Leslie Gibson
Royse City
March 10, 2008 02:10 am
—
Royse City kicks-off Main Street Program with visit from Texas First Lady
By Leslie Gibson
Herald-Banner Staff
Texas First Lady Anita Perry will visit downtown Royse City Tuesday afternoon to officially open the Texas Main Street Program for Royse City.
Perry will unveil an architect’s rendering of possible historical restoration of the facade of the building which is home to Leeza’s Pizza, on Main Street, State Highway 66 through town.
Already, locally owned shops, beauty salons, restaurants and service businesses keep the main thoroughfare busy during day and evening hours, and the town’s civic events keep the street lively several times a year.
Main Street Program is expected to strengthen the economic development through “proven” strategies put into place throughout the state and nation in the program, which includes free and low-cost expertise to building owners for renovation and floor plans and other needs.
Royse City officials, including Kari Hollifield, the city’s Main Street director, extend a warm welcome to the public for its chance to learn how to help make downtown thrive.
The ceremony begins at 1:45 p.m., with Perry giving a keynote address at the stage at Arch and Main Streets. City and school officials, downtown building and business owners, and school children of all ages, including Royse City High School’s National Honor Society members, will attend and participate.
At 2:30 p.m., the public and the First Lady’s entourage will move to the Royse City City Hall’s “Mellody Room” for a reception.
Main Street will be shut down from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. for the festivities.
That morning, Perry will have also opened Main Street in the other city selected in Texas, Laredo.
“Growing up in a small town, I know the vital role downtown plays in the community,” said Perry. “Being a Main Street city means citizens recognize that downtown is still the heart and soul of their community.”
Mike Belt owns the building in which he has his business, Video Hits. He is a member of the Main Street Board, appointed by the city council.
“This board is not looking to get into people’s pocketbook,” he said, and noted that, as a business owner, “When you hear about stuff like this, you think, ‘What is it going to cost me. Are you going to tell me to spend $100,000 to put an old-west front on the building?’” But the advice and expertise is free, he has learned, and he signed up to learn how to improve the “plain brick front” of his store, left bare when he removed an awning which was unsafe. “The offer is out there — it’s crazy not to take advantage of it. If they come back and it’s going to cost $300,000, you are not obligated. But you have to start somewhere.” He added, “When I get past that, you never know what the next step will be,” he said. He has had the business more than 17 years, with his main office and store in Wylie.
Other board members with downtown businesses are Sheila Whitney with Sheila Whitney Photography, and Kari Hargrave, with State Farm Insurance. Tom Penny owns Penny Landscape and is on the board.
Not on the committee, but interested in the program and having attended a recent Main Street meeting, are David and Jo Ann Kendzierski who own an office building at 118 Main Street, which they bought three years ago. “We wanted to invest in and live in a small town. And we want to accommodate the people that are going to move to Royse City or come shopping here,” he said. Their building dates to before 1910, David Kendzierski said. “I think it’s pretty exciting for Royse City,” Jo Ann Kendzierski said. In their travels, they have seen some nice downtowns and “we’d just like to see that in Royse City too,” David Kendzierski said. They are interested in what could be done for the building front. The building has eight offices, and a reception area and break room. The original ceiling is hidden under a drop ceiling, Jo Ann said.
Also on the advisory board are City Council Member Mary Johnson, Chamber Director Julia Bryant, Planning and Zoning’s Kevin Jackson, Heritage Board’s Cathy Partridge, Secretary to RCISD Superintendent Fraya Fisk, Economic Development Director Larry Lott, County Commissioner David Magness, Mayor Jim Mellody and City Manager Karen Philippi.
Benefits of the program, according to the state agency, include ongoing comprehensive training for Main Street managers and board members, training for communities in successful economic development approaches, a three-day, on-site evaluation and full report with recommendations, design assistance, consultation with downtown merchants about visual merchandising and window display, advice on heritage tourism programs and marketing, and the First Lady Tour.
The Texas Main Street Program is part of the Texas Historical Commission's Community Heritage Development Division. It began in 1981 and is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Texas Main Street Program is considered among the most successful downtown revitalization programs in the nation, assisting more than 140 Texas cities. Private reinvestment to downtowns and commercial districts through the program is more than $1.3 billion according to the state group.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.