A section of the proposed Beyond the River development, located just north of Bend of the River Park along the Leon River, is shown in this rendering. The plan, presented this week to Temple City Council, includes a large grocery store, hike and bike trails, a large water feature and 1,533 residential units.

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

A new 135-acre development plan for far-south Temple includes 1,533 residential units, a big-box grocery store, trails and office space.

The proposed development — Beyond the Bend — is just north of the Reuben D. Talasek Bend of the River Park between I-35 and the Leon River.

The presentation was made to Temple City Council this week by Covey Planning & Landscape Architecture, a Georgetown-based consulting firm.

The centerpiece of the development would be a traffic circle with three main roads spoking out from the center. One road would connect the development with the I-35 frontage road, one would lead to Bend of the River Park and the third would lead to the yet-to-be-constructed Outer Loop in the vicinity of Temple Lions Park.

The road leading to the Outer Loop would provide access to the development without leaving Temple’s city limits.

“Beyond the Bend aligns with the city’s focus on providing beautiful spaces and unique experiences for all to enjoy,” said Josh Donaldson, a Covey planning engineer.

“The plan enhances Temple’s outdoor areas and green spaces, and the proposed location next to Bend of the River will connect to the area currently used for parks and recreation events,” he said.

Beyond the Bend — still in the conceptual phase but in the hands of the planning consultant — likely would include a large grocery store such as an H-E-B or Kroger. The development also would include a Neighborhood Center consisting of shops, restaurants and offices, as well as outdoor gathering spaces.

“The front parcels would include townhomes and small urban apartments,” Donaldson said.

Along with the inclusion of more than 1,500 residential units, consideration was given to providing green spaces and walking trails.

Maps shown during the City Council presentation included a thin green belt along the Leon River and trails that connected the existing Bend of the River Park to the development. The north end of Beyond the River includes a large “green” recreation area and a pond containing a water feature such as a fountain.

Included in the residential units are 214 townhouses, some of which will be about 4,000-square-feet. Maps and renderings presented to City Council show trails, sidewalks and bike paths throughout the proposed development.

“We feel this development would greatly complement Bend of the River and produce a live/work environment in the extreme southern tip of Temple,” Donaldson said. “The plan protects natural areas and encourages walking.”

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Main Street Community Garden

Two women take advantage of the pleasant weather to work in the Christ Episcopal Church Main Street community garden on Wednesday morning. “The Main Street Community Garden is a mission of Christ Church to let our immediate neighbors know that we want our community to be a place of health,” said the Rev. Keith Pozzuto, rector of Christ Episcopal Church. “Jesus went into the fields and asked his friends for a bit of wheat and turned it into loaves.  We hope that our garden is able to be multiplied to help feed the community.” David Stone photo

THURSDAY | MAY 26, 2022

Who needs a new hat?

Adi Price is planning a fall opening for Lenna Lane, a woman’s boutique featuring apparel, accessories and Temple’s only Hat Bar. Shoppers can select a hat and a band, and Adi will decorate the hat with dried floral arrangements. Lenna Lane is just one of her plans for Downtown Temple. The building is located at 118 S. Main and renovation work is under way. The existing lettering on the window will eventually be removed. The lettering belonged to an earlier business. David Stone photo

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

The owner of a new Downtown boutique opening this fall also plans to start a monthly event for vendors and small businesses.

Adi Price, a native Temple resident, is renovating a building at 118 S. Main just a stone’s throw from The Yard Food Truck Plaza and Market Trail. The new business — Lenna Lane — will feature women’s fashions and accessories such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets and hats.

“The boutique will have a Hat Bar,” Adi said Wednesday. “Clients can choose their hat style, pick from a variety of hat bands, and I will help them decorate it,” she said. “I debuted the Hat Bar this past Saturday at the Belton market. I took 16 hats and sold 13, and that was my first time.”

In addition to the interactive hat experience, Lenna Lane shoppers will be treated to wine and Mimosas.

“They’ve made a lot of progress with the renovation work,” she said while peering through the open front door. “It’s an old building but it will be very modern.”

Lenna Lane will include space for local vendors who make soap, candles, jewelry and other items.

In addition to the store, Adi also has plans for a new Downtown event that will occur monthly in the fall and spring.

“Temple Trade Day will be located on Avenue B,” she said. “The street will be blocked off from 1st Street to the Santa Fe Depot area. The first Trade Day is June 25 and there will be no booth fees for vendors.

“It’s going to be getting hot, so this will be the only Trade Day until fall,” she said. “Eventually, it will be held in April, May and June, and again in September, October and November. It’s always going to be the fourth Saturday of the month, so that will put it after Christmas. That’s why there won’t be a December Trade Day.”

Adi expects about 15 to 20 vendors in June, and some — like Rowdy Axe Throwing — have already signed on.

“I’m hoping to create another weekend that draws visitors Downtown,” she said. “The Temple Small Business Coalition brings in people with their monthly market, and First Friday is obviously popular.”

Down@The Yard also is drawing crowds every month with music, axe throwing and tasty cuisine.

“We’re hoping most Temple Trade Day vendors will be offering crafts and handmade products,” she said. “At least some of the food trucks will be open at The Yard, so there will be food for the event.”

Meet the Weird Doughs

Amber Hinkson and Amanda Hill are all smiles — I think that’s a smile — in front of the future home of Weird Dough’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop, 11 N. 6th in Downtown Temple. The left-of-center bakers had a booth set up Wednesday night for the Imagine the Possibilities Tour. (The lemon poppy seed cookies were amazing). Amber and Amanda hope to open their doors this summer. David Stone photo

Make and Break businesses to open in fall

Lea and Brent Goates stand in front of a bubble machine Wednesday night at 14 S. 4th Street, the future home of their two businesses — The Art Dept. and The Wreck Center. These are very different businesses: The Art Dept. will showcase the work of local artists and teach workshops and classes on topics ranging from cake decorating and sewing to sculpture, painting, welding and woodworking. The Art Dept. will have a store where local artists can sell what they make. The Wreck Room will be creative on a different level. Customers can come in, grab a sledgehammer and break stuff. David Stone photo

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

today’s best bets

• Trivia Night at Fire Base Brewing Co. with Texas Red. 7 p.m.

• Poetry & Music open mic night at Corky’s  with host Nate Biddy. Sign up at 6:30, first act at 7:10.

• Summer Kickoff/Teacher Appreciation Night at FoxDog. 4-8 p.m. Start your summer with a celebration. FoxDog loves the local teachers and wants to show them appreciation for all their hard work this school year. Food and entertainment available from Pizza Beats n Wingz. All teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff will get 15% off their tab with a valid school ID.

• Clay with Lindsay at Cultural Activities Center. Go to cacarts.org to sign up for her classes

• Free dance lessons at Bo’s Barn from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Karaoke from 8:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m

• Lonesome Dove: The Photo Exhibit runs through June 25. The exhibit is a collection of black-and-white framed photos captured by the late Bill Wittliff, renowned photographer, writer, and co-executive producer of the popular Western mini-series.

To include your events in What’s Happening and Today’s Best Bets, email information to OurTownTemple@gmail.com. Photos are welcome to for use in the publication as space permits!