August 26, 2024

Revitalizing Downtown Brownwood: A Visionary Plan for Economic and Cultural Growth

This Freese and Nichols project has been honored with the Project of the Year Award by the American Planning Association – Texas Chapter. These accolades are instrumental in enhancing our client relationships, and the variety of our winning projects highlights our extensive expertise. 

The City of Brownwood Downtown Plan is a comprehensive strategy designed to enhance ongoing revitalization efforts in Downtown Brownwood. Covering 102 blocks along US 377, this plan focuses on the design of building forms, streets, and public spaces to create an innovative yet realistic vision for the area. As the traditional civic and cultural hub, Downtown Brownwood is home to key landmarks such as the Brown County courthouse, museums, cultural institutions, and Howard Payne University. Located in the northern end of the Texas Hill Country, Brownwood serves as the economic core of an eight-county trade area, supported by major employers like 3M Company, Kohler Company, and Superior Essex. With its rich array of regional amenities and strategic location, the Downtown Plan aims to strengthen Brownwood as a vital economic driver for the community.

Brownwood’s Downtown Plan stands out as an innovative blueprint, rooted in two decades of implementation. Its recent visionary update has already spurred an additional $17.8 million in investments since its adoption. The plan aims to create a welcoming and inclusive Downtown, balancing business development with user experience. By emphasizing public realm elements such as streetscape design, civic spaces, and sidewalk activation, the plan fosters unique experiences. Public facilities like City Hall act as activity hubs, enriching the Downtown atmosphere.

The proposed Brownwood Art Park, a public/private partnership, will transform the area into a family-friendly destination, enhancing the non-commercial offerings. Additionally, the plan incorporates technological solutions to tackle everyday challenges like waste management and micro-mobility. These innovative strategies contribute to a cleaner, more attractive Downtown, underscoring the pivotal role of planning in shaping Brownwood’s future.

The Brownwood Downtown Plan is a comprehensive strategy that seamlessly integrates with other planning efforts, acknowledging the need for updated development regulations. A concurrent diagnostic report focuses on Downtown Brownwood, marking a critical path to realizing the vision. The plan’s code diagnostic helps transition from vision to actionable policies and ordinances, meeting private sector requirements and removing barriers to implementation, such as internal conflicts within the City’s ordinances and policies.

Projects are designed to move swiftly through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan budgeting and planning process, with strategic recommendations from the project team ensuring their effectiveness, efficiency, and readiness for funding and construction. The plan promotes internal integration by breaking down departmental silos, with leadership from the City Manager’s office. This approach supports the broader needs of the community and surrounding region, highlighting the significant role of planning in shaping Brownwood’s future.

The Brownwood Downtown Plan has successfully addressed the need for revitalization and growth in the area. By fostering improved dialogue with downtown building owners and presenting a clear vision for the city’s future, it has instilled a sense of ownership among community members. The plan has reinforced the city’s commitment to downtown, resulting in the opening of four new businesses and the expansion of existing ones. It has also attracted interest from out-of-town developers and property owners.

By integrating tourism and economic development, the plan enhances the quality of life for locals, meeting a significant request from city industries. The growing synergy among merchants is already evident, showcasing the plan’s long-term effectiveness. Since its adoption, the City Council has conducted two budget funding workshops, leading to an anticipated investment of $17.8 million—the largest investment in Downtown Brownwood to date.