Genora Young, City of Midland
Midland’s name was called four times at the Texas Downtown Association Presidents’ Awards luncheon during the organization’s 2014 Annual Conference in Granbury. Four finalists and two winners emerged from the six nominations submitted by the City of Midland Downtown Development Department.
The two winners were the Midland Chamber of Commerce’s Star Spangled Salute, which tied with Bryan for Best Promotional Event for a population over 50,000, and Midland Tower for Best Restoration for a population over 50,000. The Downtown Midland Management District was a finalist in the category of Best Downtown Partner for outstanding contributions to preserve, revitalize and redevelop Texas downtowns.
Basin Burger House was a finalist in the category of Best Renovation/Rehabilitation, recognized for excellence in the rehabilitation of the interior and/or exterior of an existing building. The developer for Basin Burger House recently broke ground on another retail development approximately 25 yards to the west.
The number of future potential nominees for the Presidents’ Awards increases as the commitment to the revitalization of downtown Midland builds momentum. Fueling this resurgence is a combination of private and public interests. Several projects recently received favorable responses from the Downtown Midland Management District, the Midland Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and the Midland City Council.
The groups recently approved reimbursement requests for everything from improvements in the public right of way, environmental abatements, ADA compliance, fire sprinkler installations and façade improvements. Private sector investments also increased the value of some properties by as much as eight times what they were before improvements were made.
Such is the case with the Honolulu Building, which will go before the city council for funding consideration in the coming months. Completion of this monumental office renovation is scheduled for spring 2015. Two of the five projects have a rich history of stimulating good will and other valuable quality-of-life contributions. The commitment to improve the Yucca Theatre and save the Ritz Theatre is a business investment our parents would have called “an example of good common sense.”
The Yucca, a landmark in downtown Midland, brings thousands of people to its productions and events each year. Daily broadcasts from the Ritz, Basin PBS’s new home, will stimulate foot traffic and the renovated theater will serve as a venue for a wide variety of family-friendly cultural activities.
The 108-unit Wall Street Lofts, a public/private partnership, opened recently to a waiting list of some 200-plus interested parties. The mixed-use development also includes retail and restaurants such as Which Wich, and is the first downtown residential development in 40 years. Developers and leadership would be thrilled to have similar developments under construction to meet the increasing interests in downtown living.
To that end, the City of Midland is sponsoring a series of public meetings seeking citizen input to help develop the Tall City Tomorrow comprehensive plan, a guidebook for future urban growth. Citizens’ interests include a number of quality of life issues, aesthetic improvements that incorporate more pedestrian friendly spaces, continuous walkways, parks and green spaces, food truck parks and improved roadways. Other suggestions have included increased dining opportunities and parking. TallCityTomorrow.mindmixer.com is an online forum for the discussions.
Additionally, the Tall City Taskforce (TCT), a committee appointed by Mayor Jerry Morales, includes city staff and members of the public. The goal of the TCT is to find opportunities to develop new parking options such as multi-level garages and/or developments that include parking garages which exceed the needs of a specific project.
The TCT charged city staff with researching the best option for encouraging parking turn-over. Members from the engineering, transportation, downtown development and police departments will present their findings this month. Current construction includes several private developments, two of which are at the intersection of Big Spring and Texas streets.
The Turkish-owned Vaughn Building is undergoing a renovation for Class A office space, and the Western United Life Building is transforming from office space to a hotel. Additionally, Concho Resources, Inc. headquartered in downtown Midland, recently broke ground on its employee amenities building, with construction of daycare facilities soon to follow. Both projects, part of the petroleum company’s long-range development plans, will be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2016, according to architect, Mark Wellen.
Downtown will soon see the construction of a new $14 million municipal court. Also receiving support from the city council is the proposed $100 million-plus Santa Rita Hotel and mixed use development. The City recently entered into an agreement with the local developers of the Santa Rita, for exclusive negotiating rights, through the end of the month for city-owned property located smack dab in the heart of downtown Midland.
Developers from New York, Chicago, Turkey and the local area have been eyeing the old county courthouse since the City purchased it in 2013. Santa Rita No. 1, a boutique hotel concept, boasts residential space, rooftop green space, water features, vertical gardens, nightlife, an epicurean market, five-star restaurant, retail and enhanced public green space in Centennial Plaza.
A separate development creating buzz on the square is the Midland Center. Conceptual drawings hint at an expanded and improved facility. There is an excitement in downtown Midland. You can feel the energy. We’re open for business, new ideas and the next award-winning re-use, renovation, restoration and development.
The Tall City has a Tale Yet To Tell!
— By Genora Young, downtown development director, City of Midland. This article originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of Texas Real Estate Business magazine.