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Riverfront Park in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017
To openly discuss the proposition of purchasing the former AT&T building at 555 Main Street, the Beaumont City Council plans to hold a public forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 at the Event Centre.
The announcement came after a handful of executive sessions spent discussing the matter over the last two months, with the item appearing once on the regular agenda for open discussion. The purpose of the forum is to, “hear from citizens and discuss the proposed acquisition of the building and property located at 555 Main Street.”
From a packed crowd at its June 11 meeting, the City Council heard a mix of favorable and opposing viewpoints regarding the matter when the motion was last placed to face public scrutiny.
Saying the plan was developing too swiftly that day, At-large Councilman Randy Felschau moved to table the item until more information could be disseminated to the public and potentially ease concerns. Feldschau also noted the then-impending mayoral race results, which could impact at least one vote on the matter.
Opponents of the proposed plan argue that the $2.78 million sum would be better spent on road, sewage and drainage projects, while citing their belief that the private sector is best-suited to spearhead downtown development. Proponents of the purchase say the move is an essential step to develop Beaumont’s downtown riverfront into an attractive destination for I-10 travelers and residents alike, noting that the city can simultaneously complete beautification and infrastructure maintenance projects.
“I, for one, want to be clear, I support downtown riverfront development,” said Ward 1 City Councilman Taylor Neild. “I truly believe it is an important step to bringing life to downtown. I have listened to the citizens who are both for and against this plan and acknowledge that there is a perception that this is happening too quickly and without transparency.”
Neild said the support of the Beaumont populace is crucial to this endeavor, and that support can be harvested after the city provides a clear vision for downtown development. Ward 4 Councilman Chris Durio suggested a public forum to inform Beaumont residents of just how the city plans to proceed with riverfront development should council members vote to purchase the former AT&T building.
The entirety of Beaumont is invited to help that public forum come to fruition July 13.