By Estella Espinosa and Brad Snead
Super Neighborhoods - You may have heard the term amongst several other local government terms and wondered what it references. Some background history from the Super Neighborhood Alliance Memorandum of Understanding includes important dates on their history and purpose.
June 7, 1999 - Mayor Lee Brown launched the Super Neighborhood Program "as a means to welcome the input offered by community-based organizations throughout the City. The program was key to the Mayor's concept of Neighborhood-Oriented Government that, at its core, provided for community participation in decisions of local significance made by the City."
February 2002 - leaders of super neighborhood councils began informally meeting monthly to share ideas for community projects, ways to improve the initiative, and constructive feedback to the City to Institutionalize super neighborhoods.
November 2002 - The Mayor agreed to 'introduce a proclamation acknowledging the Alliance as an Advisory Board that advises the Mayor on matters of community Impact, conduct citywide outreach about the Super Neighborhood Initiative, and introduce a resolution for City Council approval that reflects a commitment for the City to consider super neighborhood action plans (SNAPs) proposed by the councils to make annual budget decisions.
March 17, 2003 - Initial Memorandum of Understanding between the Super Neighborhood Alliance and the City of Houston signed,
September 9, 2024 - Updated Memorandum of Understanding signed, effective September 9, 2024.
Super Neighborhoods are codified in the City of Houston's Municipal Code under Chapter 33, Article VIII. Their purpose is to "allow citizens to engage with each other, identify needs for their neighborhoods, and present any findings or requests for their communities, " according to the City of Houston Super Neighborhood Handbook.
The Woodland Heights neighborhood is part of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood 15 and sends a representative to regularly scheduled Super Neighborhood 15 meetings. These meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday of February, May, August, and November at 6:30 p.m. at the Heights Fire House, 107 W. 12th St, 77008. Brad Snead has volunteered his time to be the representative for the WHCA and our neighborhood for several years. He provides the following update on the February meeting.
Super Neighborhood 15 Meeting - February 18, 2025
Memorial Heights Reinvestment Zone, TIRZ5, gave updates. Relevant to WHCA, Stude Park is now in the crosshairs of redevelopment. It is listed in the potential projects in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department on TIRZ 5's website, page 5 of the list. At a minimum, there will be a new playground. They have hired the SWA Group of landscape architects to study further redevelopment. Additionally, in the plans is a crosswalk connecting White Oak Bayou Park to the neighborhood over White Oak just East of Watson.
District H is starting a "Safe Pathways Initiative" to use some of its service funds. CM Castillo welcomes all ideas for safety improvements that connect schools, parks, and community spaces.
Bike Houston will lead a Houston Ave bike clean-up on March 8. That overpass is now the only serviceable bike path out of the neighborhood since TxDOT construction damaged the MKT and Hogan bridges, leading to their closure.
The group of private citizens discussing the formation of a Greater Heights Management District is planning to present at the next SN15 meeting on April 15, 2025. This proposal is very important to our neighborhood as the area under discussion includes the Woodland Heights neighborhood (Editor's note: more on what a management district is and who creates it can be found at this link).
As minimal information regarding this group's proposal and its impact on the Woodland Heights neighborhood is available, it would be advisable for Woodland Heights neighbors to attend to gather information and ensure our voices are heard. Originally, this proposal was earmarked to be presented to the 2025 Texas Legislative Session for review and potential approval. The word on the street is that the group is no longer pushing for that timeline.