Improvements Continue in the Historic Renaissance District of La Marque

LA MARQUE – The La Marque Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit agency dedicated to promoting business retention, business expansion and business recruitment, in conjunction with the La Marque City Council, Werner Construction, and HELM Design Group LLC, has begun exterior and interior renovations on 1130 1st Street and 418 Laurel Street as part of the Imagine La Marque: Renaissance District Revitalization Plan, created in 2017 by the Texas Coastal Watershed Program.

The Revitalization Plan aims to make downtown La Marque more cohesive with matching buildings along the corners of 1st Street and Laurel Street. With brick facades and matching awnings, 1130 1st Street, which holds the offices of the La Marque Economic Development Corporation, Developmental Services and Code Enforcement, will see a new building exterior with two-tone bricks and a clocktower. The interior renovation will include new Developmental Services and Code Enforcement offices, featuring a brand-new reception area with a separate entrance. 418 Laurel Street, which houses Innovation Safety Solutions, a safety consulting company that works with companies on making their projects and staff more aware of the importance of safety in work areas, as well as El Lugar, an event center, will receive exterior renovations that match the brick and paint façade of 401 Laurel and 1130 1st Street.

Drawing from feedback provided by focus groups and the community, this effort will be driven by the principles of placemaking, walkability, and accessibility. This project will also help create an attractive destination for La Marque residents and help

refocus development toward the City's urban core. After months of careful planning, focus groups and studies, the first of many construction projects began in early 2018. LMEDC invested nearly a million dollars into an exterior renovation at 401 Laurel Street, with half the building occupied by Art of Coffee.

On July 8, 2019, LMEDC brought a preliminary construction budget and proposed streetscape layout for the intersection of Laurel and 1st Street in La Marque's downtown Renaissance District to the City Council for consideration. Council approved the plan, which led to the next step in placemaking for downtown according to the Revitalization Plan. The street improvements, including 19 new light poles, new and expanded sidewalks, ADA-compliant crosswalks, and added on-street parking spaces along Laurel and 1st Street help make downtown more walkable, bikeable, and pedestrian-friendly. Along with these improvements, a new compass street design was installed at the intersection of 1st Street and Laurel Street to add a little wow factor to downtown. The goal is for downtown to continue as an economic driver and gathering place for future generations.