LCRA, City of Llano award $25,000 grant for renovations of historic building facades

Four Buttery Co. buildings are the last in the Llano historic business district to be renovated

Nov. 1, 2023

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $167,000 in matching funds from the City of Llano Charitable Foundation for the Llano Main Street Program, City of Llano, Llano County and BHC Partnership Ltd., will enable the organization to restore the exterior of four adjoining buildings owned by the Buttery Company, one of Llano’s main employers. The historic buildings are currently used for storage and are the first seen when crossing the Roy Inks Bridge from the north.

“It truly is the gateway into historic downtown Llano,” said Tony Guidroz, Llano Main Street manager and City of Llano community development director. “Llano has some majestic, absolutely gorgeous buildings, and all of downtown is on the national historic registry. These buildings are the last four facades to complete our beautiful downtown. It’s a project 20 years in the making.”

The buildings were constructed at the turn of the 20th century. Several decades later, the Buttery Company demolished the interior of the buildings to create a warehouse and removed historic windows, awnings, doors and siding from the exteriors. Since then, the facades have not been updated.

Guidroz says the bare exteriors that are not in sync with other building fronts in the business district may make visitors think the buildings are empty or abandoned.

“Quite frankly, when you come into an area that looks rundown, the perception is the town isn’t doing well, and that’s just not the case,” he said. “We want the perception to be this is a ‘real Texas’ place you can’t miss.”

Almost all the historic building facades in Llano’s business district have been renovated, and Guidroz said the appearance of a thriving downtown is vital for the development of new businesses and tourism. Updates to the Buttery hardware buildings also will provide a place to showcase local events.

“The updates to the buildings will include giant, removable window clings,” he said. “The windows will provide an opportunity for Llano and other cities and the county to promote their events. We want to make the best use of those windows we can.”

The community grant is one of 45 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Llano is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.

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