Marble Falls buys land for new visitors’ center, construction eyed for January
MARBLE FALLS — The city now owns the land where officials plan to build a new visitors’ center, with construction possibly starting in January.
City officials recently closed on the purchase, City Manager Ralph Hendricks said Sept. 6.
“We have purchased the property,” he added. “It (the center) will be great for city. It will take our destination hub and push it forward.”
Funding of $99,500 from the Economic Development Corp. paid for the land, Hendricks said.
A 2011 bond issue will fund the construction of the 4,400-square-foot center, which will sit on a triangular patch of land just south of the Blue Bonnet Cafe and northeast of the U.S. 281 bridge spanning the Colorado River, officials said.
The center will be located at Second Street and 281.
The hotel-motel tax occupancy fund — from receipts paid by visitors to area hotels and inns — will pay down the bond debt, Hendricks said.
The estimated cost of construction is pending, the city manager added.
“We anticipate bids (to build the center) will tell us how much it will cost,” Hendricks said. “Hopefully, we will be ready to start construction in January.”
Officials have said the center is needed to replace the outdated visitors facility at 801 U.S. 281.
The current center opened in 1977 and is a converted train depot.
“It (the new center) is a project that is moving,” Mayor George Russell said. “I think it will help tourism in this area.”
MARBLE FALLS — The city now owns the land where officials plan to build a new visitors’ center, with construction possibly starting in January.
City officials recently closed on the purchase, City Manager Ralph Hendricks said Sept. 6.
“We have purchased the property,” he added. “It (the center) will be great for city. It will take our destination hub and push it forward.”
Funding of $99,500 from the Economic Development Corp. paid for the land, Hendricks said.
A 2011 bond issue will fund the construction of the 4,400-square-foot center, which will sit on a triangular patch of land just south of the Blue Bonnet Cafe and northeast of the U.S. 281 bridge spanning the Colorado River, officials said.
The center will be located at Second Street and 281.
The hotel-motel tax occupancy fund — from receipts paid by visitors to area hotels and inns — will pay down the bond debt, Hendricks said.
The estimated cost of construction is pending, the city manager added.
“We anticipate bids (to build the center) will tell us how much it will cost,” Hendricks said. “Hopefully, we will be ready to start construction in January.”
Officials have said the center is needed to replace the outdated visitors facility at 801 U.S. 281.
The current center opened in 1977 and is a converted train depot.
“It (the new center) is a project that is moving,” Mayor George Russell said. “I think it will help tourism in this area.”