Mayor Receives Brick
Award If you couldn't find the door to gain entry to the annual Heart of Tyler meeting and award ceremony Tuesday night, well, that was the point. As the nonprofit group that promotes downtown gathered to review 2006 and to look ahead, several people donned faux hard hats to celebrate the theme: "Downtown: Under Construction." For emphasis, the meeting was held in Martin and Michelle Heines' building on the square at 116 W. Erwin St., where their new dance and Pilates studio is under construction. Boards and metal trim leaned against the brick interior. Portable lights and heating were brought in. Guests entered through a decidedly inconspicuous makeshift door in the boarded-up front of the building. Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber was presented with the Brick Award for his efforts to initiate the Tyler 21 Comprehensive Plan, the citywide master planning effort still in the works. Heart of Tyler Director Beverly Abell said Seeber has made good on promises during his 2003 State of the City review to start a new master plan with a budget of more than $600,000. The city has since hired Goody Clancy, a Boston planning firm, to perform a detailed study of the city and its potential. Downtown planning is a key component of the strategy. Other volunteers and projects were also highlighted during the gathering. Heart of Tyler members elected these officers and board members for 2007: Andy Bergfeld, Tim Ingram, Kay Latta, J.D. Osborn, Mike Butler, Mark Priestner, Allen Bell and Shari Rickman. Reach staff writer Mark Collette by phone, 903-596-6303, or e-mail,
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