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PROJECTS INITIATED Conroe has launched several projects and initiatives to enhance the city's downtown.
BUSINESS BOOM A number of new businesses have opened in recent years as the city of Conroe continues its downtown revitalization and redevelopment eorts. 1 202 Main 202 N. Main St. 2 Fass Brewing Co. 236 N. Main St. 3 Dragon Bowl C Noodle Bar 118 Simonton St. 4 Main Street Merchants 208 N. Main St. 5 The Ferm Meadery 225 Simonton St. 6 MoCo Food Hall Coming July 2022 109 Metcalf St.
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MAIN STREET COMMUNITY DESIGNATION Scope: provide resources and technical support to preserve and enhance Main Street Status: The city of Conroe unanimously approved the bylaws and the rst appointments to its Main Street Advisory Board at its Jan. 13 meeting. CONROE ARTS DISTRICT DESIGNATION Scope: harness resources to stimulate economic development in the district Status: Designated the Conroe Arts District at City Council’s May 26 meeting, the city is applying for a state designation as a cultural district.
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people coming in buying buildings wanting to put in these fun, new entertaining venues,” Robinson said in an interview. Robinson said the 2019 downtown plan was created to make recommen- dations for downtown revitalization. A group of residents helped form the downtown plan, which was voted on by residents. The plan cited a lack of critical mass of shops, restaurants and enter- tainment businesses in downtown. Since then, Janice Parish, owner of Brownlee Jewelers—which has been in downtown Conroe for over 90 years—said new businesses have lled in downtown. “Before all this revitalization started there were spaces that were boarded up and just in terrible repair. And then, of course, we did the revi- talization and made the buildings beautiful and welcoming, and now with the new businesses coming in it’s really made a di erence in having people come [to downtown],” Parish said in an interview. More recently, Alfandor said the Main Street Advisory Board was created by city employees and busi- ness owners downtown to aid in downtown revitalization through grants from the state while keeping the buildings’ historical ngerprint. The board was approved at council’s Jan. 13 meeting. Revitalization e orts From sidewalk rehabilita- tion and building facades to
said Carla Alfandor, senior director of the University of St. Thomas’ UST- MAX Center and member of Conroe’s Main Street Advisory Board, in an interview. Additionally, Conroe City Council unanimously voted May 26 to move forward with designating part of the city’s downtown as the Conroe Arts District and applying for a state des- ignation as a cultural district. The designation stretches from Madeley to Paci c streets and from Hicks to Cochran streets. The designation would allow the city to use resources to stimulate economic development in the arts, and potential uses include attracting artists to the city, preserving historic buildings and establishing tourism destinations. “The city of Conroe has an excep- tional group of performing artists that are well-known throughout the state of Texas,” Council Member Marsha Porter said at the May 25 workshop discussing the designation. “Down- town plans its entire schedule around the Crighton’s opening. This is a win- win situation for the city of Conroe.” Need for revitalization Robinson said changes to down- town started in the early 2000s when downtowns across the nation started to come alive again. “In short, there’s a renaissance going on in downtown Conroe, and it’s attracted investors. So without the investors, you wouldn’t have this [downtown]. You get these new
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visitors and residents a downtown to be proud of. “I know a lot of younger people that ... would go out in The Woodlands before [and] now [are] coming to Con- roe. It’s just got a hip vibe; it’s got a cool vibe,” Mayor Jody Czajkoski said. The downtown Conroe development plan, which was passed by City Coun- cil in 2019, set out to establish a vision of downtown and strengthen its role as a unique destination complemen- tary to surrounding areas, according to the plan. The plan sets out recom- mendations for city o cials in regard to downtown projects, and includes issues found downtown and what course of action is recommended. In addition to the revitalization plan, the Texas Historical Commission gave Conroe its Main Street Commu- nity designation Oct. 29, which pro- vides resources, such as state grants, and technical support, to towns and cities looking to preserve their main streets and allows an advisory board of local o cials and business owners to aid and promote projects in down- town Conroe, Downtown Manager Frank Robinson said. However, no funding grants have been used by the board yet. “I’ve seen a cohesiveness amongst the downtown merchants and busi- nesspeople when it comes to speci c activities … and all of the merchants and businesspeople coming together to create really exciting and meaning- ful experiences for the local residents,”
Scope: city bought the former Walter P. Jett Center with plans for renovations for o ces, performing arts areas and visual arts areas Status: Use of the building will begin this summer, and renovation plans are to be presented to council in the summer. Investment: $4.2 million in city funds ENHANCE FLOOD PLAIN AND GREEN SPACE Scope: grade ood plain for FEMA-accepted slope and drainage, coordinate landscaping with Texas Department of Transportation Status: The city has begun landscaping and grading upgrades. Investment: approximately $1.4 million
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Scope: putting power lines and dry and wet utilities underground Status: Bids are expected to be out in the summer. METCALF STREET Scope: adding residential and retail development; a parking garage on Owen Theatre parking lot
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Status: Bids are in negotiations for work on the parking lot, but residential and retail timelines are unknown. SOURCES: CONROE CITY ENGINEER TOMMY WOOLLEY, DOWNTOWN MANAGER FRANK ROBINSON COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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