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Council approves $15,000 for downtown alley design work, cites larger capital estimates
Summary
Waxahachie council approved a $15,000 TERS-funded professional-services request to design and engineer a pilot downtown alley; advocates said full alley build costs could be significantly higher and emphasized the need for a successful pilot.
The Waxahachie City Council voted Jan. 12 to authorize $15,000 from the TERS fund for professional services to design and engineer a pilot downtown alleyway revitalization project. The motion was presented as funding for design work only; full construction costs will be determined during the engineering and bidding stage.
Camaro Martinez, the city’s parks and leisure executive director, said the alley project grew out of the downtown master plan and a steering committee that evaluated seven candidate alleys and program options. The committee recommended a pilot alley — an asphalt overlay with enhanced streetscape elements such as signage, planters, benches, lighting and trash enclosures — with detailed design to follow.
Advocates from the downtown organizations stressed the importance of a well‑executed pilot to set a model for future alleys. Shane Henry, who said he serves with WPI and the downtown merchants association, told council the alley project had unanimous support from downtown stakeholders and described it as a way to activate downtown, increase foot traffic and provide amenity space for merchants and visitors. "If this first one doesn't work, this is the whole idea from the very first meeting," he said, arguing for professional design and a strong first example.
Council members asked whether property owners along the selected alley had been consulted and whether vehicle access, dumpsters and traffic could be managed; staff said five property owners had given preliminary confirmation and that edge treatments (bollards, dumpster relocation and a possible enclosure) were among the design considerations. Staff also noted the renderings included an AI‑generated example to illustrate possibilities, not a final design.
The council motion authorized staff to spend $15,000 for professional services and to execute necessary documents; the motion carried. Council members and WPI representatives said that after design and engineering are complete, council will have options to phase or scale construction to match available funds.
