WACO, TX — People in East Waco got their first progress report in the rapid change that the neighborhood has began to see Thursday night.
Developers have identified the neighborhood across the Brazos as their next big target for growth, and people in the community have lots of input.
Rachel Pate came to the meeting because she worries East Waco might lose it's uniqueness, it's "local flavor."
"It's important to me that the changes that are interacting, everything that's happening has a local feel, a local touch," Pate said.
A meeting last fall promised that the change would not go forward without lots of input from the community.
So, City Center Waco created five work groups to make sure East Waco has its voice heard.
"We've had businesses to approach us, or approach City Center, and we've had a voice in whether or not that is for us, not for us, not quite right for here," said Terronda Weaver, of the business work group.
The work groups have become the voice of the community and they are trying to stop gentrification, while also not turning its back to development.
It's a concept that would celebrate music and art, and serve as what the work group's call East Waco's Front Porch.
"Create an experience, where people feel like this is their front porch or the front porch of East Waco,” said Cuevas Peacock, of the culture work group.
The community consensus will make development here, something everyone can take pride in.
"We feel that we are represented in the change in this community not the change that's happened, but it happens in a way that's relevant to everybody," said Pate.
