New businesses and projects transform downtown Texarkana

TEXARKANA, Tx (KTAL/KMSS) — The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce invited the community to learn about the state of Downtown Texarkana.

City managers discussed the neighborhood’s past, present, and future before leading a panel discussion with private and public stakeholders, including Josh Morriss, a co-owner of Silvermoon on Broad.

“We started construction in 2009 after two years of planning with a historical restoration architect,” said Morriss, “Back then, there was a lot of conversation about how there was little or nothing downtown, and it was hard to argue against that.”

Now, they say new businesses are popping up all the time, and new housing and business opportunities are on the horizon, like The Assembly Line, a small business incubator.

“A space for people with business ideas that need a space to curate that idea, we’re now having a space for them to do that and hopefully launch something bigger,” said Vashil Fernandez, the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Texarkana, TX.

Looking ahead, both cities say they are working to sustain that growth through infrastructure projects like rehabbing State Line Avenue between Interstate-30 and 7th Street.

“It’s a gateway into our downtown, and the more we can focus on revitalizing that and make it more welcoming, it will bring more people in our downtown to see the growth that’s happening and contribute towards the growth as well,” said Fernandez.

And just like how, for years, revitalizing The Grim was seen as a white whale, they set their sights on new ambitious projects, like getting Union Station back in working order.

“It’s a bandwagon that has started rolling in the right direction,” said Morriss.

The cities also hope to develop a master plan that will serve as a roadmap for downtown’s future.