City of Brownsville
The City Staff will lead the work with the consultant to develop the Plan and the community to ensure the implementation of the Plan.
Project Overview
The City of Brownsville is in the process of developing its first Downtown Master Plan to help guide revitalization, celebrate the city’s unique character, and support long-term economic growth. This plan will serve as a roadmap for the next 5 to 10 years, informing decisions around land use, infrastructure, mobility, public spaces, and downtown development.
City leadership, including the City Commission, Planning Department, and key stakeholders, will use the plan to make strategic choices that foster a vibrant, walkable, and inclusive downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Throughout the planning process, the City will host a variety of public meetings, stakeholder workshops, and surveys to ensure the community has opportunities to shape the vision for Downtown Brownsville’s future.
About the Process
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Timeline item 1 - active
Project Initiation (June – July 2025)
During this phase, the planning team will launch the project, finalize the work plan, and collect background data. A kickoff tour and meetings with City staff, elected officials, and stakeholders will introduce the planning effort and generate excitement.
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Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Community Engagement & Visioning (July – September 2025)
The City will begin outreach efforts, including launching a project website and public survey, and hosting the first public workshop. Feedback gathered during this phase will help shape the project’s vision and goals.
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Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Analysis & Framework Development (August – January 2026)
This phase includes technical assessments, vision development, and economic analysis. The planning team will draft a framework for Downtown Brownsville and review it with City staff and stakeholders.
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Design & Strategy Phase (December 2025 – March 2026)
Illustrative plans, renderings, and key recommendations will be developed for mobility, placemaking, and development opportunities. The second public workshop will be held during this time.
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Timeline item 5 - incomplete
Implementation & Draft Plan (February – April 2026)
The planning team will outline actionable steps, diagnostic tools, and an implementation roadmap. A draft plan will be submitted and prepared for public review.
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Timeline item 6 - incomplete
Plan Finalization & Adoption (May – July 2026)
After public and staff feedback, the final draft will be refined and presented to City Council for adoption. The Downtown Master Plan will serve as a blueprint for transformative investment in Downtown Brownsville.
Meet the Team
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Freese and Nichols, Inc. (Consultant)
Freese and Nichols, Inc. is an engineering, urban planning, and architecture firm offering a wide range of services to public sector clients for more than 125 years.
TXP, Inc. (Subconsultant)
TXP, Inc. will lead the market analysis review of this Plan. For more than 20 years, TXP has worked on hundreds of projects with clients from private business, public sector and non-profit organizations. TXP serves as economists on retainer for numerous public sector agencies across Texas.
LOI Engineers (Subconsultant)
LOI Engineers will lead the transportation and mobility analysis for this plan. With over 20 years of experience, LOI Engineers have collaborated on numerous projects with clients from the private sector, public agencies, and non-profit organizations.
Livable Plans and Codes (Subconsultant)
Livable Plans & Codes will help the team with architectural and urban design and helps bridge the gap between the recent zoning updates and this planning effort. They bring over 26 years of experience to the team in developing master plans for walkable mixed use and implementation through various zoning tools, with specific expertise in form-based codes.
Resources
Document Drafts
As draft chapters of the document are released, they will be available here.Get Involved!
Take the Survey
Idea Wall
What future do you want for Downtown Brownsville?
Think about Downtown Brownsville in the next 5–10 years. What does it look and feel like? Share your vision for the future—ideas for improvements, new amenities, public spaces, or anything else that could help create a more vibrant downtown. (max 140 characters).
