Bastrop City Council has taken a major step toward reshaping downtown after approving up to $525,000 to acquire property that could pave the way for a long-awaited parking garage.
What we know
Although officials are still evaluating the best site for such a project, city staff and the Bastrop Economic Development Corp. believe 804 Water St. could be a possible location.
“We know we have a need,” Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said during a Feb. 10 meeting. “We need a location. We need to make some site determinations and then move forward with the tax increment reinvestment zone or some other financing mechanism to make that happen.”
A tax increment reinvestment zone is a financing mechanism that uses revenue generated by increases in property value to pay for roads, utilities and other public improvements.
Council approved the maximum funding for 804 Water St. and the necessary documents to purchase the 0.16 acres of land during the meeting.
“In the downtown area, we are struggling with parking—not just for event days but for almost every day, whether it’s just a Sunday at church,” Carrillo-Trevino said.
Some background
During the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City event last September, Place 2 council member Cynthia Meyer shared her desire for a downtown parking garage.
“If I could accomplish one big goal for the city, I bet anybody could tell you that Cynthia Sanders Meyer is going to say, ‘We need a parking garage downtown,’” she said at the time. “I want to make sure people can come to the heart of our city, which is downtown, and be able to enjoy and just really take in our culture.”
However, Meyer wants a development of that stature to not detract from what many, including herself, find charming about Bastrop.
“I talk to people all the time that just moved here, and they moved here because they love the town for what it is,” Meyer said.
She listed several characteristics that give Bastrop that charm, including:
- A historic, walkable downtown
- A small-town community feel
- Arts, culture and live events
- Natural beauty and outdoor recreation
The outlook
If 804 Water St. is not determined to be the best site for a garage, Carrillo-Trevino highlighted that it could still be used to alleviate parking congestion.
“If there’s a potential to acquire this land and other lots, this would be a fine place for [a parking garage],” she said. “If not, it still has potential for parking and/or some other retail [options].”
