Terrell, Texas – Kaufman County

October 31, 2024

Terrell, Texas

“Build Your Legacy”

A Historic City with a Progressive Plan for the Future

With a legacy spanning more than 150 years, the thriving city of Terrell is looking ahead, planning for a future rich with growth and development. With its new slogan, “Build Your Legacy,” the city is committed to preserving tradition while embracing progress. Mayor Rick Carmona expands, “That is something we believe speaks to the importance of encouraging continuation of our community’s rich traditions. Today, our residents embrace our city’s long history while looking to the future.”

Parks, Amenities, and Connectivity

Covering 146 acres, Terrell’s five parks showcase the city’s commitment to providing a diverse array of amenities that enhance residents’ quality of life. These community spaces include sports facilities, walking trails, playgrounds, a stocked fishing pond and the Terrell Municipal Swimming Pool, along with the Jamie Foxx basketball court, proudly named after one of the city’s own.

Terrell’s greenspaces offer the ideal setting for a variety of events, from sporting activities to community gatherings. One attraction is the Terrell Jubilee, a four-day outdoor festival held at Ben Gill Park for over 43 years, attracting more than 17,000 attendees annually.

The Unity in the Community Juneteenth celebration, sponsored by the Association of Breezy Hill Park is another popular draw. This festival brings activities for all ages and includes an annual recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to the Terrell community.

The Park Master Plan, adopted in 2017, focuses on enhancing Terrell’s existing green spaces while planning for future parks as the city grows. It emphasizes creating well-maintained, safe, and accessible public spaces that serve as a vibrant community, attracting both residents and businesses. A major aspect of the plan is to ensure connectivity through a comprehensive network of trails, bikeways, and sidewalks, while leveraging park amenities to drive development and boost tourism.

The family of the late Randy Snow of Terrell, a member of the Olympic Hall of Fame, pose by a mural in downtown Terrell comemmorating his life during the annual Mural Walk festivities.

Preserving History, Encouraging Growth

Several of Terrell’s downtown properties have undergone remarkable transformations in recent years, thanks to investors committed to revitalizing the area. These renovations have played a pivotal role in boosting foot traffic and invigorating the local economy. In 2023, Commercial General Contractor, Justin Fivecoat, of Fivecoat Construction, LLC, and his business partner Matt Malone, of Malone and Associates Real Estate, renovated a historic building on Moore Avenue. The space now houses their businesses, along with Jase Jones & Associates, a design firm.

Fivecoat, who has been in business since 1983, is currently renovating another historic downtown property, known as The Artesia Lodge. “Fivecoat has managed to retain much of the building’s historic character, while adding industrial elements that give it a trendy urban feel,” describes City Manager Mike Sims. “The top of the building will provide office space for an engineering firm, while the bottom floor intends to house a combination of retail, restaurant and office space, including a new district office for U.S. Congressman Lance Gooden, a Terrell native.”

The revitalization of another Moore Avenue storefront has become a family affair, with a mother daughter team opening side-by-side businesses- The Music Shop and Terrell Coffee Company. Nearby, the historic Lyric Theatre building has been fully renovated and is ready and waiting for a new tenant. Plans also are in the works for a bakery and French bistro set to open by the end of the year. The Buford Drug Building, a Terrell landmark with an iconic neon sign, has also been restored. Now showcasing its vintage charm, the building houses a physical therapy clinic, filling a great need in the city.

Terrell’s Park and Downtown Improvement Corporation (PADIC) has been pivotal in revitalizing the city’s parks and historic downtown since its inception in 2019. PADIC Chairman, Tori Lucas highlights, “The beautification of Downtown Terrell enhances the deep-seeded pride already felt by our citizens and downtown businesses. It is not a static short-term project, but the launch of an ongoing commitment to invest in the appearance and feel of our downtown district.”

A 2017 Downtown Plan outlines the city’s four main goals for reinvigorating the city core, including historic preservation, fostering a walkable environment, creating a livable neighborhood, and prioritizing the area as a focal point for economic development. PADIC has been bringing new life to the city, spearheading capital improvements to parks, streetscapes, downtown, and parking lot enhancements.

“Those lots will provide much-needed parking that gives shoppers easy access to downtown merchants and provides additional parking for our visitors attending festivals and other special events,” says Downtown Project Manager Raylan Smith.

