PEDC to Transform Historic Downtown Building into Hub for Business Growth

The Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) is making one of its most significant downtown investments to date – not simply to restore a historic building, but to create a long-term economic development asset that will support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and continued downtown revitalization.

PEDC recently purchased the historic 217-219 West Main property at the corner of West Main Street and North John Street. Built in 1907, the building has been vacant for more than 30 years, leaving a prominent downtown property underutilized and limiting its ability to serve the community.

That is about to change.

PEDC plans to preserve the building’s historic character while transforming it into a center for entrepreneurship, small business support, and economic development services that will help strengthen downtown for decades.

“The project reflects PEDC's commitment to creating a downtown full of opportunity and excitement for residents,” said Christophe Trahan, Economic Development Director for PEDC. “By relocating our operations downtown and creating an incubator for small businesses, we are making calculated investments that will provide resources for entrepreneurs and benefit downtown for years to come. ”

Follow along as PEDC begins the next chapter for 217-219 West Main and prepares to reopen its doors for the first time in more than three decades. 

217-219 West Main Has Always Supported Palestine’s Economy

Since its construction in 1907, 217-219 West Main has adapted to house businesses and services that were important in the daily life of the Palestine community. The building originally housed a bank and retail businesses on the ground floor, while the second floor became home to the Palestine Telephone Exchange – one of the region’s earliest telecommunications companies. At a time when telephone service was transforming the way people lived and worked, the building helped connect families and gave local businesses a faster way to communicate with customers and suppliers.

As downtown evolved, so did the building. Over the years, it became home to new businesses, including Dr. Donovan’s Texas State Optical and Pryor’s, a men’s clothing store. Although the storefront was modernized with updated windows and an altered facade, much of the second floor has retained its early 20th-century character.

Now, more than a century after it first opened, the building is preparing for its next chapter.

PEDC plans to transform 217-219 West Main into a collaborative center for economic development. The renovated building will house PEDC’s offices, along with the Palestine Main Street Program and the Small Business Development Center. Plans also include a future business incubator hub, creating a centralized location designed to help local entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.

By bringing these organizations together under one roof, PEDC hopes to create a place where entrepreneurs can find the resources, guidance, and connections they need to succeed while generating new investment and activity throughout downtown.

By locating its own offices in the heart of downtown, PEDC is also making a deliberate investment in the district it works every day to strengthen. Rather than simply asking others to believe in downtown’s future, PEDC is demonstrating that belief through its own investment and positioning its team where revitalization is taking place.

Historic Preservation is Economic Development

Economic development takes many forms. While attracting new businesses is an important part of PEDC’s mission, investing in existing assets can be just as impactful. Redeveloping underutilized buildings, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating spaces where businesses can grow all contribute to a stronger local economy.

Historic preservation plays an important role in that strategy for Palestine. It preserves the character that makes downtown unique while returning inactive properties to productive use. These projects encourage surrounding investment, increase commercial activity, and reinforce confidence in downtown’s long-term future.

“This development is a great example of adaptive reuse with purpose,” said Trahan. “We have an opportunity to preserve an important piece of Palestine's architectural heritage while providing a new use for it. Preservation and modernization are working together, building up the community while protecting what people love about it.”

This project demonstrates that historic preservation and economic development are not competing goals - they are complementary strategies. By investing in a prominent downtown property, PEDC is preserving an important piece of Palestine’s history while creating new opportunities for business growth and entrepreneurship.

Perhaps most importantly, the project demonstrates that PEDC is willing to invest alongside the private sector. The organization has long encouraged redevelopment throughout downtown, and this project shows that it is prepared to lead by example. By making a significant investment in its own future downtown home, PEDC hopes to inspire additional rehabilitation projects, encourage private investment, and reinforce confidence in the district’s continued revitalization.

This is more than an office renovation; it is a commitment to downtown Palestine. 

PEDC Advances Plans for 217-219 West Main Redevelopment

PEDC is moving into the next stage of the 217-219 West Main project as it evaluates qualified firms with experience in historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and preservation-sensitive design. The selected team will help guide the property's transformation while preserving its historic character with guidance from the Texas Historical Commission.  

PEDC also intends to evaluate the Texas Historic Preservation Tax Credit program and other preservation incentives as part of the redevelopment process.

Over the past three years, PEDC has invested approximately $750,000 through its Downtown Grant Program to help property owners improve other downtown buildings and encourage private investment. The acquisition and redevelopment of 217-219 West Main builds on that commitment with a direct investment by PEDC in a downtown property of its own.

This project adds another layer to PEDC’s downtown revitalization efforts, complementing the organization’s continued support for property owners and businesses through the Downtown Grant program.  Together, these efforts reflect PEDC's broader strategy to strengthen downtown through targeted assistance and strategic redevelopment.

“This project represents another tangible investment in downtown and demonstrates PEDC's long-term commitment to revitalization through strategic public investment,” said Trahan. “We believe in leading by example. If we’re asking businesses and property owners to invest in downtown, we should be willing to do the same.” 

Contact PEDC to Discuss 217-219 West Main

When completed, the restored building will be both a preservation success story and a visible demonstration of PEDC's confidence in downtown Palestine. More importantly, it will serve as a lasting investment in the city’s economic future by providing resources that help entrepreneurs launch businesses, assist existing businesses with growth, and encourage additional private investment throughout downtown.

For PEDC, restoring 217-219 West Main is about more than bringing new life to a historic building. It is about demonstrating that downtown Palestine is worth investing in - and leading that investment by example.

If you have any questions about the project, contact Mary Ann Admire at 903-729-4100 or email edanalyst@palestine-tx.org.