Conroe visits Elgin to learn about downtown
Front row, left to right: Frank Robinson, Conroe downtown director, and wife Lisa; Monica Nava, downtown Elgin business owner (front); Raymond McDonald, Conroe mayor pro-tem; Danielle Scheiner, executive director of Conroe's economic development department; Conroe city manager Paul Virgadamo. Back row: Elgin city manager Thomas Mattis; Sue Brasher, Elgin mayor pro-tem (back); Tina Miscoe; Larry Foerster, chair of the Montgomery County Historical Commission; Rodney Pool, president of the Conroe Downtown Area Association and Conroe business owner; Kaley Frye, Elgin Main Street manager; Sarah O'Brien of Collaborative Development Collective, who is assisting Conroe with its application. Photo courtesy of Amy Miller
The visiting group from Conroe listens to a presentation from Amy Miller, Elgin community development director. Photos courtesy of Sarah O'Brien
The group visits Elgin's City Hall.
The group takes a walking tour of downtown Elgin.
The group finishes their tour with lunch at Firewild.
Conroe city leaders visited Elgin on Monday, July 26 to talk with city officials and downtown leaders in order to learn about how the program works, and about the benefits gained from and commitments needed for downtown revitalization. The City of Conroe is in the process of applying for recertification to be a Texas Main Street Community through the Texas Historical Commission. Conroe was certified in 2006 but left the program shortly after. The group met at the Elgin Public Library for a presentation about downtown development, then took a guided walking tour of the downtown historical district.
Elgin was selected as a Texas Main Street City in 1990 and has actively participated in the program since then, with over $26 million in reinvestment downtown. The district has over 100 locally-owned businesses and is 90 percent occupied. The delegation from Conroe was interested in a number of things Elgin has implemented, including the downtown zoning overlay, which allows a variety of uses and mixed-use commercial residential uses.
The Downtown Zoning Overlay was approved by the Elgin City Council in October 2015. The first property owner to utilize it was Allan Tolbert at 101 North Main Street, where he implemented a rear apartment on the first floor with overall commercial space and apartments on the second floor. The project was so successful that Tolbert continued investing and renovating properties in downtown for several years. Other property owners saw the potential for diversified rental income or owner occupied opportunities and invested as well.
The zoning overlay was recognized as Best Economic Game Changer by the Texas Downtown Association (TDA) in 2017. In 2016, the Elgin Economic Development Corporation (EDC) implemented a mega-grant program that provided $25,000 reimbursement per property if more than $100,000 was invested in the renovation. The EDC provides marketing support and partners with the Main Street program and Chamber to provide business training.
The Elgin EDC was named 2017 Best Downtown Partner by TDA. Tolbert was recognized as the Downtowner of the Year by the Texas Downtown Association in 2019. Elgin is home to award-winning businesses as well: the Owl Wine Bar and Home Goods store was named Best Downtown Business by TDA in 2014, Body and Shine Yoga Studio was a finalist for Best Downtown Business in 2018, and Chemn Café was recognized in 2019 with the Red Backpack grant and most recently the Texas Governor’s Commission for Women selected them for the Central Texas Women Owned Small Business Pitch Competition to receive the Beacon State Fund Grant.
“The Main Street program is a grassroots-led economic development in the context of historic preservation program that requires partnerships, patience and persistence to be successful," said Amy Miller, Elgin community development director. "In Elgin, we have great community partners, strong support from the city council, dedicated volunteers, and excellent businesses and property owners.”