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Main Street credits CDC investment for downtown revival, previews 'Courthouse Theater' rebrand
Summary
Andrew Jones told the MCDC board that CDC investments—including roughly $8.7 million to renovate the Impact performing arts center—helped catalyze downtown investment, citing a 120% sales tax increase since 2016 and 4.8 million annual visits to the district; Impact will be rebranded 'Courthouse Theater' with a projected November 2026 wrap.
Andrew Jones, Cultural District Director for McKinney Main Street, walked the board through downtown revitalization milestones and upcoming programming. He credited MCDC investment—noting about $8.7 million contributed to rehabilitate the former Impact venue into a performing arts center—as a catalyst for private investment, and said downtown has seen strong visitation and retail growth since 2016.
"You know, since, 2016, we saw a 120% increase in our sales tax," Jones said, and recited district metrics including about $47 million in cumulative CBC investments, roughly 4.8 million visits last year, and more than 200 small businesses downtown. He showed renovation work at the Impact (restroom upgrades, historic paint restoration, balcony and technology upgrades), described reuse elements such as uncovering the judge’s bench to serve as a bar area, and said the venue will be rebranded as the Courthouse Theater with a hoped‑for completion by November 2026.
Jones also described coordinated downtown projects the CDC supports—Civic Hall Plaza, water tower restoration, and cultural venues like the Collin County History Museum and Craig Center for the Arts—and highlighted seasonal events Main Street manages or supports, including Oktoberfest, Arts in Bloom, and holiday programming.
Board members praised Main Street leadership and noted the downtown fire suppression planning effort (riser rooms and coordinated systems) as an important parallel infrastructure project.
