Burnet to approve purchase of two properties, expand downtown parking
A look at the two properties that will be combined for downtown parking. City of Burnet photo
The Burnet City Council and Economic Development Corporation moved to purchase two properties located off U.S. 281 near the historic downtown square at two Feb. 10 meetings. The properties are planned to be demolished and replaced with a parking lot to ease downtown congestion during peak hours.
Pending a second reading and approval at a Feb. 11 special council meeting, the city will purchase the two properties, located at 209 and 211 S. Water Street respectively, for $750,000. The city expects anywhere from 30 to 50-plus parking spaces once the project is completed.
The property purchase, demolition, and parking additions are not to exceed a total of $2 million, however, City Manager David Vaughn told the council that the project will likely fall well below that mark.
“While the resolution says $2 million, I don’t anticipate it’s going to be anywhere near that,” Vaughn said. “I think it’s probably more in the $1.1 or $1.2 (million) range.”
City officials were vocal about the necessity of additional parking on the square, especially during events and major festivals, and thought that the future lot’s location off U.S. 281 would be ideal.
“It’s just one of those things that you have to have,” BEDC President Philip Thurman said.
“You’re going to give all of those businesses (on the square) a place to park and leave the front open for more customers,” Vaughn said.
The BEDC was first given the opportunity to purchase one of the two properties months ago, but the property’s L-shaped layout would have made it difficult for the city to garner many parking spaces from it. The BEDC then began discussion with the second property owner to purchase both plots and combine them for expanded parking.
For more information or questions about the project, visit the city of Burnet website or call 512-756-6093.