The Future Announced

At a press conference held on Oct. 29, City of Tyler Mayor Martin Heines and former mayors Barbara Bass, Joey Seeber and Kevin Eltife announced the City’s intent to reconstruct the Harvey Hall conference facility at the Rose Garden Complex, as well as revitalize the historic Mayfair, a performing arts venue built in 1927 that, in its heyday, hosted the likes of Elvis and Johnny Cash.

“Harvey Hall, the Tyler Rose Garden and Visitor’s Center host hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, creating a massive economic impact on our community,” said Mayor Martin Heines. “It is time to invest into the Rose Complex, which is in dire need of redevelopment.” Per the study done as part of the Rose Complex Master plan, renovations would not provide the functionality that is needed at Harvey Convention Center. The cost to renovate the existing building is near the amount of replacement.

In addition to the new conference facilities and the restoration of the Mayfair, the implementation plan includes internal street improvements, parking lot improvements and additions, site enhancements and the construction of a new community park. The Tyler Rose brand will be featured prominently throughout.

“The great thing about the Rose Complex is that it is not North Tyler, it is not South

Tyler, it is not Downtown Tyler; it is just Tyler,” said former mayor Joey Seeber. “It is a place we come together as a community, that we engage as a community and we get to celebrate our community.”

Funding will come from the Hotel Occupancy Tax, the Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund and private donations. The City is projecting to finish design of phase one in 2020, break ground in 2021 and complete by 2023.