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The city of New Braunfels has set its sights on redesigning South Castell Avenue to create a more walkable and usable space for the community. An estimated $44 million streetscape design project has been proposed to revamp the area and include a park adjacent to the civic center.

The 2023 Bond Advisory Committee reviewed designs and cost estimates of $340 million worth of capital improvement projects identified by the city of New Braunfels. On Oct. 17, the committee produced an official recommendation to the New Braunfels City Council for 20 projects totaling $183 million to receive bond funding. Next, the New Braunfels City Council will review and finalize the list, reducing the funded projects to $140 million, which is the estimated capacity without a tax rate impact for a proposed May 2023 bond election.

Funding to begin the first phase of the Castell Avenue Corridor Redesign Project has been prioritized by the 2023 Bond Advisory Committee by proposing $5.9 million in bond funds be used. The first phase would move overhead utilities underground and make extensive improvements to the drainage system from San Antonio Street to Butcher Street on South Castell Avenue.

The Castell Avenue Corridor Redesign Project is a long-term project that was first discussed in the city’s 2010 Downtown Implementation Plan and was cultivated from feedback received through public meetings, committees, stakeholder groups and professional input, according to the city.

The first two elements of the project officials have moved forward on are the acquisition of the Union Pacific Railroad property on South Castell Avenue and the overall preliminary design of the functional features of the street.

“The goal of the redesign project was to turn Castell into a thriving and complete street,” said Jeff Jewell, director of economic and community development. “We wanted to incorporate design elements and features that enhance the safety, the pedestrian comfort and elevate the experience of walking in downtown New Braunfels.”

Negotiations with Union Pacific to relocate their downtown operations to elsewhere in Comal County began in 2020. The New Braunfels City Council approved an expenditure of $2.18 million from the New Braunfels Economic Development Corp. to acquire the property behind the civic center in April. There are still several steps that need to be taken to secure relocation by the fourth quarter of 2024.

“We were trying to advance this one small piece that we can, just trying to, like, pick which piece of the puzzle can we kind of move downfield. And it was the Castell design, because it’s got constraints and challenges that exist independent and outside of the property itself,” Jewell said.

Dedicated to design

The NBEDC approved funding for the preliminary design of the streetscape project in August 2021, budgeting up to $442,000.

The project on Castell Avenue stretches from West Bridge Street to I-35 and is separated into the three sections: the Downtown Core, Civic Plaza and Neighborhood Mixed. The Downtown Core portion of the project, stretching from West Bridge Street to West Coll Street, is anticipated to cost over $12 million, and encompasses drainage and overhead utilities.

Pastor Ray Still, chair of the bond advisory committee, said the decision to propose funding for the Castell Avenue project was made due to the drainage issue on the street that effects downtown businesses.

“We can’t afford as a community to make the mistake that I think we did in the past where we didn’t have any bond elections, and we didn’t make some improvements,” Still said. “And then we really had to catch up, and so I hope that the city will see the need to continue to keep addressing the issues of our community.”

The street design plan uses new sidewalks, right-of-way construction and greenery to make the corridor a more walkable space. As a result of community input, the design will incorporate materials, such as pavers and different kinds of concrete, to align with similar design aspects of the downtown area.

The Civic Plaza section of the project, from West Coll Street to Jahn Street, is anticipated to cost over $14 million with plans to develop an outdoor event space adjacent to the Civic Center. The preliminary design plans include bollards—columns that can be raised from the ground—to close off the roadway for events. A food truck zone and an area for a stage or screen have also been proposed. Additionally a one-lane roundabout is planned for the Jahn Street and Castell Avenue intersection.

The last section of the project—dubbed Neighborhood Mixed—is projected to cost over $11 million and includes the area from Jahn Street to the South I-35 frontage road. Improvements planned in the redesign for the predominantly residential portion of the project include creating uninterrupted sidewalks for pedestrians, and adding landscaping and parking zones. The street is not compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.

Long-term vision

The city anticipates the project will act as a catalyst for downtown development and has the potential for over $100 million in investments.

In the long-term preliminary plan developed by the city, the vision is to expand the Civic Center and incorporate a hotel space. Additional parking facilities would be built in the area to allow for additional downtown parking, and residential and retail buildings may be built on the property used by Union Pacific.

Jonathan Packer, President & CEO of the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, said the project does not have a definitive timeline, but once completed, it will ultimately provide more opportunities for businesses downtown to be successful and encourage economic development that provides new amenities and improves quality of life for residents.

