The city of Carrollton is giving one of its landmarks a big makeover: The historic Downtown Silos at 1003 4th Ave. are about to receive a new design — part of a plan to make Downtown Carrollton more vibrant.

The silos, which were originally built in 1950 for Blanton Grain Company, have come to serve as a key component of Carrollton's skyline.

The 110-foot-tall grain storage tower was constructed as part of the family-owned grain and feed business founded by L.F. Blanton in 1931 in Carrollton. It served as a landmark and storage facility for grain and feed products shipped worldwide via the adjacent railroad.

The tower was designated Historic by Carrollton City Council December 7, 2010, stating the Silos as a prominent City landmark and a historical reminder of Carrollton's agricultural heritage and significant role in the community's economic growth.

The City’s Capital Improvement Projects Division is preparing to repaint the Downtown Silos and provide a fresh design that will complement the ongoing Downtown Master Plan to further the City of Carrollton as a sustainable and vibrant community.

The new design has yet to be revealed. According to City of Carrollton marketing specialist Mary Hazuda, the design will be revealed each day as the artist progresses.

"We’re purposefully letting the reveal happen slowly for folks to enjoy the progress each day," Hazuda says.

The prep work has already begun, and the existing mural is currently being stripped. The structure will be prepped and primed for the artist to begin the art proper in mid to late April. They're hoping to have a completed project in early June.

The current design, consisting of a "Downtown Carrollton Station" sign on the side of the silos, as well as a Visit Historic Downtown Square sign on the square turret that sits atop the silos, have been in place since August 2007. Those who are attached to the current design would be wise to capture an image before they disappear.

In conjunction with Carrollton’s Downtown Mural Master Plan initiative, Carrollton's City Council formed a special arts committee to work with Articulation Art, LLC. Council and the committee are in the process of reviewing proposals and choosing the final mural design as we speak.

Funding for the project was initially proposed to City Council in March 2024, and the project was later approved in August.

The project will support City Council’s strategic objectives and vision of building a community that families and businesses want to call home by providing a refreshed visual and branding feature.

The equipment on the east side related to the former rock-climbing venture that previously occupied the Silos will be removed and the east side will then be bid separately to accommodate a different painting schedule.