Land investment firm relocating to new downtown development
WBW Land Investments will relocate to the new Riverplace development in downtown Georgetown at Second Street and Austin Avenue.
The investment group includes WBW Construction, WBW Development, and Yalgo Engineering and is focused on developing starter and first move-up homes throughout Central and Southwest Texas.
“After more than 30 years running our business from Killeen, I am looking forward to moving our entire company to the City of Georgetown, where we expect to be a part of the community for many generations to come,” said Bruce Whitis, CEO of WBW Development and Yalgo Engineering. “We considered a number of alternatives and we were ultimately attracted by the vibrancy of downtown Georgetown and the opportunity to be a part of its future.”
Company leadership said they decided to relocate to Georgetown to help attract talent and grow their employee base.
“We appreciate all the hard work of City staff, and the generosity and vision of the leadership of the City of Georgetown, as we embark on our plans for a new headquarters building for WBW Development and Yalgo Engineering in the historic district,” WBW Development Vice President David L. Peter said.
The company is partnering in the mixed-use development that will include office, residential, retail, covered parking, and outdoor amenities, which fits in with the type of development called out in the City’s Downtown Master Plan.
“Every two years, the City conducts a citizen survey, and one of the top needs identified in the 2018 survey is continuing to recruit quality businesses and employment opportunities to our community,” Mayor Dale Ross said. “WBW is a great match for Georgetown and we are excited to have another high-quality corporate headquarters relocate to Georgetown.”
At its Feb. 12 meeting, City Council approved an agreement that includes up to $320,000 for infrastructure improvements and job creation over six years.
According to the agreement, the company is expected to create 40 jobs with an average salary of $90,000 a year and invest $3 million in capital improvements.
Breakfast Bites: Safety First, Community Awareness and Engagement in Georgetown
The next Breakfast Bites meeting on Dec. 11 will feature Georgetown Police Chief Wayne Nero and Fire Chief John Sullivan, on the topic of Safety First: Community Awareness and Engagement in Georgetown. The informal meeting opens at 8 a.m. in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St. The talk will start at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and light breakfast snacks will be provided.
Wayne Nero was appointed police chief in April 2010. Prior to Georgetown, Nero served 16 years with the Desoto, Texas, Police Department. His background includes investigations, SWAT, bike patrol, training and special events security.
John Sullivan is a 26-year veteran of the fire services and currently serves as fire and medical chief in Georgetown. Sullivan became chief in Georgetown in January 2013. Since becoming chief, Sullivan has helped expand the department’s service delivery model and created the first fire-based Emergency Medical Service system in the region.
At the Dec. 11 meeting there will be updates from City staff on:
- Art Center and Public Library events
- Convention and Visitors Bureau updates
- City Hall campus project update
- 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update
- Environmental Services update
- Transportation updates
- Parking updates
Also, learn about updates from downtown partner organizations and find out about new businesses in the downtown district that have opened or are under construction.
Breakfast Bites is a quarterly meeting of the Georgetown Main Street Program. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to Kim McAuliffe, downtown development manager for the City of Georgetown, at (512) 930-2027 or at kim.mcauliffe@georgetown.org.
Collectible Christmas Ornament: U.S. Post Office Building
A limited-edition collectible brass Christmas ornament featuring the U.S. Post Office Building at 113 E. Eighth St. is now on sale. The 12th annual ornament sale is a project of the Georgetown Main Street Program. A limited number of the ornaments are available.
Ornaments may be purchased at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St. The cost of the ornament is $20. Payments by cash, check, or credit are accepted.
The building served as the post office from 1931 until 1991 when the City of Georgetown purchased the building to be used as City Hall. The city will be selling the building in early 2019 to a private developer, who plans to repurpose the building for a ballroom, restaurant, and bar.
All proceeds from the ornament sale help fund Main Street projects and the Façade Fund Grant Program.
Be a hero on Small Business Saturday
Shoppers will have the chance to Shop Small at local merchants during the annual Small Business Saturday event on Saturday, Nov. 24.
This year’s theme is Be a Hero! Shop Small! Celebrate how you can be a hero to a small business, by shopping local this holiday season.
The day will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Georgetown Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St., where shoppers can pick up special Shop Small shopping bags, giveaways, and compete for prizes. Shoppers are encouraged to dress as superheroes and have fun while shopping small.
The annual Small Business Saturday event is sponsored by the Georgetown Main Street program, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Georgetown Association.
Breakfast Bites: Crafting Your Business Narrative through Social Media on Sept. 12
The next Breakfast Bites meeting on Sept. 12 will feature Rachel Hancock, on the topic of #SocialSells: Crafting Your Business Narrative through Social Media. The informal meeting opens at 8 a.m. in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St. The talk will start at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and light breakfast snacks will be provided.
Hancock will address the benefits of implementing social media marketing strategies into day-to-day operations, as well as teach business owners how to post memorable, interesting, and valuable content. She will also teach the basics of how to read page insights to understand what posts are effective and why. She will also address ad management and how to get the most return out of ad campaigns.
Rachel Hancock is the owner-operator of Something Social, a local social media marketing agency that specializes in promoting Georgetown businesses on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. She graduated from Southwestern University with a degree in Theatre and uses her theatre background to collaborate with business owners to create the ideal social media marketing strategy.
At the Sept. 12 meeting there will be updates from City staff on:
- Art Center and Public Library events
- Convention and Visitors Bureau updates
- City Hall campus project update
- 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update
- Environmental Services update
- Transportation updates
- Parking updates
Also, learn about updates from downtown partner organizations and find out about new businesses in the downtown district that have opened or are under construction.
