The American Planning Association has unveiled the top 30 places to live in America and wouldn’t you know it, Montrose is listed among the top 10 neighborhoods! Our neighborhood was the only neighborhood in Texas that was selected. To read about their selection criteria and their article on our neighborhood, click here. Other articles that highlight this news: Houston Press, Fox Houston, Dallas Voice
The Greater East End Management District announced that it has been awarded $5 million in stimulus funds for bringing sidewalks to city standards along Navigation, York and Sampson in the East End. The improvements will also include lighting, striping, benches, plantings, transit shelters and ramps.
For those who might not know, we have recently become a part of the newly created West Montrose Management District. The hope is that we can get some of the same attention that this district has received. Here is an except from the Houston Chronicle about our new management district:
The West Montrose Management District also has a proposed inaugural board of directors and its service and assessment plan is in place, reflecting those of its east Montrose counterpart, which has 11 board members.
The west district will have only five, but “there’s some overlap” that would facilitate unification of the districts, Hawes said.
All directors are volunteers and either property owners or agents of property owners.
The east district’s budget for 2009 is $453,000, based on 2008 property valuations, Hawes said.
If legislation passes, west Montrose businesses will be assessed 12.5 cents per $100 valuation.
A four-component service and assessment plan operational in the district’s eastern half would be extended into the district’s western half if the legislation passes, Hawes said.
The service plan includes public safety, business development, transportation and visual promotion.
“In public safety, (we would have) off-duty patrol officers patrolling the area, as they already do in East Montrose,” Hawes said. “We have a vehicle and they patrol and we are already seeing great effects from that.
“We work closely with (Houston Police Department) vice squads and gang task force.”
Business development is achieved through marketing the nonresidential business area, Hawes said, and transportation planning will pay close attention to opportunities and challenges afforded by Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County’s proposed light-rail line on Richmond Avenue.
Parking plan
“We’re working with St. Thomas University in coming up with a parking plan,” Hawes said. “We want people to be cognizant of the vitality of these commercial developments and businesses without negative affects.
“We just hired Walter P. Moore to do a mobility assessment for parking, streets, curbs, pedestrian walkways and we’re doing that right now.”
The fourth area of visual promotion focuses on public right of ways and thoroughfares, but from an aesthetic viewpoint aimed at improving the area’s landscaping, lighting, esplanades and pedestrian crosswalks and business access.
“We’re not here to replace city and county services,” Hawes said. “We’re trying to be the glue that brings the community together to speak as one voice.”
Though only commercial enterprises are assessed or targeted for improvements, the districts end up benefiting residents, visitors and customers, he said.
“Everyone benefits from higher values and a higher caliber of commercial development, areas where people want to walk and spend money,” Hawes said.
Texas participates in 2009 National Night Out on October 6th. Residents of Mandell Place are invited to join your neighbors at 1504 Harold Street from 6-8 pm. Mandell Place Civic Association will provide beverages. You are encouraged to bring a favorite snack to share. A representative from the Houston Police Department will provide information about keeping our neighborhood safe.
2009 National Night Out is the 26th anniversary of a campaign involving citizens, law enforcement, civic groups, businesses and local officials in an effort to: heighten crime prevention; generate interest and partcipation in anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals that our neighborhood is organized.
Come out Tuesday, October 6th, to visit with your neighbors and participate in making Mandell Place a great place to live.
Election of the Mandell Place Board of Directors will be held in November. Board member positions are president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Candidates are nominated through a committee organized in October. If you would like to participate in the nominating committee, contact a current member of the MPCA board or sign up at the 10/06/2009 National Night Out meeting at 1504 Harold from 6-8 pm. Nominations are also accepted from the floor at the general election in November. Residents of MPCA must be current on membership dues in order to run for a board position or vote in the election. 2009 dues are accepted up to the time of the election. The 2010 elections will be held in the Bering United Methodist Church. The election date and time will be determined at the end of October. Residents will be notified via email. Check the MPCA website for election details, as well.
The 43rd annual Greek Festival is October 1st through 4th, Thursday through Sunday. The festival is one of Houston’s best outdoor events during some of our best weather. The festival is centered around the esplanade at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex (map) four blocks east of Mandell Place. Yoakum Street is blocked off between Kipling and Harold with plenty of tented and open air seating/dining. The festival features authentic Greek cuisine including dinner plates ($10.00), ala carte food and pastries ($1.00 to $6.50). Enjoy Greek music, folk dancing, church tours and gift shopping. It’s a great place for a casual dinner (you can buy glasses or bottles of wine) while listening to Greek music and people watching. Lunch is served Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5.00 but free before 5:00p Friday and for children under 12. Enjoy one of Houston’s best festival events within walking distance from our neighborhood. More information is available at http://www.greekfestival.org/about.html Opa!There were too many useful links to fit them all on the side bar, so we pared them down to the most useful, and here you have the full set.
The markers are a great way to make us all aware of the fact that our storm drains are not garbage cans. Garbage and debris clog the drains, causing flooding.
Anything and everything (motor oil, antifreeze fertilizers and pesticides) that goes down a storm drain ends up in our bayous lakes and rivers.
2008 Feb. 26 General Meeting (as PDF)
2007 July 05 General Meeting (as PDF)
2007 April 12 General Meeting (as PDF)
2007 March 01 Board and Block Captain Meeting (as PDF)
2007 Febuary 01 Board Meeting (as PDF)
2007 January 11 Board Meeting (as PDF)
