Special by Kyle Kramm, Seguin Main Street & CVB Director
(Seguin) — There were a lot of accomplishments downtown during 2023. Numerous businesses opened, storefronts were restored, and the vacancy rate continued to decline. Here is Seguin Main Street’s top happenings for 2023:
5.) Squirrels Taking Over Downtown and Seguin
In February 2023, the Seguin Commission on the Arts unveiled its first squirrel, Joy, and officially launched the Seguin Squirrel Trail. Since then, eight more squirrels have been unveiled with one in Central Park and several others near downtown. The squirrels are adding a fun colorful attraction to the community that is supporting local artists. Several more squirrels will be popping up around downtown in 2024.
4.) Visitor Center and Main Street Get a New Home
In October, the Seguin Visitor Center and Main Street Offices opened at 200 South Austin Street. The move gave the department more room to grow, to increase Central Park activation, and assist more visitors. Stop in to the Visitor Center to get your Seguin swag.
3.) Growth in Markets
2023 was all about artisan markets as downtown went from two a month to at least eight a month. Funky Monkey and Yellow Rose continued their markets on the second and fourth Saturdays respectively. Then over 2023 Yellow Rose added a market on the second Sunday of the month. With the help of a Business Improvement Grant, the long vacant covered awning at 414 North Austin Street became the weekly Austin Street Market. Finally, the Market Seguin began on the fourth Sunday of the month. All these markets feature small businesses and artisans selling their wares.
2.) Masterplan Adopted
In June, City Council officially adopted the Downtown Master Plan. The plan includes over 50 projects and numerous concepts for the Seguin Main Street Advisory Board and City Council to pursue over the next 10 years.
The Board is already working on accomplishing projects in the plan including the downtown restrooms, improving lighting, and establishing a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. Stay tuned to see what other projects they will be working on in 2024.
1.) City Under Contract for Wells Fargo
In September, the City Council approved entering into a contract to purchase the Wells Fargo building. Recognizing that the building represented an opportunity to ensure the building’s future facilitated the vision the community had just created in the downtown master plan. The possibilities for the block are endless and the City will be working with a consultant to develop a plan for the building and to assist in the selection of a qualified developer to buy the property from the City.
As 2023 comes to a close, Main Street would like to thank the community for its support of downtown and encourage everyone to come out to see the changes that will be happening in downtown during 2024.