Palestine Main Street Property Marketing: ‘Imagine the Possibilities’
May 3, 2022
In partnership with the Texas Historical Commission, the Palestine Main Street Program will host its annual “Imagine the Possibilities” historic downtown property tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The event will kickoff from the Redlands Hotel lobby at 10 a.m. with a brief welcome message and the distribution of self-guided tour maps.
“Imagine the Possibilities” is part of the Texas Historical Commission’s initiative, DowntownTX.org, which works to connect potential investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and residents with listed or potentially eligible properties for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
“Our previous tours have been wildly successful,” said Mary Ann Admire, Palestine Main Street Coordinator. “In 2021, we had seven properties listed. Six have been purchased, and of those, five are now occupied. We were not able to have a tour in 2020 due to the COVID lockdown, but in 2019 there were six properties listed with the result of five being purchased or occupied.”
“This year’s tour will be my first as the Palestine Main Street Coordinator, so I am really looking forward to seeing the connections made,” said Admire. “In preparation, I have been focusing on reaching out to property owners for buildings and spaces that have been unoccupied for an extended time. Some of the properties include vacant land, an entire office building with its own parking lot, buildings contributing to the National Register District, as well as second-floor offices/potential residential space, and ground-floor retail-type spaces. This year, we will feature 10–15 properties, so we will have a good variety for everyone.”
“As guests tour our area and get to experience a taste of our community, they may find other properties they are interested in that they may inquire about through our office. We have additional properties that are soon-to-be available downtown that will not be on this year’s tour due to scheduling conflicts, but I will be glad to put interested parties in touch. We are asking our property owners to keep us updated on available spaces. Through this process, we have even discovered additional properties outside the Main Street District that have loads of character available for viewing by appointment.”
Exciting Improvements for Palestine’s Main Street District
The City Council has recently approved a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Plan to replace utility, street, and sidewalk infrastructure in the Central Business District neighborhood within the Main Street District.
“This will be a huge boost to the look and feel of central downtown and will bring much-needed upgrades to support the rising tide of demand for downtown properties as our dormant buildings return to service,” said Admire.
“Palestine Main Street and its partners are charged with building a strong community and supporting it, and we are always searching for ways to enhance the Main Street experience. The efforts are really paying off. We are seeing a renewed interest in preserving and restoring — and occupying — our historic downtown buildings. We are especially proud of the recent growth in the small business and residential sectors here.”
More About Palestine Main Street
Palestine Main Street partners with Visit Palestine, the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce, and Palestine Economic Development Corporation throughout the year to actively showcase Palestine's Main Street district, which comprises 44 blocks extending from the courthouse square to the Visitor Information Center.
Palestine Main Street’s annual fundraiser, Whiskey and Wine Swirl ™, is a ticketed event for guests to visit downtown businesses for wine and whiskey tastings that culminates in a special reception party at the end of the event.
“The money raised through ticket sales and sponsorships from local businesses go towards our Downtown Beautification Fund, which is used to complete projects such as vintage streetlight painting and repairs, as well as sidewalk power washing and curb painting,” said Admire. “When considering a project to undertake with the funds, the primary goal is to maximize the positive impact we can make on the quality of life in the Main Street district with the budget we have.”
“Palestine Main Street and our wonderful seven-member volunteer board provide marketing and mentorship opportunities to our downtown businesses,” said Admire. “We often partner with other city departments and organizations to drive visitor traffic and new customers into downtown through events like the Annual Dogwood Festival and our Hot Pepper Festival.”
Palestine Main Street’s overall mission is to make downtown a vibrant and prosperous center of the community using the Main Street four-point approach of focusing on design, organization, promotion, and economic restructuring. Actions revolve around:
- Providing opportunities and education for historically correct rehabilitation of downtown buildings and structures.
- Working with stakeholders to develop partnerships and promote community involvement to build on successful revitalization, community activities, and economic development efforts downtown.
- Creating imaginative, fun, and educational promotions to attract residents and visitors to downtown.
- Supporting new and existing businesses with funding and economic incentives that encourage development of downtown and enhance the local economy.
Come Out on Saturday, May 7th!
“Palestine Main Street is excited to host events like the upcoming “Imagine the Possibilities” tour that gives potential business owners and residents the opportunity to connect with property owners on spaces available for lease or purchase,” said Admire. “I would encourage anyone interested in starting, expanding, or relocating a business to consider historic downtown Palestine. We have some amazing properties that are ready for you to Imagine YOUR Possibilities.”
View property listings at DowntownTX.org. Follow Palestine Main Street on Facebook and Instagram.