Four downtown Tyler projects were named the best in Texas at the Texas Downtown Association’s President’s Awards Gala held at the Rose Garden Thursday.
The City of Tyler won one of the evening’s most prestigious honors, Best Public Partner, in recognition of its commitment to downtown revitalization. Accomplishments due to Tyler 21 such as the recruitment of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra to downtown, creation of a TIRZ district, establishment of a Main Street Department and the opening of Gallery Main Street were among the reasons for the win.
“We are so honored to be selected for this award,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “During the Tyler 21 planning process, the citizens of Tyler said in a loud and clear way that revitalizing downtown was a priority. I think this award indicates that we heard that message and are aggressively pursuing the goal of a vibrant downtown that is an East Texas destination point.”
Other Tyler winners were Discovery Science Place, which won top honors as Best Downtown Business due to the facility’s excellence, longevity and role in downtown revitalization.
“A Tour of the 1859 Goodman LeGrand House and Museum,” a video produced by the City of Tyler communications department won the award for Best Marketing Project. The video, which details the history of the home and its inhabitants, was cited for excellence in production and information.
The Moore Grocery Lofts, a housing development in a National Register-listed building, was honored as the Best Adaptive Reuse Project in Texas. Adaptive reuse is the adaptation of older buildings to accommodate new uses while still retaining the outstanding historical qualities of the structures.
The awards crown a week in which downtown development professionals, volunteers, city staff and others gathered in Tyler for the annual Texas Downtown Revitalization Conference, the state’s only conference centered on downtown revitalization.
The conference’s theme, “Tools for Downtown Development,” highlighted educational sessions in subjects ranging from historic preservation practices, incentives for property development, program management and more.
“These awards are confirmation of the quality of work our partners and volunteers contribute every day toward the development of downtown,” said Main Street Director Beverly Abell. “We are so proud of our winning projects and businesses such as Discovery Science Place, Moore Grocery Lofts and others.
Other projects honored include:
• Fancy That! From Brenham for Best Commercial Interior
• Brazos Valley Decorative Center from Bryan for Best Renovation/Rehabilitation
• International and Great Northern Passenger Depot from Rockdale for Best Restoration
• 1407 Main/Third Rail Lofts from Dallas for Best New Construction
• Discovery Green from Houston for Best Public Improvement
• Hot Nights, Cool Tunes Summer Concert Series from Brenham for Best Promotional Event
• Martin Drug Company from San Juan (Special Recognition)
• Garza Café from San Juan (Special Recognition)
• Howard Dudley from Cleburne for Downtowner of the Year, which was won by Tyler’s Joey Seeber last year.
Next year’s conference will be held in El Paso, Texas.