City staff updates downtown capital projects and EDC presents brand building plan

Staff briefed the board on downtown capital projects and timelines: parklet full design will go to city council in October, the US-80 lighting package is ready to bid, South Alley fencing goes to council on the 15th, and the Carnegie Library window work is entering the next grant phase. Several private property owners are preparing façade and interior remodels to animate an adjacent downtown block.

Carlton, presenting for the Terrell EDC, walked through updated drawings for a brand building with co-working space, a podcast/social studio and retail on the first floor; the design depends on building a Catherine Street parklet to make the retail concept viable. "This design that you see does not work if you don't build the parklet," Carlton said, urging coordination between board approvals and structural reviews. Staff will bring front-end documents and parklet design to council for approval.