SAN ANGELO, TX – Members of Downtown San Angelo joined together on Monday morning to celebrate the newest welcome sign and light fixtures to Concho Ave.
The ceremony, led by the President of Downtown San Angelo Del Velasquez on May 3, featured a number of speakers including newly re-elected Mayor of San Angelo Brenda Gunter and City Councilman Harry Thomas.
"This is just one more item that will allow people to come into the Downtown area," said Councilman Harry Thomas. "I guarantee you this is going to pay big benefits. This is the anchor point for the entrance to Downtown."
The 100 percent privately funded projected added a gigantic sign stating "Historic Downtown" and historic street lights from Bryant to Randolph St.
Main Street Community Sign Provided by TxDot (LIVE! Photo/Matt Trammell)
Ceremony for New Downton Gateway (LIVE! Photo/Matt Trammell)
Ceremony for New Downton Gateway (LIVE! Photo/Matt Trammell)
Ceremony for New Downton Gateway (LIVE! Photo/Matt Trammell)
New Street Lights from Bryant to Randolph (LIVE! Photo/Matt Trammell)
Mayor Gunter told the crowd that this project began after TxDOT agreed to pay for widening Concho Ave. After the city wasn't responsible for fixing the road they "were able to start envisioning something else."
The mayor said that there the important reason for revamping downtown was to help the community at multiple levels. "Having a successful downtown allows us to recruit better doctors, nurse practitioners, and their families to San Angelo," said Mayor Gunter. "It also helps us recruit professors and students in our downtown are. This is as they say the living room of downtown and the original beginning of San Angelo Texas."
She believes that without a strong downtown many businesses will not look at you for future growth or development. "The stake in the ground with this revitalized effort has a ten fold, 100 fold impact on this community," finished Gunter.
During Velasquez's speech he thanked the following people and companies for their support: First Financial Bank, YMCA, San Angelo Area Foundation, San Angelo Health Foundation, Board of Directors of Downtown San Angelo, Executive Director for the City of San Angelo Shane Kelton, the designer Mike Biggerstaff, SKG Engineering, Silver Fox Construction, Boarder State, Danco Electric, TxDOT and the staff of Downtown San Angelo INC.
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