Kingsville, Texas A Vision for the Future of the Downtown District Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research - College of Architecture, Construction and Planning Rural Business Program - Institute for Economic Development The University of Texas at San Antonio - March 2017 2 Kingsville, TX - A Vision for the Future of the Downtown District - 2017 development. Of prime importance is retaining Kingsville’s Preface historical and cultural legacy in this process. The City of Kingsville, founded in 1904, has a rich historic and fortheFutureofDowntownDistri Vision A TX - Kingsville, cultural legacy. Two of the major early ranching empires of South Texas, King Ranch and Kenedy Ranch, are nearby. Kingsville is Dr. Richard Tangum, Director CURPR bordered by two King Ranch Divisions, Santa Gertrudis to the Dr. Maggie Valentine, Co-Principal Investigator, CURPR North and West and Laureles to the East. Kenedy Ranch is Bert Moyer, Research Scientist Associate III, CURPR ORFDWHGDVKRUWGLVWDQFHVRXWKRI.LQJVYLOOHDGMDFHQWWR%DIÀQ Ernest Gerlach, Senior Research Fellow, CURPR Bay. In recent years retail and lodging activity has declined in March 2017 the Downtown District, but the area is still the governmental and cultural center of the City and Kleberg County. This vision plan examines a number of options designed to improve Kingsville’s Downtown District’s future by increasing visitor and tourism potential. These options include street, parking and building improvements to the historic Downtown District; improving the connection to Texas A&M Kingsville; and developing a special events center. A potential museum cluster would link the King Ranch Museum with the Train Depot Museum and a possible future children’s museum in the vacant Kingsville Publishing Company Building. Recommendations DUHDOVRPDGHIRUEUDQGLQJDQGZD\ÀQGLQJLQWKH'RZQWRZQ 'LVWULFW,QÀOOGHYHORSPHQWVWUDWHJLHVIRUQHZKRXVLQJZLWKLQ walking distance of downtown is also discussed. Many of these ideas surfaced in the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) discussion session held with residents on September 21, 2016. ct -2017 The intent of this vision plan is to suggest a possible roadmap for future development in the Downtown District and includes an Implementation Plan to provide a framework for long-term 3 Historical Background......................................................................10 Acknowledgements UTSA Team The Coahuiltecans............................................................................10 The advice and assistance of the citizens of the City of Institute for Economic Development European Arrival...............................................................................10 Kingsville have been invaluable in the preparation of this Rural Business Program The King Ranch, Railroad, and Founding of Kingsville...............11 report. We would like to especially acknowledge the Gil Gonzalez, Director World War II to Present.................................................................12 ct - 2017 following: Paul Herrera, Project Manager Background Assessment City of Kingsville - City Commission &ROOHJHRI$UFKLWHFWXUH Demographic Trends........................................................................14 Sam Fugate, Mayor Age Structure....................................................................................14 Edna Lopez - Mayor Protem, City Commissioner Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research Population Growth...........................................................................15 Alfonso R. Garcia - City Commissioner Dr. Richard Tangum, Director, CURPR Race/Ethnicity.....................................................................................16 Arturo Pecos - City Commissioner Dr. Maggie Valentine, Co-Principal Investigator Educational Attainment...................................................................17 Noel Pena - City Commissioner Bert Moyer, Research Associate III, CURPR Housing..............................................................................................18 Ernest Gerlach, Senior Fellow CURPR Existing Economic Conditions.......................................................19 Planning and Zoning Commission Scott Pusich, Graduate Research Assistant Sales Tax.............................................................................................19 Luis Zamora, Graduate Research Assistant Steve Zamora - Chair Hotel Occupancy Tax......................................................................19 Lupe Alvarez - Member Sara Serra, Graduate Research Assistant Retail Market Gap Analysis.............................................................20 'HEELH7LIÀH0HPEHU Riley Metcalfe, Graduate Research Assistant Flood Plain.........................................................................................21 Robert McCreight - Member 5RDG7UDIÀF&LUFXODWLRQ Bill Aldrich - Member 5DLO7UDIÀF&LUFXODWLRQ Albert Garcia - Member Table of Contents SWOT Analysis.................................................................................24 Raymond Perez - Member Preface..................................................................................................3 Community Input Meeting.............................................................24 Historic Preservation Division Acknowledgments..............................................................................4 Strengths............................................................................24 UTSA Team..........................................................................................4 Weaknesses...........................................................................24 Cynthia Martin - Downtown Manager Contents..............................................................................................4 Opportunities..........................................................................24 List of Figures......................................................................................5 Threats................................................................................24 2IÀFHRIWKH&LW\$GPLQLVWUDWRU List of Tables........................................................................................6 Next Steps.........................................................................................25 Jesus Garza, City Manager Community Assessment Survey....................................................25 Local Economy..................................................................................25 Kingsville, TX - A Vision for the Future of the Downtown Distri Vision A TX - Kingsville, Introduction Educational Assets...........................................................................26 Regional Context................................................................................8 Environmental Status......................................................................26 4 Local Government Capacity/Outreach.......................................26 'HYHORS ,QÀOO +RXVLQJ LQ WKH 'RZQWRZQ 'LVWULFW Successful Community Assessment..............................................27 Implementation Plan Encourage an Expanded Farmer’s Market.................................72 Local Housing Assets.....................................................................27 Introduction.....................................................................60 Economic Development/Investment Strategies........................72 fortheFutureofDowntownDistri Vision A TX - Kingsville, Community Assets, Talent and Resources...................................28 Setting the Stage...............................................................................60 Where Do We Go From Here?.................................................74 Leadership Assets............................................................................29 Next Step - Organizing the Process............................................62 Workforce Assets/Status...............................................................29 Areas of Responsibility....................................................................63 Appendices Business Environment.....................................................................30 Public Sector - City of Kingsville/Kleberg County.....................63 Appendix A: Summary of Community SWOT Session............77 Quality of Life Assets.....................................................................30 Private Sector....................................................................................63 Appendix B: Community Resources.............................................81 Conclusion.........................................................................31 1RQ3URÀW6HFWRU Strategic Considerations................................................................64 Pulling The Community Together – Organizing For Figures Options for the Future Development....................................................................................64 Figure 1: Regional Context Map - Kingsville, TX...........................8 Funding Considerations/Resources..............................................65 Increase Visitor/Tourism Potential...............................................34 Figure 2: Regional Micropolitan and Metropolitan Statistical Development Timeline....................................................................68 Establish a Museum Cluster............................................................34 Area.......................................................................................9