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Home My WebLink About1-DOWNTOWN REPORTINTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: STEVE FITZGIBBONS, CITY MANAGER PAULBROWN_,PLANNING DEPARTMEN2'~rx--- At the current time, Downtown Port Arthur is enjoying the most extensive redevelopment and renovation projects seen during the past several decades. In particular, the combined efforts of two Port Arthur-loyal gentlemen represent investments of almost $500,000 over the past six-month period. Randy Davidson - a Port Arthur used car lot owner - has purchased seven buildings in the 600 block of Procter Street, the 500 block of Beaumont Avenue and the 600 block of Fifth Street. In addition, Port Arthur native Frank Andrews has added the former Goodwill building to his downtown holdings and hopes to lease the building out to enterprising entrepreneurs interested in investing further into the hard fought revitalization of the once thriving commercial heart of the city. Anyone who has ventured to Downtown in the past few months could not help but to notice the flurry of activity around Davidson's "Port Arthur City Limits," formerly Nell Lindley's Jubilation Station. Looking further back in history, the building was occupied by the Kress five and dime store. In addition, Davidson purchased the Franklin Building, the Three Sisters' Building, the Transworld Electric Building, Desmutes, the former Greyhound Bus Station and another storage building on Fifth Street. He also owns three lots at Mobile Avenue and Procter Street and is negotiating on another piece of property nearby. He plans to awaken what he calls a "Sleeping Giant" by offering a bevy of entertainment and dining venues along his half block of 600 Procter and Beaumont Avenue. City Limits will offer live music, dance and dining, while he plans a jazz club for the Franklin building and a pool and game room in the Three Sisters' Building on the comer of Procter and Beaumont. He also intends to locate a deli/coffee shop in the former bus station. "We need to get the youth back down here (in Downtown)," he said. To that end, he intends to target the student market from Lamar State College - Port Arthur, especially with the pool and game room. He said he will not serve alcohol during daytime hours and will closely monitor nighttime alcohol sales to avoid rowdy crowds and to eliminate chances for dangerous drivers who may have enjoyed themselves a bit too much. Davidson said he will give rides home to those who shouldn't drive and watch over their cars until they can retrieve them safely. During the past six months, Davidson has invested more than $300,000 to purchase and renovate his Procter Street properties. He said he expects to spend at least that much more as work continues. Andrews said that he has invested more than $100,000 into his Andrews nightclub building over the past nine years. He purchased the Goodwill Building next door for $25,000 and has spent at least $30,000 for renovations so far. He hopes to lease the building to someone who wants to bring any appropriate business venture to the Downtown area. He said the upstairs would make nice loft-type living spaces. Port Arthur Main Street concluded its five-year life span at the end of 2002. Gerald Buchanan, the program director, said that almost $11 million was invested into downtown improvements during the past five years. In addition, renovation work is underway to the ground floor of the Upper Deck Club in the Trost Building, owned by former Council Woman Geraldine Hunt. I've attached information about Downtown investment provided by Mr. Buchanan. 