A draft downtown plan for "Vision 2035: Downtown Beaumont" was presented on Sept. 21 to the Downtown Planning and Development Advisory Committee by the city’s contracted consulting firm, SWA.
Courtesy of SWA
Beaumont Enterprise
Courtney Pedersen, Staff writer
Why it matters: Some Beaumonters still have concerns about the city's plan to revitalize downtown.
With the Beaumont's new downtown plan "officially unveiled," residents are split on whether it's actually the best next step for the city.
“This is a great idea and a way to build the city. Beaumont was not always the negative place people describe in the comments. If nothing changes then nothing changes. The first thing that has to change is the cloud of negativity which kills any progress before it even starts.” — Sammy Joseph Coco
“I think it’s a waste of money, of course. Quit trying to relive the past.” — Robin Finch
“The addition of a canal on Crockett Street is a game-changer. This innovative touch is sure to create a unique, inviting atmosphere, attracting both people and businesses.” — Jorge Escobedo
“This is going to require ongoing maintenance or it will become a mosquito cesspool. Businesses have never lasted down there. What’s the plan for keeping this from becoming a health hazard once people stop going to the shiny new place to go (like always)?” — Johanna Lee-Garcia
“This brings a lot of perks for this city and business owners as myself to this area. Complaints will always be there but without any change you won’t ever see change. I’m here for it and all of its success. I see great things beginning to happen.” — Renita Ridley
“If you want to attract people to downtown Beaumont just build a Walmart. I never go to the place personally because they’re gross. But every time I drive by one they have 10,000 cars in the parking lot.” — Zebulon Ferguson
During Beaumont's State of the City address on Dec. 9, Mayor Roy West announced the city's plan for Crockett Street and greater downtown -- a more modern take, complete with a canal and new promenade.
Draft renderings of the city's proposal of "Vision 2035: Downtown Beaumont" focus on creating a canal on Crockett Street and walkway to the Neches River. The plan also includes an amphitheater, downtown hotel and convention center as well as a new city hall.
The Enterprise spoke with several community members and put a call out on social media to gauge the community's buy in. While some say the plan "won't work" and is a "waste of money," others believe it's a "growing opportunity" and "much needed."
Beaumont resident Robert Stringer said that the plan sounds like a great idea but thinks the execution would be very poor and be "a taxpayer waste."
Even so, Stringer said it'd likely see success for a few years.
"I see about a year to three years of it being successful, but it all predicates on people supporting it, bringing in the right businesses for it," Stringer said. "(The) San Antonio Riverwalk is successful because A. it's a river, but B. there's a whole thriving industry."
Stringer said San Antonio has an amusement park and the Alamo in addition to the River Walk, which has businesses, boat tours and beautiful scenery.
"Beaumont was hedging its bet on getting the Battleship Texas here," Stringer said. "Then they could have generated a whole industry, but that didn't happen. So, now you're wasting money tearing down a building that could have been turned possibly into lofts to build a ... hotel to look at the river that has nothing but chemical plants on the other side."
Joe Sasser, another Beaumont resident, agreed that it seems that the plan seems like Beaumont is trying to be San Antonio.
"Beaumont literally has nothing. It used to, but not anymore," Sasser said. "It's known mostly for tearing down the past to build a future that doesn't work."
Sasser said it seems like the new downtown plan would just be another example of taking down the past.
"The 'historical-ness' of the downtown area and Crockett Street and stuff is fragile as it is, they don't need to be destroying more of to put in something that I feel might last maybe 10 years maybe," Sasser said. "Why get rid of more Beaumont history that we can't replace for something that's just going to be temporary?"
Alternately, Jay Qatato, owner of Beaumont's Mulligan's Driving Range, said the city needs this plan.
Qatato used downtown Fort Worth as an example. The Bass family in Fort Worth invested a lot of money in revitalizing its downtown, and now it's an attraction for visitors. Beaumont needs something similar.
"We just lost everything. We haven't had much growth," Qatato said. "I mean we had the Ford Center which was good. We've had expansions on Dowlen Road, but we really haven't had a place where people can congregate, enjoy the outdoors."
Beaumont native Michelle Rasa said she believes this is a great idea for the city in the future.
"We need attractions and we need to beautify Beaumont, and it has things that will draw people here," Rasa said. "We have a great city, but first we need to tend to our crime and our infrastructure problems. I feel like we're spending too much time, effort and money on these projects and not solving what we need."
During the State of the City, West asked for feedback and ideas from residents. There is an online survey for community members to complete regarding the 2035 vision, a form on the project website where people can share ideas and a pledge on change.org to be signed.