12/19/2025
Big Changes Coming for Downtown!!!
Last night, in the City Council workshop, the City Council voted 6-0 to enact some changes to downtown that may be the most significant changes of our generation.
I have not met a person yet that does not want to see our downtown thrive. Parking has regularly come up as an issue. As Hutto has grown from 25,404 (2017) to over 45,000 (present day), the only improvement to our downtown was purchasing property across from Mario's for a surface parking lot.
Starting the early part of 2026, the CoH will enact the following changes. East Street will start to go in one direction (north). Northbound from 79 to Live Oak. For 3 weeks, signage, message boards and other communication will help drivers understand the changes. Parking will be adjusted first by lane striping along the western side of East Street and will eventually have the curbing revised to reflect the new traffic direction.
Shortly after Live Oak has changed, Main will go one way in the southbound direction from Live Oak to 79. Same procedures with messaging.
After Live Oak, West will change direction to northbound only from 79 to Live Oak.
Once these changes are implemented, this will allow Phase II of our plan. The CoH will work to increase parking from currently just over 100 spaces to over 400 spaces in downtown. This will be a multi-year process. Starting from Hwy 79 and moving block by block north to Live Oak. The Hutto EDC will have an item on an upcoming agenda about working towards surveying Main and West and preparing to add parking along both sides of those streets from Farley to 79. Block by block.
There will be a tremendous amount of communication coming over 2026. Hutto has several big name restaurants and retail people that want to come to downtown Hutto. But, parking is and continues to be an issue.
This plan, implemented in phases, will dramatically help Hutto's downtown have the resources needed for new businesses to locate and successfully operate in our downtown. With the help of the DHBA (Downtown Hutto Business Association) and the Hutto HPC (Historical Preservation Commission), our future downtown will keep the charm of downtown, with added parking conveniences so that businesses can thrive and expand along with Hutto's population.
I want to thank the members of the DHBA who have been meeting and giving feedback all year on this plan. I also want to thank staff and the members of the public who have come to our open house meetings, given feedback through surveys and at our meetings.