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Celina approves $2.3M incentives for downtown redevelopment

The city council backed a $7.5 million private investment in two downtown properties with performance-based public funds.

Opal Carrington

September 13, 20262 min read

Downtown Redevelopment - illustration, Jake Team LLC

Celina’s city council has authorized a Chapter 380 economic development agreement that supports a $7.5 million redevelopment of two downtown sites. The deal, approved on September 8, 2026, provides up to $2.3 million in public incentives to Celina Real Estate LLC for new construction and historic renovation projects.

These funds are drawn from Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 11 and are contingent on verified construction milestones and private spending thresholds.

The agreement covers two specific locations. At 102 N. Ohio St., a new 12,400-square-foot building will replace a 1950s-era gas station that was deemed structurally unsalvageable. The new structure is projected to cost $6 million and will feature a historic-style façade, housing approximately 7,200 square feet of retail and restaurant space along with 5,200 square feet of office space.

The city has capped its incentive contribution for this project at $1.5 million.

Across the square, the Mayer Building at 313 W. Pecan St. will undergo a $1.5 million renovation. This historic structure, formerly home to Mayer Foods, will be converted to include 5,000 square feet of restaurant space. Public incentives for this renovation are capped at $800,000.

Construction on the Mayer Building must begin by January 1, 2028, and be completed by June 1, 2029. Work on the Ohio Street site is required to start by October 1, 2028, and finish by March 1, 2030.

Mayor Ryan Tubbs stated that maintaining downtown vitality is a top priority as the community expands. He noted that the area is where the city’s story began and where future investments are focused. Anthony Satarino, executive director of the Celina Economic Development Corporation, said the new dining, retail, and office opportunities aim to generate economic activity and support the broader business community.

Satarino is transitioning into a city government role as President of Economic and Community Development effective October 5, 2026.

These projects join other recent downtown developments, including the Trackside Junction mixed-use project approved in July 2026. That $15 million development adds 15,000 square feet of commercial space, which officials say increases the total downtown commercial inventory by 20 percent. The combined initiatives are intended to bring underutilized buildings around the downtown square back into active commercial use.

The redevelopment push occurs amid significant population growth. U.S. Census Bureau estimates released in May 2026 placed Celina’s population at 64,427 as of July 2025, representing a 276.8 percent increase from the 16,739 residents counted in the 2020 census.

Source: hoodline.com.

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hoodline.com

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Opal Carrington

Opal Carrington writes about community life, schools, public safety, and events in fast-growing Celina.

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