PETITION to the CITY OF HICO, TEXAS
July 13, 2020
The purpose of this petition is to voice opposition to the proposed expansion of Grace Bible Fellowship to accommodate 500 members. We oppose the impact the proposed location for expansion would have on our community.
While we support the growth of Grace Bible Fellowship, we have concerns about the expansion and the issues it would present for both the City of Hico and Grace Bible Fellowship.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CITY:
1. Demolition of Historical Buildings-The expansion currently under review would involve the demolition of historical buildings located in the 100 Block of N. Railroad Street, including the gas station at the corner of Elm St. and N. Railroad Street. Tourism is generated through interest in our old stone buildings. They provide economic vitality to our businesses and should be preserved.
2. Tax Revenue for the City-We believe our downtown area along the 100 block of N. Pecan Street, the 100 block of S. Pecan Street, the 100 block of N. Elm Street, the 100 block North and South 1st Street, and the 100 block of N. Railroad Street should be reserved for future commerce that contributes to the tax base for schools, infrastructure, and City services. Churches are tax exempt.
3. Parking-There are approximately 125 current parking spaces downtown, along the city blocks referenced above. The standard for a 500-member church is 125 parking spaces, thus encroaching on the already insufficient downtown parking. The land requirement for 125 parking spaces is 1.5 acres.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP:
1. Parking-There is insufficient parking for downtown businesses and certainly no parking provision for any future growth of the congregation.
2. Remediation of Underground Storage Tanks-The gas station location may have underground storage tanks to be mitigated, involving costly removal.
3. Future Growth-Once the congregation grows to beyond 500 members, there would be no surrounding property available for expansion.
Updates
July 27, 2020
The petition has now reached two hundred and fifty signatures. It is encouraging to see this many people acknowledge the importance of preserving our historical downtown district.
Reached 250 supporters
July 25, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
July 23, 2020
July 22, 2020
The momentum surrounding our efforts to protect the historic character of downtown Hico is encouraging. Securing 250 signatures will provide us with a much stronger foundation when we present our concerns to the city officials. Please encourage neighbors who value our local heritage to add their names to this collective effort today.
122 Comments
The church has done a beautiful job with what they have, but I’d love to see them continue their expansion outside of the historical district. Hico has a rare set of opportunities for a small town in the old buildings and I’d love to see them used for a variety of businesses that will bring more tourists to town.
Hico and it’s citizens deserve responsible development guidelines to protect the health of the delicate mixed-use nature of its downtown district. The church should recognize that overtaking downtown with an inconsistent, parking pressure intensive use ultimately damages its own future growth potential.
The historic charm of Hico is the number one point of interest and, therefore, the main attraction for future businesses and current visitors - visitors who are the main payers of sales taxes and hotel taxes in town.
Please save these buildings. I no longer live there but we drive back to see these often then also eat there in town and get gas which brings money to the town. And when the church gets 500 members? Does the town even have that many people in the area?
I have lived here for 60 years and know the history of many of these building. One of these buildings pictured was a saloon. Please do not destroy these historical buildings.
Demolishing old buildings for a parking lot for a 500 member church (500 members in Hico? Sounds like a lie) is pretty BS. There needs to be a better reason than that.
This is a great project. We live in and historic District and fully support efforts to maintain our history and culture.
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PETITION to the CITY OF HICO, TEXAS
July 13, 2020
The purpose of this petition is to voice opposition to the proposed expansion of Grace Bible Fellowship to accommodate 500 members. We oppose the impact the proposed location for expansion would have on our community.
While we support the growth of Grace Bible Fellowship, we have concerns about the expansion and the issues it would present for both the City of Hico and Grace Bible Fellowship.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CITY:
1. Demolition of Historical Buildings-The expansion currently under review would involve the demolition of historical buildings located in the 100 Block of N. Railroad Street, including the gas station at the corner of Elm St. and N. Railroad Street. Tourism is generated through interest in our old stone buildings. They provide economic vitality to our businesses and should be preserved.
2. Tax Revenue for the City-We believe our downtown area along the 100 block of N. Pecan Street, the 100 block of S. Pecan Street, the 100 block of N. Elm Street, the 100 block North and South 1st Street, and the 100 block of N. Railroad Street should be reserved for future commerce that contributes to the tax base for schools, infrastructure, and City services. Churches are tax exempt.
3. Parking-There are approximately 125 current parking spaces downtown, along the city blocks referenced above. The standard for a 500-member church is 125 parking spaces, thus encroaching on the already insufficient downtown parking. The land requirement for 125 parking spaces is 1.5 acres.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP:
1. Parking-There is insufficient parking for downtown businesses and certainly no parking provision for any future growth of the congregation.
2. Remediation of Underground Storage Tanks-The gas station location may have underground storage tanks to be mitigated, involving costly removal.
3. Future Growth-Once the congregation grows to beyond 500 members, there would be no surrounding property available for expansion.
Updates
July 27, 2020
The petition has now reached two hundred and fifty signatures. It is encouraging to see this many people acknowledge the importance of preserving our historical downtown district.
Reached 250 supporters
July 25, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
July 23, 2020
July 22, 2020
The momentum surrounding our efforts to protect the historic character of downtown Hico is encouraging. Securing 250 signatures will provide us with a much stronger foundation when we present our concerns to the city officials. Please encourage neighbors who value our local heritage to add their names to this collective effort today.
122 Comments
Given the vast amount of land available in Texas, cities and towns have ample space available to build out around their historic cores. This would allow tourism to fuel the local economy while expanding the footprint to meet the needs of the locals.
The church has done a beautiful job with what they have, but I’d love to see them continue their expansion outside of the historical district. Hico has a rare set of opportunities for a small town in the old buildings and I’d love to see them used for a variety of businesses that will bring more tourists to town.
Hico and it’s citizens deserve responsible development guidelines to protect the health of the delicate mixed-use nature of its downtown district. The church should recognize that overtaking downtown with an inconsistent, parking pressure intensive use ultimately damages its own future growth potential.
The historic charm of Hico is the number one point of interest and, therefore, the main attraction for future businesses and current visitors - visitors who are the main payers of sales taxes and hotel taxes in town.
Please save these buildings. I no longer live there but we drive back to see these often then also eat there in town and get gas which brings money to the town. And when the church gets 500 members? Does the town even have that many people in the area?
I have lived here for 60 years and know the history of many of these building. One of these buildings pictured was a saloon. Please do not destroy these historical buildings.
Demolishing old buildings for a parking lot for a 500 member church (500 members in Hico? Sounds like a lie) is pretty BS. There needs to be a better reason than that.
This is a great project. We live in and historic District and fully support efforts to maintain our history and culture.
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Given the vast amount of land available in Texas, cities and towns have ample space available to build out around their historic cores. This would allow tourism to fuel the local economy while expanding the footprint to meet the needs of the locals.