BRENHAM MAIN STREET BOARD DISCUSSES IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS FOR AUSTIN ALLEY

  

The Brenham Main Street Board met Monday to review options for possible upgrades to the alley that runs between Main and Alamo Street and between Alamo and Austin Street in downtown Brenham.

City staff are in the initial research stages of improving Austin Alley to become more pedestrian-friendly.  Board members discussed options such as painting and cleaning up the area, adding simple amenities and burying utilities.

The improvements that are chosen will ultimately depend on their cost and any grant opportunities that become available for them.  Staff will continue to review options and get input from property owners.

Previous alley improvement projects taken up by the city include Alamo Alley and Belle’s Alley.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board approved changes to the Economic Impact and Innovation Grant, which assists business expansion and growth in downtown.  The changes to the grant focus on expanding eligibility to help business owners with code compliance issues.  Grant funding is provided through money raised by Main Street Brenham and matched by the Brenham Community Development Corporation.

The board also approved a recommendation to send information to be included in the City of Brenham parklet manual to the city council for review.  The manual provides information and the guidelines involved with establishing a downtown parklet, which converts curbside parking into a community space.  Board members Connie Wilder and Wendy Meaux voted against the item, with Wilder saying parking is at too much of a premium in downtown to take away without adding more in another location.

In addition, the board heard an update on possible parking changes in relation to Washington County’s courthouse renovation project.  While various ideas were discussed, the width of Park Street limits what options are available, so the parking will remain as is.