Downtown reimagined From the cover
Celina Downtown Center and garage
The overview
Nearly 400 new parking spots are now open in Celina’s downtown, a move officials said will ease congestion and support the area’s growing number of businesses. The 25,202-square-foot parking garage, which opened to the public in mid-October, is part of a larger $96 million effort to redevelop downtown, Mayor Ryan Tubbs said. The project also includes adding a new government center, called the Downtown Center, and expanded public library. Together, the aim of the redevelopment is to help create a more walkable district to accommodate Celina’s growing number of residents and visitors. In 2019, the city received resident feedback on what they’d like to see downtown, Tubbs said. “They wanted all city services to stay downtown,” Tubbs said. “Part of that is being able to provide parking for our city services and our rapid population and business growth.” Public parking in the new garage is available on the first, second and third floors on a first-
come, first-served basis. Parking for people with disabilities is available, and the fourth floor is reserved for contractor parking and staging until construction on the Downtown Center is completed. The garage also includes an off-site library book drop. The downtown redevelopment project is slated for completion in December 2026, according to Celina’s capital improvement projects dashboard. Crews broke ground on the parking garage and government center in October 2024. The redevelopment project has increased in price over the years because of added costs, such as technological infrastructure and rejected cost- saving measures by city officials, which would have changed the design of the facilities. City Council approved the increased price tag in February 2025. It is being paid for through a variety of sources, including bond funds, park fees and surplus city revenue, said Joe Monaco, Celina’s director of marketing and communications.
Parking garage
Government center
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Total parking spots: nearly 400 Total cost for garage: $19.3M
Total library space: 20K square feet Government center total cost: $59M
SOURCE: CITY OF CELINA/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The details
The center will also include: • Rooftop community space • Community meeting rooms • Offices for city departments
The project includes the addition of the new Downtown Center at a cost of about $59 million. The center will feature five floors, two of which will be reserved for the city’s new 20,000-square- foot public library. This will increase the square footage for the library tenfold. The library is set to include separate adult, teen and children’s sections with interactive play areas for children.
Celina Downtown Center funding
2023 bond funds: $3.15M Capital acquisition: $5M Park fees: $4M 2025 bond funds: $12.68M 2024 bond funds: $71.17M
Total $96M
Tubbs said city leaders are hoping downtown will become more walkable as it continues to be redeveloped.
SOURCE: CITY OF CELINA/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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