Property owners and business operators along Smythe Street in downtown Bowie have been invited, along with the public, to review plans for the Downtown Revitalization Project at 5 p.m. on Sept. 11 in city hall, 307 N. Mason.
City Manager Bert Cunningham said guests will be able to review the plans and ask questions about the project, which has been several years in the works.
Back in February, it was announced the City of Bowie was officially approved for a $450,000 grant for the project through the Community Block Grant program of the Texas Department of Agriculture. The total grant award is $450,000 with a 15% match of $67,000 for the city.
The work will focus on one of the oldest streets in city, Smythe, starting at Montague Street near the railroad tracks going north.
Repairing deteriorating sidewalks, handicap-accessible ramps, pedestrian lights and brick repairs will be the primary focus. It also will include portions of Tarrant and Smythe for brick and ramp repairs.
More than 20 years ago parts of Smythe and Mason underwent a sidewalk renovation through the Main Street Project and a Texas Department of Transportation grant. It included new sidewalks and handicap accessibility along the section from Tarrant south.
It was originally to cover Tarrant to Montague but they ran out of money before the full project could be completed.