase of the old King Chevrolet and White’s Ford car dealerships along Bonner Street, just south of City Hall, for $1.67 million. The total acreage comes to about 8.65, on which city officials say they may put city office spaces and public parking.

“This action has been under consideration for many months, and the purchase of this property is a major step toward achievement of the Tyler21 goal to create a destination downtown,” said Mayor Barbara Bass.

Councilman Donald Sanders, whose district encompasses the property, said the purchase eliminates blight created by the abandoned car dealerships. The properties have been vacant for several years since the dealerships closed. During the Tyler21 planning process, they were identified as possible locations for a western downtown square. Other potential uses include residential, retail, and arts and culture-oriented development through public/private partnerships.

“This property is pivotal to realizing the vision for a business, arts and culture district downtown,” said Councilman Chris Simons. “By purchasing the property, we are able to ensure it is repurposed in a way that benefits the community.”

The Council also approved a 10-year lease agreement with an option to buy the building located at 110 W. Erwin St., immediately next to Rick’s on the Square restaurant. The city plans to partner with Heart of Tyler / Main Street to create a downtown visitor and arts center.

Under the plan, the Main Street program will become a city department, and Beverly Abell, current Heart of Tyler / Main Street director, will become the Main Street department director for the city. Heart of Tyler will retain its status as a private, 501c3 non-profit organization, and will continue its work focusing on downtown revitalization. A final agreement will go before the Council on Aug. 13 for approval.

“By transitioning the Main Street program into the city — but maintaining Heart of Tyler, Inc. — we maximize the potential for success,” said Mark Priestner, Heart of Tyler board president. “We see this as a strategic decision that is in the best interest of the community.”

To house the new department, the city has entered into a 10-year lease/purchase agreement on the 3,330-square-foot building. The city will pay $1,325 per month to lease the building, and Heart of Tyler promises to raise and contribute $40,000 annually to the city to support operations of the downtown office. The city will be responsible for remodeling the building into office space, a downtown visitor’s center and an arts center that features local artists. Renovations are expected to begin on Nov. 1 with anticipated completion date of March 1, in time for the Azalea and Spring Flower Trails, city officials said.

The city will continue to contract with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to keep the main visitor’s center on North Broadway, in the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce offices. The new visitor’s center will focus primarily on the downtown area, while the main center will continue to provide information for the entire city and outlying region.

“The creation of the arts center is part of the foundation the city is building to make Tyler a hub for arts and culture in East Texas,” Simons said. “Paired with the purchase and renovation of the former Liberty Theatre, we are establishing the critical mass that will bring this dream to fruition.”

Updated Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. CDT