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Downtown Garland revitalization program proposes $150,000 cap and 25% exterior‑work requirement
Summary
City staff recommended capping façade‑grant reimbursements at $150,000 per project and requiring at least 25% of reimbursed funds be spent on exterior work; the board was asked to send the changes to city council and to amend Resolution No. 10468 to let some non‑tax‑producing properties apply for exterior improvements.
Nancy Tennell, Downtown Development Manager, told the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District No.1 board that the revitalization (façade) program has been amended in prior years and now the review committee is recommending several policy refinements.
"The committee is recommending that we put a maximum cap on the reimbursement request of a $150,000," Tennell said, explaining the cap is intended to allow multiple projects across the year instead of a single large applicant exhausting the fund. She said the program has executed more than $1,000,000 across 14 projects over the first six years, and that applicant matches mean the program has driven more than $2,500,000 in downtown reinvestment. Tennell noted 2025 was the program's largest year with "over $526,000 worth of reimbursements distributed."
Tennell said the committee also wants projects to allocate at least 25% of reimbursed dollars to visible exterior improvements so the public sees the benefit: "They want to ensure that the work will be visible to the public and something that will really change the district." She explained non‑tax‑producing properties such as churches and nonprofits would be eligible for exterior façade funding if the board and council approve a change to Resolution No. 10468: "This is the only item that they're looking that would require them to revise resolution number 10468."
Board members pressed on equity and mechanics. One member suggested a sliding or proportional cap keyed to square footage to avoid favoring larger projects; Tennell said staff would discuss that option with the review committee. Tennell also described fund management rules: the TIF balance does not automatically roll over, but funds can be requested to roll over when a use is known. She cited example project amounts (e.g., Jimmy Wallace ~$78,000; Top Scoop and Boba ~$18,000) to show most projects fall well below the proposed cap.
Next steps: the review committee's recommendations will be forwarded to city council this summer for consideration; the board did not take a final vote on the policy at this meeting.
