Mitchells Continue Construction to Restore Galveston Following Hurricane Ike

Jan. 14, 2009 - PRLog -- In 1976 Cynthia and George Mitchell bought the T. Jefferson League Building.  This was the first of more than 20 buildings purchased or built by the Mitchells in what had become an abandoned and blighted downtown waterfront.  Today, thanks to their efforts and those of the Galveston Historical Foundation, Galveston’s downtown is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District by the National Park Service.  Now thirty-two years later, Mitchell Historic Properties (MHP) is again leading the effort to rehabilitate the historic district in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike which struck Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008.

Immediately following Hurricane Ike, MHP launched a massive cleanup and restoration program in downtown Galveston. Construction is now underway in all of its downtown buildings, including The Tremont House and Harbor House, which in total encompass approximately one-fourth of the developed buildings in The Strand.

Construction schedules estimate that tenants, including commercial and residential, should be able to return to their shops, homes or offices by mid- to late-March or April 2009.  Due to flooding, all electrical and mechanical systems on the first floors in most buildings are being completely replaced and damaged walls and floors are being reconstructed. Current estimates put the cost of disaster relief, cleanup and building renovation at more than $24 million on 24 buildings.

“We are confident in the future of Galveston.  And though this is a painful setback, we feel a vibrant downtown is the key to a successful city-wide recovery,” says Mitchell.  “So we are determined to do our part and hope – through our resolve – to inspire others.  In the near future, all our efforts will be rewarded.”

Currently, most of the retail tenants in MHP buildings have indicated they will reopen and two new tenants will open in 2009.  The goal of MHP is for tenants to return to their spaces within the next 90 days. MHP tenants Starbucks and Willie G’s Restaurant reopened in December.
 
Returning tenants include national retailers Bass, Fuddruckers, IZOD, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Van Heusen as well as locally owned Gracie’s, Luigi’s Ristorante Italiano, Santa Fe Trail, Tina’s, and The Admiralty Marine Model Gallery.  New tenants include Nestlé Toll House Café and Olympia at Pier 21. The Tremont House and Harbor House are expected to reopen in spring 2009. MHP also anticipates that most office and residential tenants who utilized upper-floor space in the buildings will return to their downtown locations.
   
Mitchell Historic Properties include:

   Armour & Co. Building, 101 Tremont (23rd) St.
   Berlocher Row (2 buildings), 2311-2315 Ship’s Mechanic Row
   Butterowe Building, 2315 Harborside Drive
   Dargan & Tobyn Building, 2228 Strand
   Davidson Building, 2319 Ship’s Mechanic Row
   Harbor House Hotel (part of Pier 21), 28 Pier #21
   Hotel Galvez, 2024 Seawall Blvd.
   Heidenheimer Hunter Building, 306 22nd St.
   Heidenheimer Marine Building, 305 21st St.
   Hutchings-Sealy Building, (originally 2 buildings) 2322-2326 Strand
   Old Galveston Square (originally 3 buildings), 2211-2225 Strand
   Pier 21 Building (Pier 21 Theater), 2100 Harborside
   Rosenberg Building, 2311 Strand
   Starbucks, 102 Kempner St.
   T. Jefferson League Building, 2301 Strand
   Thompson & Co. Building, 112 Tremont (23rd) St.
   The Tremont House, (originally 3 buildings) 2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row
   Washington Hotel Building, 2228 Ship’s Mechanic Row


MHP oversees Galveston properties owned by Cynthia and George Mitchell and the Mitchell family, including its commercial and residential properties located downtown.  During the past 30 years, the Mitchells have invested more than $125 million in rehabilitating historic properties in The Strand National Historic Landmark District.

For information on MHP, call (409)763-5806 or visit the website: http://www.mitchellhistoricproperties.com

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G-1 Corporation is a marketing/public relations agency that promotes properties owned by George Mitchell including The Tremont House, the Hotel Galvez, Harbor House, and Pier 21, as well as The Strand National Historic Landmark District in Galveston.