BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The Varisco Building in Downtown Bryan is getting a big makeover soon.
The Bryan City Council is working with developers on a new project that will transform the historic high-rise. They approved the plan at their recent meeting.
Downtown’s tallest building will soon have a new look and new amenities.
A new agreement will turn the ground floor into a distillery, update office space, and add a new entertainment venue to the top floor.
“Major investment in Downtown Bryan with the Varisco Building, two stories of renovation for a distillery, rooftop bar, it should be a destination for Aggies and their parents and all the families here in the community,” said Mayor Andrew Nelson of Bryan.
Nelson says the city is partnering with the development and offering up to $480,000 to assist with safety, exterior improvements, building the rooftop bar, and waiving some permit fees.
“Both parties, the city and the business, are doing some things for each other, making investments, and agreeing to do things that will add to the entertainment,” said Nelson.
Destination Bryan says the plans compliment all of the work that has been done in recent years to enhance downtown.
“From a tourism perspective it’s just adding to the greater piece of the pie of bringing people here and giving our locals something to do in Bryan and the B-CS community as a whole,” said Abigail Noel, Destination Bryan PR and Communications Manager.
The eight-million dollar project is expected to start soon.
“It’s exciting. A world class university needs a world class community. To do that we need to have interesting places,” said Nelson.
As part of that agreement, work on the Varisco Building is expected to take about 15 months.
Coming up at 10 p.m., News 3′s Clay Falls will look at the economic impact of this and other downtown projects.
We also have a story on theatre renovations in Downtown Bryan here.
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