The Irving Economic Development Partnership succeeded in bringing two economic development projects to Irving with approval from the Irving City Council at the Thursday, May 8 meeting.
The Irving City Council approved a zoning ordinance for the Texas Musicians Museum to allow a restaurant with alcohol sales.
In October, the City Council approved a development agreement for the museum, providing $750,000 from the Economic Development Fund to move the museum to 222 E. Irving Blvd. in the Downtown Irving Heritage Crossing District. The agreement is a five-year lease of $3,500 per month, with an option to offset rental payments if the museum hosts up to six community events per year.
Developers plan to hire an architect this month. The museum was previously in Waxahachie’s historic Rogers Hotel.
Don Williams, director of business and visitor services for the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, first heard about retaining the museum for the Heritage Crossing District from Irving Chamber Ambassador Leo Hull, who is also a musician and on the board of the Texas Musicians Museum.
“The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber sees the potential of the Texas Musicians Museum being a catalyst for redevelopment, but even more importantly, the Texas Musicians Museum sees the potential in Irving’s Heritage Crossing District,” Williams said. “South Irving residents and small businesses want redevelopment in the Downtown Heritage Crossing District, and we believe the Texas Musicians Museum is a positive step toward revitalization of Heritage Crossing and South Irving.”
The building will be renovated and include a restaurant and music garden. The museum, which will house a memorabilia collection, will host a number of concerts on indoor and outdoor stages, including the Lemon Blues Festival, Texas Crawfish Party & Music Jam, Texas Tejano & Conjunto Festival and Texas Music and Arts Festival.
On Thursday night, the Council also approved an economic incentive package to relocate Crawford Electric Supply Company to Irving from Dallas and Haltom City. The relocation will provide $9 million in new taxable revenue for the city and bring 130 new jobs to Irving.
