A quick trip through downtown and it won’t take long for you to come across a construction crew working hard rehabbing one of Seguin’s historic properties. All this activity is a temporary inconvenience leading to more shopping and investment in downtown Seguin.
A bulk of the construction activity is occurring in the 100 block of North Austin Street where three buildings have projects underway. At 114 North Austin, the old canopy had several areas of dry rot and a new wood canopy is being installed using the existing tie rods. Down the street at 104 North Austin, part of the former Starcke Sleep Shop, the building is rehabbed into a commercial furniture showroom that will bring hundreds of visitors to downtown Seguin to see the unique product lines. The building’s new façade features an art deco style to match the building’s cornice. Next door at 102 North Austin is a recently rehabbed building waiting for its brand-new tenant. Then 100 North Austin continues to be rebuilt after experiencing numerous complications, including a limecrete wall that was starting to buckle – which has now been secured following an engineer’s report. Recently new transom windows were installed and the surface is being prepared for brickwork to be installed below the storefront windows and surrounding the doors.
A walk over to the Heritage Museum and you will find the sidewalk being rebuilt after the museum installed a new wastewater line to serve their redesigned restrooms that will be ready to welcome visitors once the museum reopens. At 110 South Austin, second floor residential space is underway that welcome new downtown residents soon.
Finally, TxDOT is nearing completion of their Austin Street signal project that included new signals, pedestrian poles, sidewalks and ADA ramps. Once completed, the project should improve the pedestrian experience in downtown.
These projects are the latest in downtown reinvestment which in the past four years has totaled more than $67 million since 2007. If you are interested in being a part of downtown Seguin’s revitalization by purchasing a building or starting a business, contact the Seguin Main Street Program at (830) 401-2448 to discuss available opportunities.