The transformation and revitalization of downtown Lufkin was an
ongoing story throughout 2011.
Because of new businesses moving into downtown and events such
as Lufkin’s Bistro, hosted by the Lufkin Convention and Visitors
Bureau, and the Main Street Lufkin Lighted Christmas Parade, Main
Street Lufkin Director Barbara Thompson said downtown is becoming a
destination for people to gather, business and shopping.
“There have been a lot of new businesses that have moved to
downtown and it’s changing peoples attitudes. Whenever a business
moves in downtown, it also brings in its own clientele. What we are
getting now — I can’t say that it’s a completely younger set — it’s
a variety of people,” Thompson said. “If you look at Lesa’s Bridal
and Formal Wear, they have a variety of people. They have people
from the very young set to the older, because they have to get
dresses and tuxedos for everyone involved in the wedding. In the
morning if you go to Standpipe Coffee House, it’s like one of those
places in Austin where people just hang out. People are down there
with their computers because downtown is Wi-Fi ready, reading their
books or drinking their coffee. We have so many venues downtown. We
also have so many places to rent space for your party or
event.”
In its effort to revitalize downtown, the city is continuing
plans to renovate the historic Pines Theater.
On Dec. 20, the Lufkin City Council awarded a $1.13 million bid
to Timberline Constructors Inc., for interior renovations and a
$37,987 bid to Precision Painting for painting and coating for the
theater, which was built around 1925 and added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The city purchased the Pines Theater, located at 113 S. First
St., in July 2007 and has been working on renovations since
December 2008.
Thompson said the support of city leaders as well as business
leaders have been instrumental in the downtown transformation
effort and the Main Street program.
“None of this would happen without the city manager, assistant
city manager and the council,” she said.
“They have been very supportive in me doing this, and they trust
what I’m doing. There’s nothing that I do without consulting them
first. We all work together for the betterment of downtown.”
In addition to the transformation of downtown, construction
crews also continue work a planned $6.8 million construction and
expansion project at the Pitser Garrison Civic Center in
Lufkin.
The expansion project doubles the size of the facility by adding
a shelter section to the south side of the existing civic center,
with an enlarged lobby and a large conference room, according to an
earlier Lufkin Daily News story.
Upon completion, the new 32,000- to 35,000-square-foot facility
would be capable of hosting 300 to 350 evacuees for more than a
week as a long-term shelter and 600 to 700 evacuees for three days
to a week as a short-term shelter.
The shelter facility will come equipped with a full-sized
kitchen, showers and laundry facilities.
Building construction was expected to take about 14 months with
an estimated completion date of late fall of 2012.
The project is funded by the Texas Department of Rural Affairs
with funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development through the Development Block Disaster Assistance Grant
Program.
Steve Knight’s email address is
sknight@lufkindailynews.com.
© 2011 The Lufkin Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Processing your request, Please wait....