Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Local Bloggers?
I have been searching blogger.com for local bloggers. It has been long and frustrating, but I have learned that Intel's new generation of Chips is going to be called "Conroe". That is freakin scary.
Here is one local blog, seems like he is an attorney in the local system. I fear the law here, don't ask why and I AM INNOCENT.
Matthew's Foray into Blogging
Here is one local blog, seems like he is an attorney in the local system. I fear the law here, don't ask why and I AM INNOCENT.
Matthew's Foray into Blogging
Monday, December 05, 2005
Conroe the Music Capital of Texas?
See the story here, or read it here:
"This isn't about your typical marketing projects, like events and flyers," Brooks said. "It's much more about real estate development than marketing."
Brooks presented what he termed "the first draft" of his 113-page report Wednesday at a special meeting of the City Council. Various civic leaders packed the council chambers at City Hall to hear his hour-long presentation.
Attracting out-of-towners won't work until the city finds methods to attract its "primary" market of the approximately 500 people who work downtown, as well as local residents, he said.
"If you can't get people who live here to spend time and money downtown, how can you expect anyone from out-of-town to do that?" Brooks said. "This is about community."
Three delicatessens - all open for breakfast and lunch - two coffee shops, five additional ethnic restaurants, a bakery and a confectionary shop are "the minimum" requirements for a dining district, he said. The area should include three pubs with live entertainment every evening, a sports bar, a wine shop and one or two dance clubs.
According to Brooks' report, Conroe needs to develop a "lifestyle center" that doesn't necessarily revolve around retail, but "is driven by entertainment, events and an active nightlife in an intimate, beautifully landscaped setting."
Ambiance, he told the council, is the "No. 1 priority" in transforming downtown into a tourism destination.
To accomplish all that, Brooks recommends the city focus on a nine-square-block area bounded by Davis, Pacific, Collins and Frazier streets. Particular emphasis will be placed on Main Street from Davis to Collins and on Simonton from North Pacific to North Thompson.
The implementation of gateways, plaza areas and streetscapes along those routes is estimated at $2.4 million. This "core" downtown area would feature extended sidewalks for outdoor dining as well as landscaped buffers between sidewalks and traffic lanes. Brooks' study suggests making a stretch of Main Street between Simonton and Collins pedestrian only.
"You're creating a life and vibrancy to a place people are drawn to," he said. "The most successful towns in America all have well-designed plazas or gathering areas."
The 15 retail stores in the core area would reflect the dominant theme of arts and entertainment, Brooks said. That includes six galleries with "artists in action," a memorabilia shop, a bookstore (new), two stores that focus on home furnishings and accents and specialty shops like a day spa, and antique shops that are not simply second-hand stores.
Recommendations:
-- Hire Downtown Development Director -- $90,000 base salary ($120,000 including taxes and benefits)
-- Develop brand identity, guidelines, standards and adopt downtown zoning, architectural design standards, gateways, façade improvements and signage for downtown Conroe -- $100,000 for professional services
-- Implement development of gateways, plaza area, streetscapes and additional parking (including design, engineering and development, including public art and related amenities -- $2.4 million
-- Develop Heritage Place Park's "amphitheater" into a true amphitheater -- $2 million ($1.25 million in development costs and $750,000 for lighting, sound, dressing rooms, scaffoldings, etc.)
-- Develop an expanded parking lot on Main Street between Collins and Pacific streets -- $120,000 for property purchases
-- Convert the Elections Central office into a "black box" theatre and events facility -- $2.5 million
-- Prepare a feasibility study for an 800-seat performing arts center on the site of the Liberty Theater -- $85,000 (for study), $12-$15 million for estimated initial construction costs
-- Expansion and improvements to the Crighton Theater -- $50,000 for acquisition of building next door, $500,000 for technology upgrades to theater
-- Develop an upscale RV park within walking distance of the downtown core area, perhaps just east of the railroad tracks -- $2.5 million
-- Develop four visitor information kiosks (city of Conroe working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau) -- $15,000
-- City of Conroe needs to provide direct supplemental funding for new arts and entertainment initiatives -- $63,000 annually
Revitalization of downtown Conroe will succeed only if a sufficient "critical mass" of businesses can be recruited into that area, according to the consultant hired to assess the city's development efforts.
