Fast-growing Allen is looking to its past with a development plan for the historic downtown area.
Traffic moves along Main Street in downtown Allen. The city has a new development plan for the historic downtown district located east of U.S. 75.With business moves and major developments, Allen has made its place on the map as one of North Texas’ fastest-growing communities.
City leaders are hoping to change that with a new development initiative for Allen’s historic downtown. “Unless you were raised in Allen like I was, you may not even know there is a downtown,” said Dan Bowman executive director of Allen’s Economic Development Corp. “We think there are opportunities there.”has been along the U.S. Highway 75 and Sam Rayburn Tollway corridors. But in the late 1800s the town got its start on another transportation corridor – the Houston and Texas Central Railway line running just east of what is now U.S. 75.The town was founded in the 1870s and was named for railroad executive and Republic of Texas attorney general Ebenezer C. Allen. A smattering of the town’s oldest buildings remain along a stretch of Main Street, including more-than-century-old structures that once housed a drug store, telephone company and the Woodmen of the World fraternal organization hall.A variety of businesses sit along Main Street in downtown Allen where buildings date to the early 20th Century.“Everybody’s downtown is different - our downtown isn’t like Plano, Frisco or“There is a significant amount of land sitting there and going to waste,” Fulk said. “We need to develop it and make it an attraction that brings people in there and generates a better tax base. We’d like to get more buildings and commerce.” Allen’s city council just approved a downtown development plan that sets building standards for the area and sets out goals for getting new business and construction. “Downtown Allen is a unique, heritage center of the community. It is the heart of Allen. However, it is also struggling,” city planners said in their Downtown Allen Revitalization Plan. “It lacks the vibrancy of people walking around shopping, dining, living, attending events, and relaxing in open spaces. “The community, including residents, property and business owners, and the city want to see more activity in the heart of the city.” The development plan seeks to promote downtown additions of locally-owned restaurants and boutique stores, arts offerings and new recreation opportunities. “We want to put in a large open public gathering space,” Fulk said. “We’ll have a square where we can sponsor a lot of activities. “We’ll go ahead and pursue building one parking garage in advance of the development,” he said. “Those two things are crucial to the success of this endeavor.”“Our cultural core is all one story to two story,” Fulk said. “It doesn’t make sense to have four-story buildings against to all these old historical buildings. “On our east end which backs up to Cottonwood Creek, we are okay with a little bit higher density over there.”“I moved in in 1984 and over the course of a decade you’d see these old historic homes raised,” Fulk said. “Why didn’t they try and save that?” Preservationists are hoping Allen’s new downtown efforts will help spotlight and preserve the area with the kind of success that’s been seen in other Collin County historic downtowns. “The Allen Heritage Guild is optimistic that the revitalization of downtown gives homage to the past and keeps the flavor of old downtown,” Paula Ross, president of the organization, said in an email. The historic Woodmen of the World building on Main Street iwas built in 1911 and is one of the surviving landmarks in downtown Allen.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Eli Apple Says Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs Need Couples Therapy, Offers to PayBengals cornerback Eli Apple didn't hold back on Buffalo Bills duo Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, offering to pay for them to go to couples therapy after a video of their verbal exchange made waves
Read more »
Harley Quinn, HIMYF, Tim Allen, Drag Race & More: BCTV Daily DispatchICYMI: In today's BCTV Daily Dispatch: HarleyQuinn, HIMYF, PamelaAnderson/TimAllen, M&Ms, GhostsCBS, DragRace, StarTrekPicard, ThreeBodyProblem, TLOU, SNL, Willow, TheFlash, Party Down, LawAndOrder, Skeleton Crew, IASIP, That90sShow & more!
Read more »
Tim Allen Caught Flashing Co-Star in Resurfaced ‘Home Improvement’ BlooperTim Allen was caught flashing his ‘Home Improvement’ co-star Patricia Richardson in a recently resurfaced blooper clip—just after Allen strenuously denied flashing another actress, Pamela Anderson, while filming an episode of the sitcom in 1991.
Read more »
Tim Allen Flashes 'Home Improvement' Costar in Resurfaced Blooper ClipTim Allen says Pamela Anderson's claim he flashed her behind the scenes on 'Home Improvement' is a lie ... but there's a newly resurfaced clip showing the actor flashing another costar in a playful blooper.
Read more »
Bills' Josh Allen wants to squash Damar Hamlin conspiracy theory: 'Stop that s---'A conspiracy theory surrounding Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin not actually being present on Sunday at Highmark Stadium has been picked up by many, but Josh Allen laughed at it.
Read more »