SUMMER: Discussion begins on efforts to revitalize downtown
OCTOBER: Civic Center and Visitors Center complete construction
APRIL: The city adds green space and landscaping to town square to encourage more outdoor activities
FEBRUARY: City partners with Texas Downtown Association on recommendations for town square, which include a trolley system, fountain and amphitheater
AUGUST: Hurricane Harvey flooding and subsequent reconstruction stalls progress of renovations
2012
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2023
MARCH 23: Phase 3 construction of town square renovations resumes. OCTOBER: Expected completion, ahead of Katy Rice Festival
SPRING: The city forms a committee with businesses and residents to determine possible changes. Public restrooms are a prominent request.
DECEMBER: Contract awarded to build the Civic Center and Visitors Center
MARCH: COVID-19 pandemic stalls phase 3 of town square renovations
APRIL 16-17: Tax Day floods stall progress of renovations
JUNE 10: Katy City Hall construction finalized
SOURCES: CITY OF KATY, LJA ENGINEERING/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Phase 3 includes landscaping, increased seating capacity and shad- ing, a removable stage for events, and murals around the water tower, per renderings from firm LJA engineering. In the 11 years since the project began, Hebert said the goal remains to serve businesses around the town square, attracting residents in a com- monplace, and encouraging visitors to stay and enjoy Katy’s heritage. Business owners near the square and along Hwy. 90—where the Katy rice silos are being converted to a beer garden, heritage museum and food truck destination called The Dryer— anticipate these changes will make the city a destination for travelers. “Connecting the [town square] to The Dryer would create such a unique opportunity for the city of Katy to really blossom and to be recognized as a tourism place,” said Hadi “Andrew” Nurcahya, developer of The Dryer. A new look The renovations began in 2015 with a $3.67 million integrated streetscape design—which called for massive thoroughfare changes, Hebert said. The asphalt roadways around the town square were replaced with con- crete pavement, curbs and gutter drainage facilities, he said. The street redesign incorporated on-street park- ing options, sidewalks and lighting. Subsequently, the city converted
the municipal, administrative build- ing with water tanks into the Civic Center—which has the capacity of over 100 people and can be rented for public use. Under the same 2018 con- tract, the city’s parks and recreation department annex became a Visitors Center for tourists. These buildings were completed in October 2019. After being stalled by the uncer- tainty of the pandemic, Hebert said there was a push for more outdoor activities—which prompted the city to add almost $210,000 of green space and landscaping to the square. “COVID-19 ... [also] showed us that we did not need to have a permanent stage and amphitheater as originally planned—as it would limit the flexibil- ity of the square,” Hebert said. The historic town square is within the 15-block radius zoned by the city as the Old Katy District, Ward A Council Member Janet Corte said. Its zoning designation means any new structures have architectural detail- ing regulations, masonry and wood requirements, height limitations, and color schemes that are in-line with the historical theme of the area. “City Planning and Zoning, a few years ago, went in and tightened up the building standards for this area to try and keep the historical value,” Corte said. Further visions for the town square include a trolley stop, where
people in town longer. ... If they fin- ish the park, that will also help the market.” Future land use One piece of the city’s 2040 com- prehensive plan, which was adopted March 27, is a future land use map of the city. The map provides a frame- work for developers, Corte said, but it doesn’t impact zoning ordinances. Per the future land use map, the town square is in the downtown mixed-use area. To the west of that— north of Hwy. 90 and anchored by Katy’s rice dryer structures—is the suggested KT entertainment district mixed-use area. Although the land is zoned for industrial use, the busi- nesses that reside there—including The Dryer, No Label Brewing Co. and the MKT Distillery—already serve an entertainment purpose, said Corte. Officials see this area’s potential for cultural land uses where permit- ted by zoning, such as restaurants, pubs, live music venues, theater, art galleries and museums. “I think [the city] is starting to realize pedestrian traffic and this more city lifestyle-type of gathering [place] is getting to be very popular,” Nurcahya said.
residents and visitors can ride to and from Katy Mills and the Boardwalk District, once completed, Corte said. Business owners have advocated for public restrooms, which will attach to the Visitors Center. Bids to construct these were awarded at a March 27 City Council meeting. The $303,858 proj- ect is separate from, but aligned with, the renovation project. Business benefits Bill Fanning opened the Katy Cross- ing Icehouse bar in February. He bought the building at the corner of Avenue C and Second Street in 2016, amid ongoing renovations to the area. “Over the last three years, I have really seen an effort from the city to bring [the square] alive [and] to bring in more businesses,” Fanning said. Before Katy Crossing Icehouse and Southern Dough Baking Co.—a bakery and restaurant that opened April 21— there was nothing keeping consumers in the area for long periods of time, Fanning said. “We are turning this little by little into a destination area,” Fanning said. Proctor, whose business opened in 1993, said the changes to downtown will benefit her business, but she hopes they will be completed quickly. “If [a trolley] brought people in from the motels and hotels and the mall, that would add business,” Proc- tor said. “The restroom will keep
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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KATY EDITION • APRIL 2023
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