BEAUMONT, Texas — Tonight the City of Beaumont is hosting its first public listening session to discuss plans to transform downtown with a convention center and hotel.
Ahead of that forum Beaumont Mayor Roy West took the city's case to the Jefferson County Commissioners who still need to approve creating a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ).
"When I was a kid I wasn't even sure, didn't even know downtown existed. But as I've gotten older I wanna see it thrive," said Sheila Busceme, a Beaumont resident.
Sheila was born and raised in Beaumont. As an adult she now goes downtown, but wants to see a change.
"You can't have enough live music. You can't have enough art, people where they can show their art," said Shelia.
A consultant group for the TIRZ finally shared detailed plans today with Jefferson County Commissioners hoping for approval.
TIRZ will fund downtown development for the next 30 years through property taxes.
"That revenue will build overtime. So we think that within the next 3 to 5 years we will start seeing the fruit of these dollars being invested back into downtown. Invested back into the community of Beaumont," said Assistant City Manager June Ellis.
Projects like expanding the Civic Center into a full convention center to attract business and conferences.
"Because it would allow us to host other facilities. And other conventions and other events," said Charles Duit, a Beaumont resident.
These projects include turning Crockett Street into a river walk and pay for expanding Riverfront Park.
"Main thing is the hotel, because with the hotel we can start doing things with, every hotel has conferences, and every conference has a group of people that just came along with their spouse. We wanna go to those people and say come take a clay class," said Executive Director of The Art Studio Greg Busceme.
He thinks TIRZ is a win win situation, and hopes approval comes soon.
"You know when they say where do you wanna go for a conference they'll say well of course Beaumont," said Greg.