Wednesday, August 18, 1999
The City of La Grange Main Street Program received a report on the progress of the Downtown Historic District Project at regularly scheduled meeting of the La Grange Main Street Advisory Board on Monday, August 16th., in the City of La Grange Council Chambers. Project consultant Lila Knight of the firm Knight & Associates from Kyle, Texas presented a live report to the La Grange Main Street Advisory Board as to the overall status of the project.
According to Main Street Manager, Scott Byler Knight & Associates is the hired consultant for the La Grange Downtown National Register/Historic District Application project and the firm started work on the project in June 1999. Lila Knight informed the Main Street Board that she was nearing completion of Phase I on the project which consists of a proposed boundary for the district, an assessment of all the buildings in the downtown area, creation of an inventory, determination of contributing or noncontributing status of the properties based on Architectural description, and photodocumentation of the properties within the proposed district. Knight informed the Main Street Board that she expects to be complete with Phase I of the project by October 1, 1999. Knight & Associates will then take and compile all this information into a neatly organized Historic District application document for downtown La Grange to be reviewed by the Texas Historic Commission staff. Upon review, Texas Historical Commission staff will then submit the application document to the State Board of Review for approval sometime in March of 2000. Should the State Board of Review approve the application document it will then be submitted to the National Park Service for approval and listing in the National Register of Historic Places which would occur in the Fall of 2000. Knight also informed the Main Street Board that each property owner within the proposed district will be notified by the Texas Historical Commission prior to the State Board of Review process. Each property owner notified by the Texas Historical Commission within the proposed district will have a vote on the application in the State Board of Review process. Main Street will strive to host the State Board of Review meeting here in La Grange and the meeting would be open to all. Main Street La Grange will be forwarding out brochures along with a letter to all property owners in an effort to keep everyone informed throughout the application nomination process and prior to review by the State Board. This letter and brochure will explain the benefits to a property owner having their property listed in the National Register of Historic Places within the proposed district.
The benefits to the community, the downtown business district, and property owners being listed in the National Register of Historic Places is that it denotes community recognition and the preservation of La Grange history as related to the downtown area and the historic buildings thus aiding in the promotion of tourism. It also guarantees a state level review of the impact of any federal undertaking on listed properties and provides eligibility to property owners to apply for various financial incentives such as: Federal tax credits for property rehabilitation's, State assistance with rehabilitation/preservation issues for building owners with listed historic structures, Federal Historic Preservation Fund grant-in-aid assistance, and Texas Historic Preservation Trust Fund Grant assistance. National Register designation does not require the owner of a listed property to provide public access, does not obligate the owner to maintain the listed property, and does not impose any restrictions regarding alterations or renovations to a listed property. For additional information contact the La Grange Main Street Office at (409) 968-8701.
Main Street Will Sponsor Flag Day Window Decorating Contest
May 31, 1999
Main Street La Grange will sponsor a Flag Day Window Decorating Contest in conjunction with the 1999 Flag Day Celebration which will be held on the Courthouse Square Monday, June 14th, starting at 11:00 a.m.
The contest will be open to all commercial businesses wishing to participate. All participating businesses windows are to be decorated in red, white, and blue honoring the American Flag. Each window will be judged based on the following categories: Effort, Represents theme, Uniqueness/Creativity, Neatness, and Display of Merchandise. Judging of the windows will begin at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, June 11th and the winner will receive the La Grange Main Street Traveling Trophy which will be announced during the Flag Day Ceremony on Monday, June 14th.
For more information on the Main Street Window Decorating Contest Contact the La Grange Main Street Office at 968-8701.
La Grange To Receive Recognition as National Mainstreet City
Monday May 10, 1999
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation recently recognized La Grange at one of 16 National Main Street Cities form Texas. La Grange was selected from 76 other cities throughout the State of Texas who participate in the Texas Main Street Program. Other 1999 cities include: Beaumont, Breckenridge, Celina, Clifton, Denton, Elgin, Fort Stockton, Garland, Gilmer, Goliad, Nacogdoches, New Braunfels, Rusk, San Marcos, and Seguine.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation will honor the National Main Street Cities at this year's National Town Meeting on Main Street held on March 22-24 in San Diego, California. Cities chosen as National Main Street Cities must show above average performance in 10 categories. The selection criteria focus on planning, staff and volunteers, training, and program assessment.