“PADIC has also funded several façade grants, giving our downtown merchants a much-needed facelift, improving signage and making entrances more appealing to customers. In the past few years, there also has been an increased focus on downtown living with lofts above three of our historic buildings.”

Commercial and Residential Expansion Beyond Downtown

Terrell’s commercial expansion extends beyond its historic downtown core, and the city works closely with the Terrell Economic Development Corporation and the Terrell Chamber of Commerce to attract industries and businesses to the area. Under the slogan “Booming – There’s still room for you,” the EDC effectively promotes Terrell’s prime location near Dallas and its excellent connectivity to major highways, including Interstate 20, U.S. Highway 80 and State Highways 34 and 205.

A major success has been the development of Crossroads, a mixed-use project at FM 148 and Interstate 20, which began with the recruitment of Buc-ee’s and has since expanded to include an array of retail outlets, hotels, and restaurants. Terrell is proud of its industrial parks, which are near capacity, housing numerous Fortune 500 companies, many of which have been long-term residents of the city.

Terrell’s residential sector is seeing significant growth with several new developments underway. Recent projects include Phase 1A of the Northspur development, which will add 236 single-family lots, along with commercial and retail opportunities. In addition, Chisholm Trace is set to introduce 91 homes, along with Kingsman Estates which will feature 36 single-family homes. For those seeking a more maintenance-free lifestyle, Magnolia Apartments is one of several options offering a convenient residential option with modern amenities.

Strategic Infrastructure for a Growing City

As Terrell continues to expand, key infrastructure projects are at the forefront of the city’s priorities. “As an 1873 city in a fast growing environment, Terrell has aging infrastructure to replace and rehabilitate as well as new public infrastructure to build, driven by the needs of growth and development,” Sims acknowledges.

Major projects include ongoing investments in road resurfacing throughout the city, a $3 million reconstruction of major sections of Apache Trail, and a $3 million investment into the construction of an animal adoption center. The building of the new fire Station is a $14 million investment to support the city’s emergency services, along with another $100,000 towards a fire station rehab. Improvements to stormwater systems and the city’s airport facilities are also in the works, ensuring that Terrell remains well-equipped for future growth.

Artisans enjoy a crowd of shoppers at one of the Saturday Heritage Markets and the Lyric (photo credit-Lyric Art Cafe & Venue)

Valued Partnerships

The City of Terrell is well versed in teamwork and collaboration, especially when it comes to moving the community forward. Sims underscores, “To balance these projects related to existing needs, with the pressures of new development, the City relies in part on partnerships with developers and State agencies to reduce the burdens of infrastructure required for new development.”

He points to recent collaborations, such as the $1 million Jamison Court extension, funded by the TEDC, and the expansions of Independence and Crossroads, which were supported by the Crossroads development team under a TIRZ agreement. Additionally, the North Spur development team, through a voluntary annexation agreement, funded critical infrastructure improvements, including roads, water, sewer, drainage, and park enhancements.

Terrell’s success is also due to a network of both public and private partners working together to address the needs of the community. The City collaborates closely with key entities such as the Terrell Chamber of Commerce, Terrell Economic Development Corporation, Kaufman County, Terrell Independent School District, Trinity Valley Community College, and Southwestern Christian College.

“Leadership from each of those entities meets regularly to find ways they can support each other and work through issues as they arise,” maintains Sims. “At least once a year, those entities also gather for a joint meeting where they provide updates on projects that affect the community at large. In addition, each of those entities brings private partners to the table as they deliver projects and solutions to our community.”

A Bright Future

Over the next 18 months, Terrell is set to embark on several exciting projects, including the construction of the new fire station and the rehabilitation of an existing building for a pet adoption center. Sims reports that the city is actively working to secure grants for roadway and infrastructure improvements, including the much-anticipated downtown Quiet Zones, a $40 million investment which will improve railroad crossing safety and enhance the quality of life for downtown residents.

As Terrell continues to grow, the commitment to preserving the city’s history while creating a welcoming and prosperous future, remains strong. With a robust plan for parks, downtown revitalization, infrastructure, and economic growth, the city is well-positioned to build on its legacy for generations to come.