WACO — The City of Waco is bracing to request a $5.5 million dollar investment for the revitalization of an East Waco street.
With plans to request the multi-million dollar investment from the Tax Increment Financing Zone Board (TIF) on Thursday, the East Waco community hopes to gain as much support as possible.
"Our people want the same wealth and equity that other neighborhoods have," said Jeanette Bell, the North East Riverside Neighborhood Association President.
The money would be used towards what the East Waco community is calling a "front porch" project, or festival street, used to connect the community via parades, music venues and more.
"Bridge Street is our front porch, this whole community is our front porch, and we want everybody to feel welcome and invited. But we also want to maintain our strong family and community ties," said Bell.
When 25 News spoke with the city's Executive Director of Development Melett Harrison, she explained, "the front porch [project] is really just something that resonated with the groups that participated in the concepts, they feel like they're a front porch neighborhood."
Harrison further explained the possible 'front porch' project is also an effort to spread Waco's tourism across the city.
"In all fairness, for years that land was undeveloped and that is rapidly changing. That is fantastic," said Harrison.
If given the green light, the project will break ground February 2020.
