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Brownwood mayor outlines retail boom, downtown redevelopment and $6 million tennis facility
Summary
At a Brownwood Area Chamber luncheon, Mayor Stephen Haynes highlighted 2025 sales tax and housing trends, listed recent and upcoming retail openings, described multiple downtown redevelopment projects and parking increases, and announced a $6 million tennis facility and NJCAA tournament hosting.
Mayor Stephen Haynes delivered the City of BrownwoodState of the City address at the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Jan. 23, summarizing 2025 economic performance and outlining planned development and tourism initiatives. A quorum of the City Council attended; the council did not deliberate or take any formal action.
Haynes framed the report around local economic indicators, noting sales tax performance and housing market conditions as the context for the citys growth strategy. He identified retail as a major driver of recent activity: five businesses opened in 2025 (7Brew, Ollie's, Panda Express, Pinkie's and Tropical Smoothie Café) and five additional national and regional retailers are scheduled to open in 2026 (Bath & Body Works, Five Below, James Avery, Ross and Ulta Beauty).
Downtown redevelopment featured prominently. The Mayor described planned and ongoing projects including the Dippel Museum of the Wild at 100 N. Center Avenue and redevelopment at 201 Center Avenue. He said 307 Fisk Avenue is being renovated for mixed-use retail and residential space (referred to as The Amethyst on Fisk) and that work is under way at 305 Center Avenue (The Fairway Club).
Haynes credited the Brownwood Municipal Development District incentive program with helping attract and support these private investments. He also highlighted a Howard Payne University corner project at Main and Austin avenues and announced a new $6 million tennis facility with eight tournament‑designed courts and a clubhouse as a near‑term capital project.
As part of Downtown Phase I, Haynes listed Founders Crossing (Art Park) adjacent to Texas Bank, the Silo Promenade and Courtyard, the Fisk Streetscape, and Baker Street streetscaping. He said parking improvements tied to these projects will raise available spaces from 98 to 157.
On tourism, the Mayor reported the city generated $3.1 million in economic impact from 57 hosted events in 2025. He announced that Brownwood has been selected to host the NJCAA Division III Womens Basketball Championship in 2026 and again in 2028.
Haynes closed by citing the success of the Feels Like Home Festival, awards received by the city, park improvements completed in 2025 and upcoming projects including Riverside Park Phase II and enhancements to the Bennie Houston Center. No motions or votes were taken during the luncheon.
