Orange to spend half-million at Boat Ramp area

The economy is booming in Orange as the city council has approved three new economic development grants, including a new apartment complex. Also, the city will be spending a half-million dollars on improvements to the Riverside Pavilion and Boat Ramp area.

The money for the improvements to the recreational area will come from the city's Hotel Occupancy Tax paid by people who stay in local hotels and motels. The city's public works department reports the Pavilion and Boat Ramp have been "key assets" to promote tourism and the local hotel business.

The acreage off Simmons Drive and along the Sabine River has become the site of numerous community activities with the pavilion providing covered space with a stage to host events and concerts in the rain.

BassMasters professional fishing tournaments have drawn tens of thousands of people to the Boat Ramp area to watch the pros and enjoy a festival with live entertainment. BassMasters is set to return this year May 16-18.

Safety improvements for pedestrians in the project will be to install double entry gates to Simmons Field and install a 10-foot sidewalk for the gate. Electrical power will be expanded with 16 high-voltage connections at the Boat Ramp and 18 normal-voltage connections down the old Destroyer Drive where food trucks and vendors set up during festivals. In addition, the city plans on installing 24 yard faucets and and install a "gray water" system.

The city's separate Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors met before the city council and approved the grants for the businesses. Then the city council met and gave the final approval to those grants that will be used for infrastructure for new projects and improvements to existing businesses.

The money for the economic development grants comes from a special sales tax citizens approved in a 2002 election. When a grant is approved, the owner completes the work in the project first and then submits the receipts to the city for reimbursement.

The new apartment complex is to be named Bowling Village Apartments and be constructed at 3320 Bowling Lane, at the west end of the residential street near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The project by Newton Core LLC is getting a maximum $120,000.

Also, ACE Business Park LLC will be getting $100,000 for its site at 4200 FM 105.

Businessman Nash Kherany has bought an older office-shop building called Awesome Plaza at 1509 16th Street near Kroger. He got a grant of up to $29,000 to improve the building, including the addition of fencing.

The Economic Development Corporation Board and council also approved changing a grant for the new Christus Hospital-Orange from the hospital corporation to a different company. The approved $50,000 is to install a canopy at the medical offices entrance. The change is to the company that will put up the structure.