The unincorporated town of Christoval sits about 30 miles south of San Angelo on U.S. 277, nestled along the South Concho River. A post office was established there in 1889 and the town has never grown to more than 400-500 people, where its population sits today. Since 2010, a winery and a bed and breakfast have surfaced in the town, and now some of Christoval's residents are looking at ways to expand on the town's assets—easy access to the Concho River and an artsy vibe. The group, organized as Revitalize! Christoval, is seeking ways to improve the quality of life for people living there.
A survey is currently being conducted by Angelo State University to help get the people of Christoval involved in the redevelopment effort.
Sylvia Pate, the driving force behind the initiative for the last five years, said, “The Christoval Community Survey is a four-page assessment of the issues that residents of Christoval consider important.”
The assessment included asking people to list their satisfaction with community factors such as law enforcement, fire protection, and the number and variety of retail businesses, to name a few categories.
Susan Kerbow, co-chair of the Economic Development Committee with the project, said, “The survey is to find out what business and what services the people of Christoval and the surrounding area would like to have.”
Peggy Rosser, with ASU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), said this survey was created by Dr. Kenneth Stewart, director of the Community Development Initiatives at ASU.
One question asked in the survey addresses if there would be “sufficient interest among area citizens” to discuss what can happen when a community decides to vote and incorporate a local city government. Incorporating Christoval into a municipality brings more services for citizens, but also a new taxing entity.
“A lot of people want to incorporate, and a lot of people don’t, and really that’s not what the survey is about at all,” Kerbow said.
Christoval is an “unincorporated” community, meaning there is no local government or city council. This means the city must be dependent on the residents for labor, time and fundraising efforts for the revitalize project, Pate said.
“Being unincorporated, it’s incumbent upon our local residents to provide the resources,” stated Pate.
San Angelo foundations have also helped in this redevelopment effort.
Howard Taylor, director of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, has worked with Pate for years regarding different events and fundraising to help the initiative.
“Christoval is a very unique community, being the site of the very first art colony in Texas,” Taylor said.
Part of the Revitalize! Christoval initiative looked to recreate the art colony and redefine what tourists had enjoyed about the community.
“Christoval is unique in art history, and we’ve done little thing to help encourage the redevelopment effort and give our input of why we think the place is unique and special,” Taylor said.
The museum supported Christoval with its annual “En Plein Air” national art competition that takes place in October, and always has part of the competition take place in Christoval. En Plein Air is a SAMFA annual event where artists from around the country travel to the Concho Valley to paint in outdoor settings. According to Taylor, not only does it raise money for the arts in the area, but the participants "are painting us!"
Christoval's revitalization effort brings residents together to help improve the community overall.
These efforts have resulted in Shannon Medical Center providing a mobile health unit that comes out to Christoval one day a week, Kurbow mentioned. Improved health services, businesses, and other services are being looked at with the help of the survey as well.
The goal of the survey is to reach at least 200 recipients, and there has already been positive feedback according to Pate and Kerbow.
“The surveys were introduced at a Community Meeting on Tuesday, [April 12], at the Community Center in Christoval,” Rosser said. “Once the surveys are tallied, there will be another community meeting to discuss and plan the next steps.”
Follow the link https://goo.gl/cSYJUr to look at the survey and feel free to contact any of the names listed at the end of the survey regarding further information on the Revitalize! Christoval initiative.
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Comments
The real citizens of Christoval do not want incorporation. For one thing, Christoval is 20 miles south of San Angelo, not 30. In less than a half hour, Christovalans can be in San Angelo for medical attention, groceries or any other of the necessities of everyday living. Christoval has a stellar volunteer fire department which is continually adding and updating the latest equipment, including a knowledgable and well-equipped first responder unit. Who is going to fund a city police force with attendant facilities, municipal sewer system, plus all the other necessities required by law in an incorporated community?
A vacant residence was recently acquired to house local artists' pursuits. It has since been vacated and
resold.
