Teens in New Braunfels will have a new place to socialize and spend their time after school once a project from the New Braunfels Youth Collaborative is completed.
The building that used to house the first New Braunfels High School on Mill Street is being reimagined as the Mill Street Youth Center, a gathering place for teens in 6th through 12th grade.
The specifics
The NBYC has entered a 50-year lease with NBISD. The nonprofit is gearing up to begin a $10 million renovation on the historic landmark located at 430 West Mill St., as well as the gym across the street. An additional $5 million will go towards the first two years of operating costs as well as furnishing and outfitting the facility.
“To me, the thing that is really moving about this is that this corner of our community has been serving students for over 100 years, and we now have the opportunity to bring this building back to service for students,” Stacy Dicke, NBYC Executive Director said.
Once completed, the youth center will feature:
- a teaching kitchen
- An esports gaming room
- study rooms
- a renovated gym
- Recording studio
The organization will also facilitate SAT prep classes and yoga classes and provide opportunities for students to receive help with homework. According to Dicke, around 70% of teen survey respondents said they would utilize the community center.
“Everyone that we have talked to has just been super positive about the idea of doing something like this for teens,” Dicke said. “My vision is that any organization that works with this age group, they're welcome to come in and use the building.”
Other programming will also be considered depending on the interest of students, according to Dicke.
“We have four pillars that we're going to focus our programming around... academic success, wellness, enrichment experiences and health and fitness,” Dicke said.
The 27,000-square-foot main building will also house the offices of the local nonprofit organization Communities in Schools of South Central Texas and the NBISD School of Choice, an NBISD program dedicated to helping students receive their GED.
Diving in deeper
The youth center, which will be open to all teen students regardless of the district, is also planning to organize transportation to and from the facility. Meals and after-school snacks will also be provided so students can enjoy the activities at the collaborative without missing a meal.
“Hopefully grades will go up, absenteeism from school will go down, risky behaviors after school will decrease,” Dicke said. “I think things like job readiness so talking to kids about how to apply for a job and how to interview- you know the basics, getting them employment ready.”
The renovation is slated to begin in April and be completed by Spring 2025. The NBYC is working alongside historic preservation groups to maintain the original features of the building in the renovation, according to Dicke.
Once completed, the youth center is anticipated to be open after school until around 7 p.m., with programming potentially available on the weekends.
The background
In 1855, the New Braunfels Academy opened on the corner of Mill Street and Academy Ave., which operated as a school until 1913 and eventually transitioned to the New Braunfels ISD administration offices. The building has since sat vacant for several years and will require a $10 million renovation to shape the new building.
The New Braunfels Youth Collaborative nonprofit organization began in 2021 intending to serve children between the ages of 12 and 18 in the community. The vision of the NBYC is to improve social competencies, enhance learning outlook and increase positive values for New Braunfels teenagers.
What’s next?
So far, over $6 million of their $15 million goal has been raised to begin the renovation through contributions from CIS, American Rescue Plan Funding, the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation and other donations and tax exemptions.
The NBYC is actively accepting donations and applying for grants to secure more funding. The nonprofit is also currently working on establishing a programming committee to discuss possible activities at the youth center.
“I think it's a real resource for the future of New Braunfels, pumping out these kids that are excited to be here and motivated to do well and have a strong affinity for New Braunfels.,” Dicke said.
More information on the Mill Street Youth Center can be found here.