“From a chamber perspective, it’s a high-priority project. And the quicker we can move on major milestones, the better,” Packer said.

On Oct. 18, during the GNBCC 2022 State of the City address, New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno highlighted the growth taking place in New Braunfels. If growth rates continue, by 2034 nearly 87% of developable land will be used in the incorporated areas of the city.

“I think that must change the way we start to plan for the future,” Camareno said during the state of the city presentation. “Start to rethink how we position ourselves for some of that growth that still needs to occur and the redevelopment in some areas that will also occur.”

Packer said it is imperative to invest in the core of downtown to have the ability to guide the significant growth anticipated to continue in the region.

“Projections are that the city will have little to no developable land by 2035 [if] current rates of development continue,” Packer said. “So that’s why projects like the South Castell project are so important.”

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A nearly 2.5-acre multiuse development adapted out of the former New Braunfels Producers Co-Op located at 210 S. Castell Ave. in downtown New Braunfels will feature restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping, a stage for live music and more. Co-Op Marketplace is anticipated to open in fall 2024 with construction starting in 2023.

Co-Op Marketplace was inspired by the late Ron Snider and his partners attorney Mike Myers and real estate developed Fred Heimer as well as owners of the historic Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten Carol and Chris Snider. Chris Snider is Ron Snider's son. San Antonio-based Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects will assist in the development of the marketplace, according to a press release.

“This is a very exciting project to be involved with, and it has evolved a lot along the way while still holding true to what my dad and his partners originally envisioned by bringing something unique to downtown New Braunfels that the community can enjoy,” Chris Snider said.

Co-Op Marketplace will adapt the agricultural buildings on-site to fit the requirements of the space, and the 65-foot-tall grain silo will be made into the market’s west entrance. The new pedestrian area will feature over an acre of outdoor space for visitors to enjoy, which includes a splash pad, 4,000 square feet of artificial turf, seating and shade trees, according to the release.

“Mogas and Gonzalez Associated Architects has worked closely with the owners’ vision to repurpose and recycle the existing and historically designated agrarian Co-Op structures to craft a campus of indoor and outdoor spaces that invite the city and its visitors to relax, dine and celebrate right in the heart of downtown New Braunfels,” Mogas and Gonzalez Architects Principal Richard Mogas said.

The new development will feature more than 25,000 square feet of indoor space that will be used to house retail and culinary tenants. Co-Op Marketplace intends to offer an alternative to big-box stores and mall shopping experiences and instead will feature a more social retail shopping and dining experience, according to the release.

The marketplace will include a mix of larger restaurant and retail tenants as well as a collection of smaller tenants to create a 13,000-square-foot space with a focus on offering unique, high-quality selections of artisanal and regional foods and products, according to the press release. The shopping concept will provide opportunities for smaller, independent businesses to have a presence in the busy downtown area of New Braunfels.

The marketplace will eventually serve as a venue for the expansion of the New Braunfels Farmers Market that takes place at Krause’s Cafe on Saturdays. Potential tenants interested in moving into the Co-Op Marketplace can contact [email protected] for more information.

More information on the Co-Op Marketplace can be found at www.co-opmarketplace.com, or on Facebook and Instagram.

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CASTELL — If you get one chance to show someone what Texas is all about, where do you go?

Not the plains of the Panhandle or the canyons of Big Bend. Not the forests of East Texas or the beaches of the Gulf Coast.

It’s got to be the Hill Country.

But the Hill Country is a 25-county region, far too large to see in one day. So you’ve got to focus on the best part of the Hill Country: the Highland Lakes.

And one spot in the Highland Lakes is the perfect destination.

It’s isolated. Whatever photos you take on your smartphone are staying there because you’re not posting them to social media when there is no service.

There’s a river for fishing or kayaking. The hunting is great. And the landscape is in pristine condition.

At night, you’ll get distracted by shooting stars as you stare into the middle of the Milky Way.

And although maybe six people live there, you’ll find a hundred or more from all walks of life getting together when the barbecue is ready.

It’s the water, the wildlife, the wide-open spaces, the hills and the granite. And it’s all in Castell.

“It seems like nobody comes to Castell once,” said Marc Leifeste as he surveys his store. “They think it’s a neat, charming place, and they come back again.”

Leifeste’s family has owned a ranch 300 yards from the big, yellow Castell General Store since 1852. Marc and his father, Randy, are co-owners of the gathering spot. On the weekends, the store serves dozens of people looking for burgers, barbecue, steaks, or just a couple drinks with friends new and old.