The THC's Texas Main Street Program is a revitalization program for historic downtown and neighorhood commercial districts. Implemented in 1981, the program has assisted more than 125 communities throughout the state.
The Texas Historical Commission is the agency for
historic preservation. The agency administers a variety of
programs to preserve the archeological,historical, and cultural
resources of Texas.
Main Street Grant to Aid in Funding for National Registry Application
[Friday, May 7, 1999] The Fayette County Record
The City of La Grange Main Street program has received a $7,500 grant from the Summerlee Foundation of Dallas to aid in the funding of a Historic District Nomination Application for the downtown La Grange area to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
"La Grange Main Street Program is excited about being selected by the foundation for this grant and the impact that this historic district project," said Betty Schmidt, president of the La Grange Main Street Advisory Board. "Once completed, we will have national recognition promoting our historic buildings and preserve the historic downtown business district."
The Summerlee Foundation is a private foundation whose mission is the preservatation of Texas History and historic district proposal such as was submitted in the grant application met the criteria for funding.
"The project will take about six to nine months to complete," said Main Street Manager Scott Byler.
A professional consultant specialized in this type of work will be hired through the advertisement of an RFP based on the abilities of the consultant selected to complete the project.
A good segment of the project will require the selected consultant to perform research gathering all the historic information from the downtown historical business district.
The buildings will be evaluated to determine if they are contributing or non-contribution historically. All information gathered will be reviewed and compiled into a neatly organized application document.
The benefits of being listed in the National Register is that it denotes recognition and the preservation of the history in the community as related to the downtown area and the historic buildings then aiding in the promotion of tourism.
It also guarantees a state level review of the impact of any federal undertaking on listed properties and provides eligibility to property owners to apply for various financial incentives such as federal tax credits for rehabilitiation's, state assistance with rehabilitation/preservation issues for building owners with listed historic structures, federal historic preservation fund grant-in-aid assistance, and the Texas Historic Preservation Trust Fund Grant assistance.
The National Register designation does not require the owner of a listed property to provide public access, does not obligate the owner to maintain the listed property and does not impose any restrictions regarding alterations or renovatons to a listed property.
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Click below for Summerlee Foundation Home Page
ANIMAL PROTECTION AND TEXAS HISTORY FOUNDATION WELCOME TO SUMMERLEE
Main Street Becomes Reality!
It is with great pride that the Main Street Application Committee Announces that La Grange, Texas has been approved by the Texas Historical Commission as a Main Street City in Texas.
Main Street is probably one of the most exciting events that has happened in La Grange for many years. When the La Grange Main Street Application Committee began to work together in February we received encouragment, support, and excitement from the beginning. At the time we had no idea how much enthusiasm we would find in La Grange, but we soon heard again and again, "What can we do to help get Main Street for La Grange?"
There were many people who assisted with the application in many ways. Without the enthusiastic help of all these citizens the application could never have been completed in a few short months. There is no way we could name everyone who needs to be "thanked" for their assistance, but there are a few that must be recognized.
Mrs. Verna Reichert, one of the oldest citizens of La Grange, called to ask how she could help. After her call the Main Street Application Committee knew we were committed to do everything we could to get Main Street for La Grange and it has happened.
Main Street is now a reality for La Grange starting January, 1996, but this is just a first step. There is no question about the positive effect Main Street will have on everyone in La Grange, if we all continue to work together as we have this year.
With the Historic Muster Oak, the monument to the Mier Expedition, Kriesch Brewery, Fayette County Court House, Fayette County Jail, many historic homes and beautiful old buildings all needing to be preserved for future generations, we all must work together. The beautiful old buildings will be preserved with the cooperation of Main Street, local business owners, and our financial institutions. As a community we have the opportunity to grow. The excitement for an improved business economy will continue to build! Walter P. Freytag, deceased Fayette County Historian, worked for years to preserve history in La Grange. He would be so proud to see La Grange a Main Street City!
It is with great pride that the Main Street Application Committee announces that La Grange has been approved as a Main Street city.
Members of the La Grange Main Street Application Committee are:
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This page was last updated on August 31st,
1999, by Mary Noak.
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