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As the local City of San Augustine Main Street Committee contemplated more rain on Saturday, May 18 the weather actually held out and we had a wonderful day of networking among approximately 26 community leaders, professionals, business owners, employees, and residents. All attendees expressed an interested in filling up local vacant properties! Those participating were Julia Wade, Glenda Harrison, Loretta Bedford, Steven and Sandy Russell from out of town, Linda Goller, Betty Oglesbee, Melba Pahal, Louann Halbert, Tara Smith, Vicky McElhaney, Emily Mathews, Buster and Ginger Consford, Joe Consford, Joe Bellestri, Deidra Terrell, Imogene Newman, Gene and Joy Sowell, Linda Oliver, Neal and Clara Murphy, Collin Jackson, Linda Whitaker, Lee Ann Benefield, and Aubrey Benefield. Both “for sale” and “not for sale” properties were toured!
Properties were shown and highlighted with basic information conveying ideas of why an investor should choose to come to San Augustine!
The first place on the walkable tour was none other than the hub of the National Register Commercial Historic District the San Augustine County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Museum Jail. These properties of course “not for sale”, just served to set the stage for what was to come in the tour line-up. Both buildings are located at 100 West Columbia Street. Neal and Clara Murphy and Betty Oglesbee graciously volunteered their time to show and tell an interesting story about these buildings.
A building “for sale” , the Knight Parker Building, located at 109 South Harrison Street was shown by Tara Smith and building owner Vicky McEllhaney. They were there to give the group ideas of what the possibilities are with this unique architectural rare find.
How can you try to convince someone to invest in downtown San Augustine without visiting historic, San Augustine Drug, located at 104 East Columbia Street. It is a thriving business and fully equipped with an old fashioned soda fountain ! Offering free grapefruit hi balls that day, after hours, were Linda Whitaker, Lee Ann Benefield and Aubrey Benefield. This location is “not for sale”!
Another “for sale” or “for lease” opportunity is the Bakery Building, located at 114 North Harrison Street. Owned by Mike and Debbie Jackson, son Collin Jackson was on hand to walk the group through the building. Wonderful facilities are there and perfect for a bakery business!
Next on the stop was the “for lease” vacant east side of the San Augustine Body Shop Fitness Center, located at 124 East Columbia Street. Once again, just the nicely renovated vacant side! Louann Halbert owner was there to welcome guests and give some of the specifications of that lease opportunity. Previously the space has accommodated oil company offices, yoga facilities, and more. The Body Shop side is “not for sale or lease”!
A New Day In San Augustine Pop Up Shop, is the newest occupant of the historic Hollis Building. The building is on the corner at 128 East Columbia Street. While being renovated in different stages, the family is donating back to the community by operating “not for profit” fundraising with Emily Mathews being there to explain the process. This building is “not for sale”.
Awesome business and building “for sale” property, Imogene’s Café and Home Baked Goods, 129 East Columbia Street is a major restaurant and rare find occupied by the Newman family and shown by Imogene and her daughter Deidra on that day! Featured most recently this past week on East Texas Matters and numerous times in magazine and article profiles this noted restaurant is ready to be a perfect business opportunity for someone that is interested in success. Shown by Century 21 COTA Real Estate and Tara Smith, realtor this is a business venture waiting to be purchased by the right person.
The next destination that day was also a “for sale” property with great size and location at 121 East Columbia Street. Known as the Bellestri Building, Joe Bellestri, owner is serious about selling it. Various businesses have operated there including a family owned business years ago. Mr. Bellestri had prepared a nice flyer for the event that day!
Melba Pahal attended and showed her storefront the Pahal Building located at 124 West Columbia Street. It is handicap accessible, across from the courthouse, and has all the advantages of new sidewalk renovations in front of it! It was shown as “for sale” property.
Winding down the tour and ending at Hardware on the Square a successful thriving business, “not for sale”, The Consford family was there to host and serve refreshments and greet people that attended the tour. Special made for the tour were individually wrapped, melt in your mouth, sugar cookies with the Imagine the Possibilities screen print design on each. Also served were crème filled and buttercream icing cupcakes ordered from Gandough Bakery in Lufkin. Yes, ordering from a bakery is a yummy way to search for a baker to go in and set up shop at the bakery location that the Jackson’s own at 114 N. Harrison Street!
Vendor “for lease” spaces are filling up at 134 W. Columbia Street, Joy’s This and That store with business owners and vendors available that day to visit with tour goers were Joy and Gene Sowell, Linda Oliver, and Glenda Harrison.
Vendor “for lease” spaces were advertised at Texas Star Retail Store and Boutique located in front of the courthouse at 106 West Columbia Street and people were asked to contact store owner Tammy.
Don’t be sad if you missed this tour because we are having another one on Sunday afternoon, July 14 from 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Be watching the Tribune for the new tour schedule because it will be different from the last! The next Imagine the Possibilities Tour will serve as our opening event for Christmas in July with the week to follow Monday –Saturday special sales and demonstrations depicting Santa’s Workshop in stores from July 15-20 . Contact 936-201-9798, City of San Augustine Main Street for more information or questions. Visit www.downtowntx.org to see these vacant properties too!
In order to properly showcase vacant properties these tours are designed to give life to the whole downtown experience! Here is a quote directly from the site www.downtowntx.org with credits to Texas Historical Commission……..
“ About
DowntownTX.org is an online building inventory for Texas downtowns featuring historic property listings. The software was conceptualized and developed by the Texas Historical Commission’s Town Square Initiative to increase and influence the market exposure of available historic properties in downtowns across Texas.
The purpose is to attract community-minded entrepreneurs and investors who value historic architecture and appreciate the special qualities of each place. DowntownTX.org serves as a matchmaking platform for buildings, making it easier for these people to find, invest in and enhance historic buildings and places. Besides featuring investment opportunities in the context of the community, the site also highlights incentives, provides a direct connection to the correct local contacts and clarifies the local development process. As a complete inventory with historic building information, history lovers and old building enthusiasts are welcome just to browse as well.
DowntownTX.org came online in September 2016 with four pilot cities who are all either Texas Main Street Cities or participate in the THC’s Certified Local Government Program. The site officially launched May 1, 2017, for Preservation Month with the Imagine the Possibilities tours showcasing opportunities in the local markets. This is an evolving, collaborative project guided by the Community Heritage Development Division of the Texas Historical Commission and the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission. Additional Texas Main Street cities and Certified Local Government communities will be continually added over time. When fully populated, the platform will showcase opportunities in hundreds of downtowns across Texas.
Historic Preservation Tax Incentives
Since the new state historic preservation tax credit was introduced in January 2015, there has been a significant amount of increased private sector investor interest in Texas. The moment is ideal for supporting and encouraging this downtown investment potential. DowntownTX.org is working to be the tool to connect interested investors with properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places or potentially eligible for listing. Many local governments also offer historic preservation-based tax incentives as well and those are all identified on each community’s page.”
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San Augustine Main Street
P. O. Box 25
San Augustine, TX 75972
(936) 201-4307
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8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday |
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The mission of the San Augustine Main Street Program is to implement the National Main Street Model Four Point Approach of organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring to reach the objectives of preserving and promoting historic downtown San Augustine through economic, historic, and cultural revitalization. |
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