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Council hears Main Street pilot proposal as downtown small-business owners urge support
Summary
Small-business owners praised the Main Street pilot concept and city staff outlined a Better Block-led 120-day planning and a kickoff event this fall; staff said the pilot will test temporary placemaking measures and gather community input before recommending permanent work.
Small-business owners in public comment and city staff on May 29 pressed the City Council to support pilot placemaking work on Main Street as part of a broader revitalization push for the Heritage District.
Anna Martinez, who said she is opening a Pilates studio at 116 W. Irving Blvd., told the council she appreciates the Main Street pilot program and city sign-grant support, and urged better publicity for downtown events. “Programs like the facade grants, the murals, the Main Street pilot, they can spark even more involvement from the community,” Martinez said. Deborah Howard, owner of Yoga So Good on Main Street, echoed Martinez and said the pilot could help make downtown a destination.
Redevelopment coordinator Megan Gordon described a proposed pilot with Better Block, a Dallas nonprofit recommended by staff after an RFP, to run a 120-day, community-driven process (30 days community engagement; design; fabrication; kickoff weekend in October) and a series of activations through year-end. Staff said the pilot will build temporary, low-cost interventions — pop-up seating, wayfinding, shade and programming such as fitness classes — to test ideas and collect data before making permanent infrastructure decisions.
Gordon said the pilot’s base cost is about $109,000 for a scaled kickoff and about $192,600 for a longer three-month activation period; staff said some tasks (trash collection, basic maintenance) might be provided in-kind by departments to lower the city outlay. She said the pilot’s goals are to raise awareness of the Heritage District, help local businesses and provide evidence-based recommendations for permanent improvements.
Council members discussed community outreach and parking concerns: several members said communication with residents and coordination with existing events at Heritage Park will be important if the pilot is to drive sustained business traffic rather than isolated weekend crowds. Council directed staff to return the contract for consideration on June 12 if the council wishes to proceed with Better Block as the vendor.