Breakfast Bites is a quarterly meeting of the Georgetown Main Street Program. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, to Kim McAuliffe, downtown development manager for the City of Georgetown, at (512) 930-2027 or at kim.mcauliffe@georgetown.org.
City, nonprofits celebrate Preservation Month in May
In May, the City of Georgetown, The Williamson Museum, and Preservation Georgetown will host a series of Preservation Month events in Georgetown to celebrate Preservation Month.
Events include:
- May 1: Rededication of the Emzy Taylor historical marker at 5:30 p.m. at Seventh Street and Austin Avenue in front of Burger University.
- May 5: Plein Air Painting with Preservation Georgetown at Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.
- May 12: Historic Walking Tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., beginning at Founders Park, 814 S. Church St.
- May 17: Texas Treasures Award presented by the Main Street Program during Preservation Georgetown’s Third Thursday event. Two businesses that have operated in Georgetown for more than 50 years will be recognized.
- May 19: “Marking History,” highlighting historical figures around downtown, The Williamson Museum
Preservation Month helps celebrate preservation projects throughout the city, including the rehabilitation of Grace Heritage Center and Founders Park, which were completed last year.
To join the theme of Preservation Month, take a “This Place Matters” photo at a place you love and post it on social media. Download a sign at savingplaces.org. Go to williamsonmuseum.org or georgetownheritagesociety.org for details on events. More information about the City’s historic resources can be found at historic.georgetown.org.
Downtown parking ambassadors to start
Later this month, two downtown parking ambassadors will start working in the downtown parking zone around the Williamson County Courthouse Square. The primary roles for the part-time City of Georgetown employees will be to provide information to residents and visitors on the Square and enforce the three-hour parking ordinance. The downtown parking ambassadors are expected to start by mid-March.
The downtown parking ambassadors will help to direct visitors to free parking lots in the downtown and also provide directions to restaurants, shops, and government offices. Free parking lots are located at 10th and Main streets, Sixth and Main streets, Seventh and Rock streets, Austin Avenue and Fifth Street, Martin Luther King and Eighth streets, and Martin Luther King and Seventh streets. There is a public four-story parking garage at Fourth and Rock streets. The free parking lots and garage do not have a three-hour limit.
The downtown parking ordinance limits on-street parking in the downtown parking zone (see map) to three hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. The three-hour limit does not apply on Saturday or Sunday. A violation of the ordinance can result in a warning followed by a fine of $20 for a second offense, $50 for the third offense, and $100 for a fourth or subsequent offense.
The goal of the three-hour limit for on-street spaces in the downtown zone is to provide for the turnover of these spaces and increase the periodic availability of spaces in the zone throughout the day. The three-hour limit does not apply to disabled parking spaces in the zone. Residents who live in the downtown zone may apply for a residential parking zone permit.
To find out more about events, shops, restaurants, and attractions in downtown Georgetown, go to visit.georgetown.org or arts.georgetown.org or mainstreet.georgetown.org.
Seek the unique on Small Business Saturday
Shoppers will have the chance to Shop Small at local merchants during the annual Small Business Saturday event on Saturday, Nov. 25.
This year’s theme is The Art of Shopping Small…Seek the Unique. Visit local businesses to find one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays.
The day will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Georgetown Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St., where shoppers can pick up special Shop Small shopping bags and participate in a bingo card game for the chance to win a gift basket filled with restaurant gift cards, art, and local goods.
The annual Small Business Saturday event is sponsored by the Georgetown Main Street program, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Georgetown Association.
Collectible Christmas Ornament: Mileham Building
A limited-edition collectible brass Christmas ornament featuring the Mileham Building at 708-710 S. Austin Ave. is now on sale. The 11th annual ornament sale is a project of the Georgetown Main Street Program. A limited number of the ornaments are available.
Ornaments may be purchased at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St. The cost of the ornament is $20. Payments by cash, check, or credit are accepted.
The Mileham Building is one of several Mesker Brothers storefronts in the downtown area. The City of Georgetown is home to one of the largest collection of Mesker storefronts, which incorporate a crest or shell design in the columns and cornice lines.
All proceeds from the ornament sale help fund Main Street projects and the Façade Fund Grant Program.
Breakfast Bites: Inside the Millennial Mind
The next Breakfast Bites meeting on Sept. 20 will feature Matt Glazer on the topic of Inside the Millennial Mind. The informal meeting starts at 8 a.m. in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St. The talk will start at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and light breakfast snacks will be provided. Breakfast Bites is a quarterly meeting of the Georgetown Main Street Program.
Glazer’s talk will provide a deeper understanding of myths surrounding generational workforces, tips on how to engage diverse age groups within our economy, and knowledge of trends in Central Texas. Glazer is an entrepreneur, a community engagement expert, and the former executive director of the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce.
With this meeting, the Breakfast Bites event is now combining with the Downtown Lowdown meeting. The new meeting format includes a speaker on a downtown topic followed by updates on events and initiatives in the downtown. The new combined meeting will be scheduled quarterly.
At the Sept. 20 meeting there will be updates from City staff on:
- Art Center and Public Library events
- Historic street signs update
- Austin Avenue Bridges update
- Downtown sidewalk projects
- Founders Park update
- Best of Georgetown and Convention and Visitors Bureau updates
- Downtown sales tax trends
Also, learn about updates from downtown partner organizations and find out about new businesses in the downtown district that have opened or are under construction.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, to Kim McAuliffe, downtown development manager for the City of Georgetown, at (512) 930-2027 or at kim.mcauliffe@georgetown.org.