They see locals, hunters, fishermen, bikers and weekenders. And they’re all coming for the same things the first settlers came for more than 160 years ago: the river.

“The river really makes a difference,” he said. “Nothing else has a draw. We couldn’t make it without the river.”

The Germans who first emigrated to the area in 1847 must have found it charming as well. On the Llano River and 15 miles west of Llano, Castell is the first permanent settlement in Llano County. Two other settlements by the same group of Germans were abandoned shortly after.

Castell was a small town that once thrived. The Castell General Store, 19522 RR 152 West, was originally a blacksmith shop. Across the street was an automobile dealer. There was a cotton gin, a two-story hotel and a full-time doctor.

But over time, people left and the community turned into a ghost town.

“There was no reason to come to this side of the river unless we rode with my grandfather to go to the post office,” Leifeste said.

Leifeste went to college and raised his family in San Antonio. Because no one lived in Castell, houses were cheap. People bought them to renovate into rental properties. Slowly, tourists and hunters returned to the area, and the store grew. About seven years ago, Randy asked Marc to come back to Castell to help run the store.

With all the rains in the past year, Marc said each month has been better than the last as more people discover the community.

And not just the general store, but the bed-and-breakfasts, too. There are now 12 cabins in Castell, all dependent on hunters, anglers and tourists coming to enjoy what the river has to offer. You can stay at a place such as the Rockin’ River Cabins, just yards from the Castell General Store, and be on the river in the middle of nowhere or within walking distance of dozens of inns, all at the same time.

“Castell, to me, is the quintessential Llano River town. It’s small; it’s quirky; it’s quaint. And it’s got deep roots in history,” said Keith Barnes, a Llano County fisherman, who has spent decades on Texas rivers. “Whether you are there just to sit on the bank, go birding, go canoeing, see wildlife or you want to fish, you can do any of those things.”

The Llano River is clear and relatively shallow. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks the river with trout in the late fall, but plenty of other fish make the waters their home year-round.

The trout provide an opportunity for the entire family to fish together and experience fly fishing in a relaxed, social setting.

“When they’re releasing stocker trout on the Llano, you can take the family out, and you get to all experience the same river,” Barnes said. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity that a lot of people are missing.”

The weather is only too cold for fishing a few days out of the year. Some inexpensive waders and fleece leggings are the most you’ll need for winter fishing. By yourself, or with family, you can cast into the shallow waters all day and perhaps never see another person.

Whether you fish or not, the river is a psychiatrist for many.

“Whatever’s got you angry floats off down the river and leaves you behind,” Barnes said. “By the time I crawl back in my truck, I’m happy and life is perfect.”

Castell is something different for everyone. It’s a destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Many come on weekends from cities such as San Antonio and Austin to escape to a country setting. Bikers and car clubs enjoy the twisting roads that meander through the hills and stop for a break before continuing down the road. Hunters drive in from their deer blinds on all-terrain vehicles for supplies, and others just want to see exactly what it’s all about.

When you have to show someone your ideal version of Texas, tell them you’re going to Castell. And when they ask, “What’s Castell?”, you don’t have to tell them anything. Show them the river in a canoe, make new friends eating barbecue and then end the day in rocking chairs under the sky.

That will be your answer.

[email protected]

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What if both the water and carbon dioxide (CO2) produced from a vehicle’s exhaust system could be captured and used for growing food? Repurposing these two wasted products would be a game changer for reducing the carbon footprint of roadway traffic and helping the agricultural industry feed a growing human population.

Three faculty members at Texas A&M University, Maria Barrufet, Elena Castell-Perez and Rosana Moreira, have written a white paper reporting their initial analysis and published it in hopes of obtaining the funding needed for doing formal, multidisciplinary research on the project.

“I started reading the related literature and did simulations of what was possible,” said Barrufet, professor and Baker Hughes Endowed Chair in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering. “This is entirely realistic. Several proposals have already been written for large trucks and marine vehicle applications, but nothing has been implemented yet. And we are the first to think of a passenger car engine.”

The impact could be enormous. In 2019, the number of vehicles estimated to be in use around the world was 1.4 billion. An average passenger car in operation can emit about 5 U.S. tons (approximately 4.6 metric tons) of CO2 per year, meaning a significant amount of greenhouse gas is going into the environment. One car’s fuel combustion also creates a large amount of water per year — about 5,547 gallons (approximately 21,000 liters).