Roger Brooks, president of Washington-based Destination Development Inc., also recommended Conroe establish a brand identity as the "Music Capital of Texas" in order to set apart its proposed arts and entertainment district. However, the district - which carries an estimated price tag of $25 million - won't become a major drawing card for local residents and tourists alike until a significant number of restaurants, entertainment venues and retail stores are positioned in a nine-block area he labeled as the "Conroe Commons.""This isn't about your typical marketing projects, like events and flyers," Brooks said. "It's much more about real estate development than marketing."
Brooks presented what he termed "the first draft" of his 113-page report Wednesday at a special meeting of the City Council. Various civic leaders packed the council chambers at City Hall to hear his hour-long presentation.
Attracting out-of-towners won't work until the city finds methods to attract its "primary" market of the approximately 500 people who work downtown, as well as local residents, he said.
"If you can't get people who live here to spend time and money downtown, how can you expect anyone from out-of-town to do that?" Brooks said. "This is about community."
Three delicatessens - all open for breakfast and lunch - two coffee shops, five additional ethnic restaurants, a bakery and a confectionary shop are "the minimum" requirements for a dining district, he said. The area should include three pubs with live entertainment every evening, a sports bar, a wine shop and one or two dance clubs.
According to Brooks' report, Conroe needs to develop a "lifestyle center" that doesn't necessarily revolve around retail, but "is driven by entertainment, events and an active nightlife in an intimate, beautifully landscaped setting."
Ambiance, he told the council, is the "No. 1 priority" in transforming downtown into a tourism destination.
To accomplish all that, Brooks recommends the city focus on a nine-square-block area bounded by Davis, Pacific, Collins and Frazier streets. Particular emphasis will be placed on Main Street from Davis to Collins and on Simonton from North Pacific to North Thompson.
The implementation of gateways, plaza areas and streetscapes along those routes is estimated at $2.4 million. This "core" downtown area would feature extended sidewalks for outdoor dining as well as landscaped buffers between sidewalks and traffic lanes. Brooks' study suggests making a stretch of Main Street between Simonton and Collins pedestrian only.
"You're creating a life and vibrancy to a place people are drawn to," he said. "The most successful towns in America all have well-designed plazas or gathering areas."
The 15 retail stores in the core area would reflect the dominant theme of arts and entertainment, Brooks said. That includes six galleries with "artists in action," a memorabilia shop, a bookstore (new), two stores that focus on home furnishings and accents and specialty shops like a day spa, and antique shops that are not simply second-hand stores.
Recommendations:
-- Hire Downtown Development Director -- $90,000 base salary ($120,000 including taxes and benefits)
-- Develop brand identity, guidelines, standards and adopt downtown zoning, architectural design standards, gateways, façade improvements and signage for downtown Conroe -- $100,000 for professional services
-- Implement development of gateways, plaza area, streetscapes and additional parking (including design, engineering and development, including public art and related amenities -- $2.4 million
-- Develop Heritage Place Park's "amphitheater" into a true amphitheater -- $2 million ($1.25 million in development costs and $750,000 for lighting, sound, dressing rooms, scaffoldings, etc.)
-- Develop an expanded parking lot on Main Street between Collins and Pacific streets -- $120,000 for property purchases
-- Convert the Elections Central office into a "black box" theatre and events facility -- $2.5 million
-- Prepare a feasibility study for an 800-seat performing arts center on the site of the Liberty Theater -- $85,000 (for study), $12-$15 million for estimated initial construction costs
-- Expansion and improvements to the Crighton Theater -- $50,000 for acquisition of building next door, $500,000 for technology upgrades to theater
-- Develop an upscale RV park within walking distance of the downtown core area, perhaps just east of the railroad tracks -- $2.5 million
-- Develop four visitor information kiosks (city of Conroe working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau) -- $15,000
-- City of Conroe needs to provide direct supplemental funding for new arts and entertainment initiatives -- $63,000 annually
