Civics
Downtown Is Having a Moment. It Has Had Them Before.
Downtown Galveston is entering a rare decision window. Its future depends on public, private and civic work adding up to one place.
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Downtown Galveston
Stories about downtown Galveston, the Strand, preservation, development, local business and public space.
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11 connected stories
Nature
The Oldest BOI
Before the seawall, before the Strand, before anyone put a name on this island, there was the marsh. Dusk comes slowly to the West End, the way it comes to a place that is in no hurry to be seen. The…
Culture
Freedom Came Here First: Galveston and the Birth of Juneteenth
The word of freedom reached the whole of Texas through this port, on these streets, in this town. On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger stepped ashore in Galveston and changed the course…
Economics
Galveston's Housing Market Didn't Slow in 2025 — It Split
A Tale of Two Galvestons: What the 2025 Housing Numbers Really Show Luxury surged. Condos slipped. And the middle of the island felt the squeeze. In this data-driven market recap provided by Sand ‘n Sea…
Culture
10 People Quietly Shaping Galveston's Future
Local leaders shaping Galveston Texas 10 People Quietly Shaping Galveston’s Future Archive note (updated July 12, 2026): This list is a December 2025 snapshot. Craig Brown was serving as mayor and John…
Development
Galveston's Big West-End Bet
Galveston Greenlights $540 Million Development on the West End A half-billion-dollar project poised to reshape the Seawall—and redefine Galveston’s future. After years of speculation, debate, revisions…
Civics
Galveston Firehouse Bond Endorsement
An 1839 Editorial Galveston's $10 Million Firehouse Bond: The Alarm That Never Sleeps & A Line in the Sand We endorse a YES vote on the $10 million Fire Station No. 2 bond. It’s the first brick in a…
Economics
A Pelican Island "Land Bridge" Could Be Galveston's Breakthrough Moment
A Pelican Island “Land Bridge” Could Be Galveston’s Breakthrough Moment An inspiring case for pairing economic growth with smarter flood protection. When a barge strike closed the Seawolf Parkway bridge…
Podcasts
Jeff Antonelli – Heart of Galveston: 2
Hearts of Galveston: Episode 2 Jeff Antonelli on Service, Stewardship and the Soul of Galveston Most islanders know Jeff Antonelli as the man behind Shrimp ‘N Stuff . Fewer know his decades of civic…
Civics
Galveston's Rainbow Crosswalk – Something That Lasts for Tom Schwenk.
The Crosswalk’s True Story The Rainbow Didn’t Fall to Politics — It Gave Way to Permanence. Let’s Build Something That Lasts. “Removing the rainbow crosswalk should not be viewed as erasing or…
Civics
The Rhythm of the Island: How Galveston Businesses (and Locals) Can Thrive Year-Round
BY TERESA WAGONSELLER Galveston moves to its own beat—and once you’re in sync, everything changes. This isn’t a place where success comes from boardrooms or bottom lines. It’s built-in porch…
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