The overview
The city of Georgetown updates its five-year Capital Improvement Plan annually, as city staff prioritize what investments need to be made to address the area’s increased growth and demand for services. According to Jennifer Bettiol, city of Georgetown CIP manager, construction of Phase 1 of the downtown city center—between the Georgetown Public Library and Light and Water Works building—is set to begin this fall. The projects is expected to be complete by spring 2024.
Meanwhile, the city is early into the design process for renovations to Georgetown Fire Station No. 1. Some of the changes to the facility include new pathways for firefighters to exit the building when responding to a call as well as adding an additional apparatus bay.
“This is a big project for us,” Bettiol said. “This station is in need of drastic renovations, and it’s going to be a complete renovation, including actually changing the entry to facing [FM] 1460.”
The city hopes to bid out the renovation work at the beginning of 2024.
A facilities study by Freese and Nichols is also wrapping up. The city and engineering firm have been looking at Georgetown City Hall, the West Side Service Center, and Georgetown Light and Water Works buildings to see how each facility can best be utilized. The study will be presented to the Georgetown City Council in the coming months as council members decide whether to call a November bond election.
The outlook
The city of Georgetown has outlined several high-priority projects for its five-year Capital Improvement Plan. According to city staff, the projects could be funded through the city's current tax rate.
- Downtown City Center design and construction: $1.6 million
- Fire Station No. 1 renovation: $6.6 million
- Fire Station No. 3 renovation design: $472,000
- Georgetown Municipal Complex II design: $4 million
- Georgetown Municipal Complex II construction: $50 million