Christoval is not Fredricksburg nor does it aspire to be. And is is not a Village. For that go to Vermont or
the Cotswolds in the U.K.. We are not the Village People. Leave it alone.
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PermalinkMost of the Christoval Old timers do not want to be taxed out of their homes because a bunch of city slickers loved their little community soooooo much they moved in and decided to make it into a village. Leave Christoval alone, it's beautiful! I'm talking to you, Revitalize Christoval!
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Permalink...old money got us in this mess...
...how is their system working for you...?
...insanity is pretending our situation will improve without questioning thier collective competence...
...our country is losing because...
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PermalinkWhy do people want to change our beautiful little town. Our biggest attraction is our beautiful river which attract people from all over Texas. But these new comers closed it down to save the trees. Ok, you put rocks up so no one could drive near them now tear down your gate & fence & let us enjoy it. But no...now you think we need a pavilion & bathrooms. We survived years without them..go to Lake Nasworthy if you want those luxuries. Our town is wonderful just the way it is. Quit trying to change it!
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PermalinkWe are coming for your town.
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PermalinkChristoval was a wonderful place to grow up. it doesn't need "improvement ". San Angelo is close enough for medical needs, groceries, etc. Stay out of our town with your ideas and initiatives.
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PermalinkWe won't stop until mediocrity reigns
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PermalinkI'm reading this article and Sylvia Pate talks about how this survey was not about incorporating our not incorporating. Does she really think Peele are so stupid that they do not connect the dots between all the questions driving her survey about community resources like law enforcement, fire department, etc?? Talking out both sides of her mouth. I think it's great that people want to attract tourists to Christoval, but back when the lack was open, I never saw that Christoval lacked the ability to attract out of towners. EVER. In fact, get there early or don't be there at all. There was a river ministry reaching out to everyone, and Cliff Brown set up right in the middle of the park, offering free food, music that you wouldn't be afraid to hear your kids repeat the lyrics of in front of others. Where is the support for THAT community resource? Obesity rates are sky high...Let's shut off the best thing that ever happened for Christoval youth, rich or poor. Genius move, Revitalize Christoval. Go line your pockets down the river.
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PermalinkWho's agendas are being served?
No one told you, you had permission to utilize any natural resource for monetary gain...how do I weasel my way in and milk it from the inside out...and yes pelpl are that stupid...ignorance is bliss said the cronies.
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PermalinkI agree.
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PermalinkThey need to leave Christoval as it is!!! I agree with some people, our river doesn't need a damn pavilion & bathrooms. The people who live here, like us, are fine with our small town just as is. Expanding, more buildings, etc is going to ruin it IMO. Christoval has & will always be a nice, small town!! That's exactly how it should stay!!
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PermalinkMost of the Christoval Old by Lynda Tyler Apr 23, 2016 11:44 am CDT Most of the Christoval Old timers do not want to be taxed out of their homes because a bunch of city slickers loved their little community soooooo much they moved in and decided to make it into a village. Leave Christoval alone, it's beautiful! I'm talking to you, Revitalize Christoval!
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PermalinkThank you, it's the truth.
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PermalinkThe survey referenced in this article is being gathered expressly to help guide "economic development" of the community...not incorporation.
Economic Development relates specifically to attracting and retaining businesses...
like those about which the survey asks if residents have interest in having access to within the community. Economic Development is not related to any form of government and does not require a community/city tax base for it to occur.
Examples of Economic Development currently underway and being driven by private citizens is the new business going into the donut shop and into the restaurant building next to Tres Amigos. Those are signs of new efforts to bring new business into the community, perhaps even jobs.
For those who don't want incorporation, complete the survey and say "NO" to the question with the word "incorporation" in it. Your voice will be heard and the discussion will be over.
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PermalinkSorry Sylvia...your survey specifically asks about services that aren't currently offered. In order to provide those services, taxes will have to be raised and entities created. That requires incorporation. Economic development is the ruse to get this survey in front of people, but not everyone is going to take a bite of the poisoned apple.
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