2 PORT ARTHUR MAIN STREET 338 PROCTER STREET PORT ARTHUR, TE $ DECEMBER 31, :2002 BOARD MEMBERS FLOYD MARCEAUX, PRESIDENT TOM NEAL~ VICE PRESIDENT SHANNON HANSEN, TREASURER JIMMY DIKE STEVE FITZGIBBONS JEFF HAYES IKE MILLS VERNA RUTHERFORD DECEMBER 3t, 2002 HA8 ARRIVED AND WITH IT, COMES THE CLOSING OF A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT FOR THE PORT ARTHUR MAIN STREET PROGRAM. THE FIVE (5) FINANCIAL BACKERS OF THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM AND THEIR DOLLAR INVOLVEMENT WERE; CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP PLEASURE ISLAHD COMMISSION RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION 70,900 70,800 ?0,800 THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST & CONCERN IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF PORT ARTHUR. THIS WAS A CHALLENGING FIVE YEARS AND PAMS EXPERIENCED MUCH SUCCESS. THE FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF THE GRANTS WE ISSUED BY YEAR. RED TIDES SHIP THEATRE AT THE BOARDWALK NAACP JUNE TEENTH CELEBRATION JULY 4'"" FIREWORKS DISPLAY PROCTER STREET PAVILION LITES FOR THE CITY SEAMAN CENTER KCS TRAIN STATION FACADE FRANK ANDREWS 4:27 PROCTER FAC;ADE BETHLEHAM ON BOARDWALK EVENT GRANT TOTAL FOR 2002 1;5,890 2SO 2,500 1,980 6,000 3,000 800 $19,420 82/12/20~3 15:)3 ~8S~82814~ PA NAI~ ST PA~E ~2 PAGE 2 (CONT.) MUSEUM OF THE OULF COAST FACADE SANDRA LYDAY, S00 PROCTER FAC;ADE EJ'S PLACE, 416 PROCTER FA4;ADE MARK PERKINS, 725 PROCTER FAC;ADE GRANT TOTAL FOR 2001 GREG FLORES, 711 PROCTER FA(;ADE HAMPTONS, 701-701t PROCTER FAC:ADE FURNITURE GUILD, 1'14'7 PROCTER FAC;ADE PLANTERS FOR PAVILION & CITY PARK GRANT TOTAL 2000 DOUG CLARK, 7t0 PROCTER FAC~ADE GRGG FLORES, 711 PROCTER FAC:ADE ANDREA JACKSON~ 301 PROCTER FAC:ADE ANOREA JACKSON, 448 PROCTER FAiGADE ANDREA JACKSON, 418-410 PROCTER FA4;ADE GRANT TOTAL FOR 191)0 FOUNDRY ART, 727 PROCTER FACADE GRANT TOTAL FOR 1998 6,000 2,000 3,000 312 $11,312 3,000 3,000 2,717 3,S00 $12,217 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 $15,000 3~000 $ 3,000 TOTAL GRANTS FOR THE PERIOD $60,900 THESE GRANTS tN DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR HAVE CREATED A RENEWED INTEREST IN THE CBD BY OUR CITIZENS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. ON THE OTHER SiDE OF THE COIN, FOR EVERY DOLLAR PAMS INVESTED IN DOWNTOWN, THERE 16 A 4 TIMES REINVESTMENT DOLLAR SPENT BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF YOUR PORT ARTHUR MAIN STREET PROGRAM. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2003 FOR EACH OF YOU. SINCERELY, GERALD BUCHANAN DIRECTOR ~2/12/2~5~ 15;33 4~9828148 PA ~AIN ST 2AGK ~3 t POI'C[ AR.TH UI NN,AIN_ $'F EET FAi~ADE .GRANTS MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST $6,000 PROCTER GALL 725 PROCTER $300 DOUG CLARK, 719 PROCTER $3,000 GREG FLORES, 711 PROCTER $6,000 FOUNDRY ART, 727 PROCTER $3,000 HAMPTON$, 701-709 PROCTER $3,000 SHOWPL GARDEN 800 PROCTE $3,000 EJ PLACE 416 PROCTER $3,000 FURN. GUILD 1t47 PROCTER $2,700 JACKSON, 301,418-448PROCT $9,000 RENOV TOTAL $37,000 6OO 15,900 36,500 7,700 12,700 8,200 6,300 5,700 21,t00 PLANTERS/PARK&PAVILLION $3,500// .... OTAL $42,500 · $15t~ REIN OWN TOWN1998-2002 PRIVATE INVESTMENT t 5t ,000 COASTAL BANK 2000 $ 200,000 " "CITY/HEALTH DEPT 1,000,000 BOARD WALK PHASE t PHASE 2 3D GRANT 2/20O2 I..AMAR COLLEGE PA SEAMAN$ CENTER 2 NEW HOMES I000.,4TM PROGTER STREET PAVILLION ~ VR TOTALS 300,000 300,000 1,700,000 6,000,000 500,000 146,000 t 25,000 $10,422,000 LO/ ~ ~TX, o~o TO W WILSON GYM & AUDIT 3 MORE $219,000