More than 100 Lancaster residents and a brass band celebrated Monday night as city leaders approved a $600,000 grant to revitalize the town square.
Michaella Ramler, a former Dallas ISD English teacher, has spent the last 12 years working as a multi-family and commercial real estate developer. She has several projects in Oak Cliff but has a passion for historic downtowns and the Dallas County municipality where she was raised, Lancaster.
The $600,000 pay-for-performance grant, approved by the Lancaster City Council on Monday, paves the way for Ramler to redevelop 17,000 square feet of mixed-use space, including four residential studios or lofts.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell Cheatham championed the project as an investment in small businesses and local residents.
“I think it’s a shame for us to say that we can invest in big businesses and not invest in the people of this city,” Cheatham said. “In my eyes and for those that voted me in, I think the people make the city. I think this is a good project. I think the time is right. I am so glad to see that Lancaster is reinvesting back into the citizens.”
Director of Economic Development Shane Shepard, Research and Development Manager Karl Stundins, City Manager Opal Mauldin-Jones, and Councilman Marco Mejia also are big supporters of the project.
Ramler said the project isn’t really a rebuild, but a remarket and redistribution of space.
“It is the best damn money they will ever spend,” she said of the grant. “When people think about a city, what do they think of? The downtown. Lancaster doesn’t have Bishop Arts or Deep Ellum. This is their brand. I’m literally branding their city. People who move for lifestyle look for activated downtowns.”
Downtown Lancaster
Downtown Lancaster is the first project for Ramler’s development company, Stewarding Space.
“In my career, I’ve always worked on old buildings,” said Ramler, who lives with her husband and two young children in the historic Struck House in West Dallas. “That’s why I love downtown. It’s this epic old square modeled after Lancaster, Pa. It has very cool, historical architecture. I’ve always been drawn to that.”
Downtown Lancaster was built around the same time Dallas was getting established, Ramler explained, and it’s on the interurban rail line.
In April 1994, an F4 tornado damaged 80 percent of the downtown square and flattened a couple of buildings.
Just two primary owners have remained downtown over the years. All the buildings Ramler is buying are occupied, but the downtown isn’t what one would call “activated.” For example, four store frontages are leased to a bike shop.
“There’s not really business diversity; there’s not been a real pull because there’s not been a good, healthy marketing strategy for downtown,” Ramler said.
Suzie Rawlins, the seller, is a descendant of the first pioneers who showed up in Lancaster in the 1820s.
Mixed-Use Development
The zoning is already in place for mixed-use development, so now Ramler just has to decide how to split up the properties.
The 17,000 square feet includes two commercial kitchens and several retail store frontages.
A Mexican cantina spot with a patio was leased to a wholesale praline factory during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s not really serving the public, Ramler said, so she secured a letter of intent from La Calle Doce, a renowned mother-daughter-owned-and-operated southern restaurateur with a franchise in Oak Cliff.
“They’re coming in as a tenant with 10 percent ownership of this portfolio,” Ramler said. “Buildout will begin March 1,” she said. “I think we’ll be having margaritas on the patio this spring.”
She plans to close on the properties next month and give existing tenants a 30-day notice to vacate or renew their leases at the market rate.
“I would like for them to stay,” she said. “The number of properties is subject to change,” Ramler said. “Right now there are nine storefronts, one office, and four residentials.”
Ramler is particularly excited about the private office workspace, which includes 2,000 square feet with brick walls and hardwood floors.
The grant funding is unlocked when Ramler reaches 70 percent occupancy, and she’s promised to support female- and minority-owned businesses. She said that the residential spots could be converted depending on whether future tenants need commercial space.
Other potential tenants include a sweet Italian ice cream operator and a health food market.
“Keep your eyes wide open on the City of Lancaster this year,” Ramler said.
