Texas’ First Lady Cecilia Abbott inducted Corpus Christi into the Texas Main Street program Friday, May 6 during ceremonies on N. Chaparral. Courtesy Photo
Corpus Christi was officially welcomed into the Texas Main Street Program by the state’s First Lady Cecilia Abbott May 2. Ceremonies were held on an outdoor state at N. Chaparral Street Friday morning with a reception following at the Education Service Center Region 2 building atrium.
A 30-year-old program, Texas Main Street aims to revitalize historic downtowns. It is operated through the Texas Historical Commission and is one of the oldest and largest programs of its kind in the nation. Corpus Christi recently become the largest city in the program, which now has 87 fully designated communities.
The wife of Governor Greg Abbott, Mrs. Abbot came equipped with a rendering of what the city’s downtown could look like with a few design improvements. The rendering was of the 700 block of North Chaparral Street. Central to the illustration was the Ritz Theater at 715 N. Chaparral, which opened to the public in 1929. The rendering restored the Spanish Renaissance building to its original appearance.
Revitalization is more than just a facade facelift, Mrs. Abbot said in her remarks. A true remake of any downtown must include sidewalks, signage, transportation and public perception. She noted the work done by the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, which renamed the city’s urban core the Marina Arts District.
She noted the recent listing of the Galvan Ballroom into the National Register of Historic Places by the 100-year-old National Park Service and the addition of such events as Fiesta de la Flor and Dining Downtown.
Happening on the day after Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Heritage Park and just as Fiesta de la Flor was preparing to open its gates to perhaps as many as 70,000 people this weekend, May 6 provided a perfect showcase for downtown’s potential.
Texas Main Street helps cities by providing technical assistance to small business owners in designated areas. Cities in the program qualify for grant funds and tax credits. So far the program has helped provide $3.2 billion in reinvestment funds for districts, creating around 35,000 and 8.700 small businesses.
"As First Lady of Texas, I have traveled throughout the state and I can tell you that there is no better way to experience Texas than through one of our Texas Main Street communities," said Mrs. Abbott. "These communities have done an exemplary job of revitalizing and preserving their historic downtowns to earn the official designation and support from the Texas Historical Commission."
After the Corpus Christi event, Mrs. Abbot left for Brownsville, which was also being welcomed into the program. It is the last Texas Main Street ceremony for this year.
