Downtown Tyler

Chapter 4 of the Tyler 21 Plan is dedicated to developing goals and action plans to revitalize Tyler's Downtown. The five goals contained in the chapter include:

Create a full-service, mixed-use "Destination Downtown" that functions as the center of the region.

Create new urban residential districts and improve existing districts with infill.

Support the location of new anchor destinations in downtown with City actions.

Enhance the public realm including existing streets, parks, plazas, and open areas, and create new signature public spaces.

Create a pedestrian, bicycle and parking plan to enhance access and connections to downtown.

Since the adoption of the Tyler 21 Plan in Nov. 2007, implementation of the Downtown Master Plan has been dramatic. Please take a look at all that has been accomplished...and hold on to your hats because the Downtown is BAC(k)!

Establishment of the Downtown TIF/TIRZ
On Feb. 27, 2008 the City of Tyler established a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) in downtown Tyler. The zone will utilize Tax Increment Financing to foster redevelopment in the area. This action is a direct result of recommendations made as part of the City's twenty-year comprehensive plan, Tyler 21. (More about the TIF/TIRZ in Downtown Tyler)

Adoption of the Unified Development Code
At their meeting on April 23, the Tyler City Council unanimously approved the new Unified Development Code (UDC) that will include new regulations related to zoning, subdivision design and improvements, landscaping, drainage, streets and historic preservation. The new Unified Development Code is a major outcome of the Tyler 21 planning process and puts into ordinance many of the ideas developed from community feedback and recommended in the Plan. (More information on the UDC) (Click here to view a pdf version of the new UDC)

Launch of the Business, Arts and Culture District in Downtown
On Friday, May 2, 2008, the City of Tyler and the Heart of Tyler held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the launch of the new Business, Arts and Culture District in downtown Tyler.

Specific changes to the Code that impact Downtown and will transform it from a business district into a Business, Arts and Culture District include:

Uses for property in the District have been expanded to include art studios, ceramics operations, framing stores, art workshops, photography and other arts businesses.

Grocers have now been allowed - to encourage residency in the District.
Outdoor storage will no longer be allowed.
Sidewalk sales are encouraged by permit only.
Horizontally projected signs are now allowed.
(More information about the BAC)

Acquisition of Property in Downtown Tyler
At a press conference held July 23, 2008, the Tyler City Council announced the authorization to purchase approximately 8.65 acres of property in downtown Tyler. The property under contract extends west from Bonner along both Ferguson and Erwin streets and includes the former site of the King Chevrolet and White’s Ford car dealerships. (More)

City and Heart of Tyler Partner on Downtown Revitalization; New City Main Street Department Created
At a news conference held on July 23, 2008, the Tyler City Council announced plans for the Main Street downtown development program to become a City department and current Heart of Tyler Main Street Program Director Beverly Abell to be named department director effective Oct. 2008.

City Opens Gallery Main Street, Visitors' Center and Main Street Office in Downtown
On Aug. 28, 2009, the City of Tyler opened a 3,300 square foot art gallery in the heart of downtown Tyler. The adaptive reuse project was opened with a showing from internationally known watercolor artist Paul Jackson.
(Read More)
(Go to the Downtown Arts Coaltion/Gallery Main Street)
(View Brochure about the renovation of the Main Street Program Offices)
(Info on the development community helping to bring the dream of the gallery to reality)

Gallery Main Street serves are a cornerstone of the Downtown Arts and Cultural District as approved under the Tyler 21 plan. Gallery Main Street opened in August 2009 as a juried fine-art gallery, and shares space with the City of Tyler Main Street Department and Heart of Tyler, Inc.

Occupying the beautifully renovated building at 110 W. Erwin, the gallery offers Tylerites and the surrounding community the opportunity to view fine art created by area artists. Exhibits at the gallery rotate on a continuous schedule, so there is always something new and exciting to see.

Visit the Gallery Main Street Website for information on the current exhibit, upcoming events and to register for free email updates.

Are you an artist interested in exhibiting at Gallery Main Street? Click here for the prospectus for upcoming shows.

Gallery Main Street will also host, along with numerous other downtown businesses, an artist during the Downtown Tyler ArtWalk in September. (more information on ArtWalk)

Half Mile of History Heritage Walk in Downtown
On March 6, the City of Tyler unveiled its new historic preservation program, the Half Mile of History. The program resulted from a recommendation that came out of the Tyler 21 planning process and its goal is to pay tribute to people, places and events that have contributed to the rich history of Tyler and Smith County.

The Half Mile of History is a permanent, outdoor, half-mile loop that surrounds the square in the heart of downtown Tyler. Stone plaques will be placed in the sidewalk along the Half Mile of History to commemorate significant people, places or events. (More information on the Half Mile of History) (Nomination Form)

Liberty Hall Marquee Unveiled at Ceremony
Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association hosted a “marquee lighting ceremony” to mark the beginning of the renovations of the former Liberty Theatre in the heart of downtown. The event took place at Liberty Hall at 103 E. Erwin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 2.

The Tyler 21 Master Plan called for Downtown Tyler to become an arts and cultural district as a strategy to spur private reinvestment and revitalization. To advance this goal, the City of Tyler purchased the former Liberty Theatre in 2008 and entered into a memorandum of understanding with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra Association (ETSOA) to lead an effort to raise the funds needed to renovate the theatre into a performing arts hall that will be a destination point for arts and culture in East Texas.

In January 2009, the Liberty capital campaign was launched with a commitment of $500,000 from the Genecov Group followed by a $100,000 pledge by KSA/Wisenbaker, Fix and Associates in July and a $250,000 donation by Brandon Steele of Ryno Corporation in September. The Women’s Symphony League of Tyler pledged $10,000 and additional large pledges and donations have been made totaling $100,000. Also, the Give Me Liberty Seat Sale has raised $68,000 that has been added to the campaign to fund the rebirth of the theatre into a performing arts hall. The seat sale provides the opportunity for citizens to sponsor a seat with a pledge of as little as $1,000.

The architect for the renovation project is Mike Butler, AIA, of Butler Architectural Group in Tyler. Renderings of the project have been drafted and depict an adaptive reuse that retains the flavor of much of the building’s façade. The theatre’s interior will seat 300.

Management and ownership of the theater will be transferred to the ETSOA upon completion of all renovations, with the City maintaining some oversight related to funding for tourism related activities.

Your Opportunity to be part of the Liberty Hall Project

Be a part of the Liberty Theater revitalization to by contributing to the "Give Me Liberty" seat sponsorship campaign. Your donation of $1,000 for "General House" or $5,000 for "Premiere Seating" will further the efforts to revitalize the Liberty and make it the crown jewel of the arts in Downtown Tyler.

Please see the brochure below and contact the East Texas Symphony Orchestra or the Tyler Main Street Department for more information.

GIVE ME LIBERTY BROCHURE

DTAC, the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition, is an organization of artists in, guide and support the development of the arts in Downtown Tyler.

We invite artists and arts supporters to join our all-volunteer organization in its efforts to inject the arts into all phases of the revitalization of Downtown. This group works under the auspices of the City of Tyler's Main Street Department and Heart of Tyler, Inc.

The larger mission of DTAC is to manage Gallery Main Street at 110 W. Erwin, guide art activities in the Downtown Area (like the ArtWalk and Downtown Concert Series) and to help develop arts-related businessess in Downtown.

DTAC is divided into four subsets: visual arts, dance/performance, film/theater and music.

Join DTAC now!

As each subset holds its meetings, you will be contacted via email based on your area of interest and you will begin receiving the informative montly DTAC electronic newsletter.