Downtown Mesquite Development Program

In 2016, Mesquite City Council declared downtown a priority. In turn, the Economic Development Department was charged with engaging the community, and in particular, downtowners, in a plan to get serious about downtown.

At the same time, a new spirit was growing, and people downtown were ready to get to work to generate a lasting way to create a vibrant downtown.

• Hiring of Mesquite’s first Downtown Development manager
• Creation of a downtown advisory board
• Creation of four Main Street-style working committees
• Façade renderings for various properties
• Numerous downtown stakeholder meetings to design a new infrastructure and streetscape plan for the whole of downtown
• A downtown presence on three social media platforms
• Partnering on a successful Entrepreneurs Day small business event
• Downtown’s first-ever pop-up shop
• Downtown clean-up day
• Very successful Small Business Saturday
• Being selected for Texas Main Street designation

• Downtown Mesquite achieved prestigious National Accreditation by the Texas Main Street and National Main Street programs in recognition of exceeding established standards of operation
• Worked with City of Mesquite Economic Development Department to create "Roadmap to Resources" program to assist residents and business owners impacted by COVID-19.
• Fostered downtown's first two facade grant projects: rehabilitation of the facade of Metzger Awards at 105 W. Main St., and new awnings and brick cleaning at the Boyce Building at 202 W. Davis St.
• Announcement that Alejandro's at Front Street Station, a "Southwestern Grill" restaurant, will open at 117 W. Main St. The historic building, constructed in the early 1930s, served as Holley Brothers Grocery for years.
• Two additional awards were added to the downtown trophy case when the Front Street Station groundbreaking event won Texas Downtown Association's Best Traditional Promotional Event award as well as the People's Choice award in the same category.
• Continuation of the construction of Front Street Station, a major infrastructure project to bring updated infrastructure, additional parking, a pocket park walkway and other features to the historic heart of the community.
• New business arrivals included MVP Nutrition and Energy, the chiropractic office of Dr. Mike Anderson, the purchase of the former Paperbacks Plus, now The Book Co., and others.
• Approval of a facade improvement grant for Bink Suites (formerly Barbers Ink) at 111 W. Main St.
• Private reinvestment in Downtown Mesquite in terms of property rehabilitation, sales and other improvements grew to more than $850,000.
• Volunteers contributed more than $14,000 worth of time to the downtown revitalization program.

• Completion of the rehabilitation of Heritage Plaza at 111 S. Broad St. This building will house the office of Downtown Mesquite, The Mesquite Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce.
• Completion of the Carroll Place facade rehabilitation project, the largest such project to date in the downtown area.
• Downtown Mesquite was awarded National Accreditation by the Texas and National Main Street programs for the third year in a row in recognition of quality performance.
• Adoption of a new mural policy, which will result in the addition of murals in the core downtown area.
• Installation of a multi-phase outdoor room at 113 W. Main. This area will feature temporary pallet furniture, games, and public art.
• Opening of the second season of the Downtown Mesquite Farmers Market.
• Opening of the new restaurant Alejandro's at Front Street Station

• Held the Solar Rodeo event
• Installed new public art
• Expanded the incentive program
• Implemented the Traffic Calming Program
• Introduced a new overlay
• Achieved a National Accreditation for the 5th year in a row
• Expanded our staff
• Saw continued growth the Farmers Market
• Introduced a new business resources plan
• Had new businesses open in our district
• Had an increased demand for design services

In 2017, a group of downtown stakeholders was put together to lead the charge to change downtown. These people – shop owners, pastors, property owners, new folks, long-time residents and others – developed a community-within-a-community and came together to initiate a sequence of accomplishments, including:

• A Texas Downtown Association assessment
• An in-depth market analysis and recommended scope of work by Community Development Strategies (CDS)
  • As a result of these studies, the following action occurred:
  • City Council approval to create Mesquite’s first-ever Downtown Development Manager position within the economic development department
  • The City of Mesquite engaged with the consulting firm of Kimley-Horn to develop plans on how to address downtown’s aged infrastructure, which could not serve the needs of a growing downtown

• Beginning of Main Street Program training and committees
• Hosting a visit by Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott
• Completion of the downtown infrastructure and streetscape plan
• Hiring of a contractor to begin the $5.5 million first phase of infrastructure plan
• Groundbreaking for the Front Street Station project in August
• Beginning of Front Street Station construction
• Creation of a façade grant program that provides grants of 50% of façade project costs up to $20,000
• Approval of two facade grant projects
• Partnering with Mesquite Business Retention and Expansion Partnership (BRE) on innovative educational programming for entrepreneurs, resulting in nationwide attention
• Events such as Small Business Saturday, Christmas on the Square and Cocoa and Carols
• Creation of the "Paint the U in Horseshoe" project that will result in a unique downtown public art installation
• Earning two Texas Downtown Association President's Awards: Best Economic Game Changer and Spirit of Downtown
• Investment of an estimated $35,000 worth of volunteer time in the downtown program

• Downtown Mesquite was awarded National Accreditation by the Texas and National Main Street programs for the second year in a row in recognition of quality performance.
• Facade improvement grants were awarded to owners of Carroll Place, 215 and 217 W. Main St., for rehabilitation of both sides of the property.
• Continuing rehabilitation of 117 W. Main St., which will be the home of Alejandro's @ Front Street Station in 2022.
• Rehabilitation of the Heritage Plaza building at 111 S. Broad to house the Downtown Development office as well as the Mesquite Convention and Visitors Bureau. A visitors center will also be part of the facility.
• Completion and opening of the $5.5 million Front Street Station project, which provides major infrastructure improvements as well as a performance pavilion, event area and additional parking.
• Eight large murals added to Front Street Station, marking the first downtown public art installations in recent memory.
• Opening of the Downtown Mesquite Farmers Market, a new weekly market that features produce, artisan goods, music and more.
• Completion of the Bink Suites property rehabilitation project.
• Multiple key property sales, paving the way for 2022 development.
• Holiday season events including Small Business Saturday, Christmas on the Square and Carols and Cocoa.
• Downtown Mesquite's Small Business Saturday video campaign, conducted in partnership with MISD videography classes, was awarded the Best Digital Promotion in Texas Award for communities with populations of 50,000 or more by the Texas Downtown Association.
• Provided design services to 17 property and business owners.
• First phase of grounds improvements to Harvest Church begun.
• LED overhead illumination added to McCullough Plaza.
• Key property sales

• Activation of Outdoor Room
  
• Growth of Farmers Market
• More facade projects and design assistance
• Traffic Calming
• The Downtown Overlay process started
• Increasing Diversity
• Two more public art installations
• Planters installed in several areas
• The Downtown Office moved into the Heritage Plaza Building
• Several major property sales
• More than $12 million in reinvestment
• Won the Downtown Resiliency Award