Castell-Perez and Moreira, both professors in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, know this wasted CO2 and water could be put to good use, especially in cities. Recent expansions in U.S. urban agriculture rely on industrial greenhouses, which use an artificially enriched atmosphere containing up to three times the amount of CO2 in normal air to improve plant health and harvests. These urban farms would greatly benefit from a steady source of free, reclaimed CO2 and water as they currently purchase and use almost 5 pounds (over 2 kg) of CO2 and nearly six gallons (22 liters) of water to grow just over two pounds (1 kg) of produce. And these numbers don’t include the water and CO2 needed for post-harvest food processing and dense-phase pasteurization.

The three faculty members outlined how the integrated device could work. Heat from the engine could power an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system, essentially a small, closed unit containing a turbine, heat exchangers, condenser and feed pump that works like an old-fashioned steam engine but on a much smaller scale, and with far less heat needed to produce electricity. The ORC would power the other components, such as a heat-exchange system, that could cool, compress and change the CO2 gas to a liquid for more compact storage.

“Years ago, we didn’t think we could have air conditioning in a car,” Barrufet said. “This is a similar concept to the air conditioning that we now have. In a simple way, it’s like that device, it will fit in tight spaces.”

Preliminary simulations are encouraging. No significant reduction in a car’s engine power or increase in its fuel use is predicted. Any potential corrosion in the heat exchange system could be addressed with the use of new coating materials. Theoretically, vehicle owners could turn in full cartridges of CO2 and water at reclamation centers just as people bring in aluminum and steel cans nowadays. Or drivers could even use the CO2 and water in greenhouse systems of their own or within a community, provided the CO2 was used responsibly and fully absorbed by the plants.

Questions remain, though, such as how big these cartridges would need to be, how the water would be handled since it cannot be compressed, and at what weight would the stored CO2 and water affect the car’s performance.

Barrufet, Castell-Perez and Moreira are actively seeking funding to continue their work. While research is already in place in national labs and industries on improving devices for large-scale CO2 capture, nothing currently exists on a scale this small, so it could be 10 years before they have something ready for testing.

The greatest challenge could come from assembling a multidisciplinary team to conduct the research. The components for the device already exist in some form but will need a cohesive team of engineers from different specialties to redesign them to work together in such a confined space.

“All of these independent ideas and technologies have no value if they cannot connect,” Barrufet said. “We need people concerned about the future to make this happen soon, energized students in petroleum, mechanical, civil, agricultural and other engineering disciplines who can cross boundaries and work in sync.”

STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY

CASTELL — Llano County residents will consider safety vs. the historical value of the Schneider Slab Crossing on the Llano River while mulling a proposal to build a new bridge nearby, officials said.

The Schneider Slab Crossing is about 10 miles west of Llano and about 8 miles from Castell off CR 152.

A proposed new Texas Department of Transportation structure, elevated about 4-5 feet, is expected to be built at least 20 feet downstream of the current span.

The old crossing then would be closed to vehicle traffic but remain open to the public.

“The structure of the current crossing is problematic because it’s defective. … It’s less than one-lane wide,” Llano County Judge Mary Cunningham said of the crossing, which has deteriorated over the years. “They need to leave the current slab intact, in place, with something to prevent use (by motorists).”

TxDOT has proposed funding a bridge spanning the Llano River at CR 103 with approximately $1.4 million.

“TxDOT has money from the federal government for these substandard structures,” Cunningham said.

On March 12, a number of landowners approached Llano County commissioners to debate the value of a proposed new bridge.

Landowners touted the historical significance of the slab and requested preservation for public use — such as pedestrian traffic — while others applauded a potential new structure to enhance safety.

At least one landowner expressed concern about the impact on private property due to the construction and use of a new bridge.

“There’s a lot of people down there in the summer that go swimming there,” Cunningham said of that section of the Llano River. “It’s mainly tourists and the ranchers who use it.

“It is an important recreational spot for the people of Llano County,” she added.

A TxDOT-awarded matching grant would require Llano County to set aside about 10 percent of the award amount, approximately $140,000, for other projects.

“A potential match from Llano County could take place over several years … for things like bridge repair and culvert work,” she said.

Llano County commissioners agreed the new span would be a win-win for residents.

“We need to take advantage of what would be a gift to the county to upgrade a crossing and leave the current slab in place for historical and recreational purposes,” Cunningham said. “For the historical value and the recreational use, TxDOT agreed to (keep the slab).

“The liability of doing nothing is enormous.”