Rosenberg envisions new look for downtown
The city of Rosenberg has budgeted $90,000 for projects to promote the city and improve its downtown, and the municipality’s Main Street manager is planning an active calendar of events.
City Council voted 6-1 on Sept. 1 to approve a $67.3 million budget that will invest $40,000 to promote the city on highway billboards, $20,000 for downtown events and $30,000 to match a grant to make downtown Rosenberg more attractive by sprucing up facades of some buildings and adding benches, sidewalks and public art.
That will help fuel the goals of Main Street manager Daniel Kelleher to establish a major festival each fall and spring in downtown Rosenberg along the lines of the “Trunk or Treat” event set for Oct. 25.
The proposed fall and spring events will bookend a robust calendar of happenings throughout the year, said Kelleher, who was hired in February to lead Rosenberg’s three-year commitment as a member of the Texas Main Street Program.
Typically, a city renews its initial three-year participation in the program, said Kelleher, whose experience includes being Main Street manager in Vernon and director of that city’s Department of Tourism and Main Street Services.
This fall’s Trunk or Treat will be ushered in by several downtown activities the day before, with events on Saturday, Oct. 24, that will feature a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the addition of two murals and a sculpture in Third Street Park. That will be followed by a dog festival and parade, a judged
art show and music by celebrated jazz saxophonist Chris Mitchell and members of the Rosenberg Symphonic Band.
Noel Valdes, co-owner and designer of Red Queen’s Attic at 900 Third St. in Rosenberg, applauded City Council’s financial support for the historic downtown arts district and Rosenberg Main Street programs. Benches to be art
“An immediate benefit,” said Valdes, “will be the matching funds for a beautification program,” which will include works of art that will serve as benches.
“It will be more fun for visitors to have a comfortable place to sit along the sidewalks and also see works of public art.
“We are pretty much an all-day destination for people coming from Houston, for example, with our antiques and the (Rosenberg Railroad) museum and our restaurants,” Valdes said. “The nightlife is busy, too, with a wine bar and music and live theater.”
Kelleher, 58, is a native of Kent, Washington, where he began serving on its city council at age 25 and became mayor and chief executive officer at 28. That city has about 120,000 residents.
“One of the interesting comparisons (between Rosenberg and Kent) is that both cities got started surrounding a train station,” Kelleher said.
As the popularity of train transportation declined, the downtowns of both cities lost their appeal as a hub of activity until local business owners revitalized them.
Kelleher said his interest in downtown improvement programs began in his hometown, leading to a career administering such projects for both government and nonprofit organizations.
“I’ve never lost my love for it,” he said.
Since moving to Rosenberg this year with his wife, Uma, Kelleher has helped organize an advisory board and numerous committees that support downtown Rosenberg as a desirable place to live, work, play and invest. Committees busy
For example, a committee met last month to continue planning logistics for a visit by Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott. Another committee discussed ways to support the monthly First Saturday Arts Reception and other events, such as the next Ladies Night Out, on Oct. 10, and the 2015 Fall Fun Fest, which the Rosenberg Railroad Museum will stage 11 a.m.5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
According to the Texas Historical Commission’s website, the TMSP formed more than 30 years ago along with a national revitalization effort for historic downtowns.
Among the benefits of joining the group, said Kelleher, is the sharing of ideas among members and getting valuable assistance from the state TMSP staff. For example, the TMSP Resource Team visited Rosenberg April 14-17 to conduct a downtown improvement assessment and collect input from downtown stakeholders.
On July 27, TMSP coordinator Debra Drescher delivered the team’s report and conducted a follow-up workshop to set goals and develop a plan that calls for the branding of downtown Rosenberg as a popular destination.
Each month, Kelleher’s office publishes “Downtown News,” a newsletter “report on recent and upcoming downtown happenings.”
To view the newsletter, visit www.ci.rosenberg.tx.us and type “Rosengerg Main Street” in the search field. Then click on “Downtown News.”
Residents also may send an email message to Kelleher at danielk@ci.rosenberg.tx.us and ask to be added to the city’s electronic newsletter distribution list. Much of the content of the monthly newsletter, especially information about events, is posted on the Rosenberg Main Street Program’s Facebook page.
Don Maines is a freelance writer