Ask The Mayor

Q. - Are there any future plans to make the downtown area into an arts district with more apartment lofts, art galleries, movie theaters, shopping, wine tasting and restaurants?

 

I think that our town could offer a lot of potential to these types of business and bring back life to our downtown area for the younger and older generation.

 

Has anyone discussed future plans for this?

 

I have seen several small towns like Terrell change to an Art district to bring in people traveling through and revenue to small business owners. Hot Springs, AR revived their run down town by doing this and it worked.

Answer - A facility locator looking for a site in Terrell recently remarked how unusually vital our downtown area is. Those of us who have lived here for some time tend not to realize how much improved our downtown district has become over the last few years. We are working to make it even better.

Many of the things you mention are already in place.

 

• Some individual stores host wine tasting from time to time, especially Opera House Gifts & Décor.
  
• There are art displays and exhibitions in the downtown area, including a rotating gallery in the Marketing Center on Moore Avenue.
  Pritchett's Jewelry often has art pieces on display too.
  
• Marie Risinger's Country Store hosts trunk shows of the newest fashions nearly every month.
  
• The IRIS Theater shows classic movies on the second and fourth Friday of the month. The movies are free - popcorn and soft drinks are offered on a donation basis. Books & Crannies, in that same location, offers book clubs and reading groups as well ceramic art pieces for sale.
  
• The downtown Halloween event brings in a huge crowd, mostly children in costume trick or treating with their parents. You should make a point to check that out.
  
• There are currently 6 loft apartments in downtown with plans underway for 4 more in existing buildings. The Marketing Staff is encouraging developers looking at downtown properties to consider mixed use (residential, retail, commercial) development. Loft living is a part of the mixed use concept.

The Mayor and Council have approved the repaving of the street behind the south row of buildings on Moore Avenue. This project includes provisions for additional parking. With that improvement in place we can look forward to more street events on a regular basis.

 

The City adopted new zoning changes last summer that will help us protect the character of the downtown area. These changes will also help extend the downtown concepts to the areas surrounding the central downtown area.

 

You have some great ideas and I would encourage you to contact Lynette Nadeau at the City of Terrell Marketing Department to discuss other ideas you might have.

 

It sounds like you would be a welcome asset to the downtown association, an association of business owners and citizens who work to enhance the central part of Terrell.

 

Sincerely,

 

Hal Richards, Mayor