met appropriate standards for buildings listed on the historic register. Property values show the sustained effort, rising from $50,000 to $60,000 seven or eight years ago to $450,000 today across the seven-block corridor. Strategic zoning changes supported the economic foundation. The city modified ordinances to allow walking with alcoholic beverages and hosting outdoor events, transforming Main Street into an entertainment district.“We determined fifteen years ago that we wanted Main Street to be a destination location,” says Kaai.“We put together a target list of those entertainment type venues, and then we put a grant to loan program together,” Kaai explains.“So, if you came into a vacant building, built it out as a brewery, then we’re going to reimburse you fifteen percent of your total cost of the build out and your furniture fixture and equipment.” The results validate the targeted approach. Say When Brewing Company, Ivanhoe Ale, Landon Winery, and Stafford House Provisions now anchor what Kaai describes as a collection of “unique, entrepreneurial type family restaurants, not chains.” The sevenblock corridor, reportedly the longest main street district in Texas, has attracted multiple developers who recognized the city’s financial backing as a signal of long-term viability. “If I’m going to put my money in Main Street, I want to make sure the city is putting their money in it,” Kaai notes, explaining the psychology behind private investment decisions. THE PRESTON HARBOR GAME CHANGER Twenty-five years in the making, Preston Harbor development is the largest single investment in Denison’s modern history. “The Preston Harbor development is a 3,100-acre planned development,” explains Mayor Crawley. “We expect that ribbon to be cut on the project within the next couple of months. It will comprise up to 7,500 to 10,000 new homes.” The project’s centerpiece, a Margaritaville hotel, places the development as both a residential community and tourist destination on the shores of Lake Texoma. 107 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 DENISON, TX
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