DOWNTOWN BUILDING MAY SOON LOOK DIFFERENT
A building on the square in downtown Brenham may soon take on a different look under its new occupant.
The two story building at the corner of Alamo and South Park Streets, formerly home to Organic Hemp Botanicals, is the future home of Ballad of the Bird Dog and Mescalito Coffee. As part of the building makeover, Ballad of the Bird Dog and Mescalito Coffee owners Jared Anderson and Kathleen Matthews are requesting a parklet similar to the one in front of restaurant 96 West. The parklet would be built in the first two parking spaces alongside the building on South Park Street, and would be used by patrons on Mescaleros Coffee, which will be in the front of the building.
On the backside of the building on Commerce Street, the building owner is requesting a license to encroach on one parking space. A staircase and landing to reach the second floor would occupy that parking space in order to leave sidewalk access beneath it. A second entrance is being required by fire code to access the soon to be home of Ballad of the Bird Dog. Its main entrance will be on Commerce Street. The Brenham Main Street Board Monday recommended approval for the License to Encroach. They also recommended approval of renewing the City’s Parklet Agreement with 96 West on Baylor Street.
The top two vote getters in the recent election by Downtown Brenham property owners for seats on the City’s new Historic Preservation Ordinance Board have not yet been announced. The City is still waiting for confirmation on whether the two people will accept the positions. A minimum of four of the seven board members must be downtown property owners. The other five members will be appointed by the Brenham City Council.
You ain’t got a chance to stop this parking deficit with city planning backing this off irrational parking plan. Local good decision makers don’t work anymore at the city. That is why city is in debt up to their ears. Good planning would require a complete parking audit. Obviously, out of town planner and management don’t know how to count.
Love that Downtown Brenham is growing and the renderings look to be well thought out and updated. The loss of 2 parking spaces is the price you pay for growth with the current trends. Everyone always talks about bringing people/ visitors and their $ to town but all the BIBs don’t want change. Can’t have it both ways.
Is this already approved? What’s our city council thinking? Don’t get me wrong we love BBDog and happy to have them but this will just be a leaf and trash collector. The food truck deal will be another eye sore an unfair to other food businesses. I can think of three that need not be on the cit council because they have business, two food for one.
Just what we need: LESS downtown parking. C’mon. You already have to park two blocks away to go to the courthouse half the time, but sure let’s lose two parking spots to a *very* overpriced coffee shop.
I’ve had to go to the courthouse square at least a dozen times so far this year.
The only time that I haven’t been able to find parking within a block was for Hot Nights Cool Tunes when there were barricades up. Whatever we can do to keep the square buzzing with lively retail, service, restaurant, and hospitality enterprises is a very good thing. Much better than law offices or low-volume stores that close up in the late afternoon and evening. Besides, as somebody else pointed out, you walk a lot further to shop at Walmart and that’s absolutely the truth.
Why make parking down town worse than it is.
There’s free parking a block north and south of the courthouse
If missing 2 parking places “make things bad”, then downtown Brenham is in a good place. Why complain about 2 spots that are on a side street? It’ll draw business…revenue…good for Brenham.
If you ask any person not from Brenham what they thought about the parking they won’t have any issues. If you ask a local on the other hand yea its so bad they would rather park in the back of the parking yard of Walmart and walk and complain about no local shopping options.
When I lived in Brenham I had no issues with parking except parades.
I also had no problems waking about 200-300 yards from the parking lots next to Ant Street Inn or where the old PD was.
Personally, the ones in front of stores should be for those who cannot walk that distance.
Big mistake.
In fact, 96 West should be revoked and no one else allowed to commandeer parking spots or deface the look of historic Downtown.
Brenham is becoming a poor version of Disneyland.
FUN! Brenham is growing! I love to see these changes that incorporate our beautiful historic downtown and modern looks with efficiency.