Tyler Recognized with Downtown Revitalization Awards

WICHITA FALLS — Downtown Tyler won top honors Thursday at the Texas Downtown Revitalization President’s Awards Gala held in Wichita Falls. City Councilman Martin Heines was named the state’s Downtowner of the Year, and the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition (DTAC) won the statewide Best Downtown Partner program. According to city of Tyler press materials, Heines was honored for his years of dedication to downtown revitalization as a volunteer, Heart of Tyler board member, property and business owner, project supporter, and Council member. DTAC won top honors for its many contributions to promotion of the arts in downtown Tyler.

“These are two of the most prestigious awards presented at the event,” said Beverly Abell, department leader for the City of Tyler Main Street Department (pictured with Heines). “We could not be more proud of those honored. Real and lasting downtown revitalization must include the leadership of volunteers, and these awards are confirmation that volunteers have a huge impact on our local program. “Our volunteers dedicate thousands of hours per year to the cause of revitalizing the historic heart of Tyler, and we are so grateful for their time, talent and heart.”

These are not the first awards earned by the downtown Tyler revitalization effort. More than a dozen businesses, properties and projects have been honored over the years. In 2009, Tyler won four awards: Downtowner of the Year (former mayor Joey Seeber), Downtown Partner of the Year (City of Tyler), Downtown Business of the Year (Discovery Science Place) and Best Adaptive Reuse (Moore Grocery Lofts). Last year, Abell received the inaugural Susan Campbell Award for Professional Excellence. The Texas Downtown Association, founded in 1985, has more than 400 members involved in more than $1 billion in downtown revitalization efforts.