Since rejoining the WHCA board last summer, I’ve only been to a couple of SN15 meetings. I was particularly interested in the meeting scheduled for April 15th since the agenda held a couple of promising items. What follows is a recap of what happened, and perhaps just a significantly…what didn’t happen.
The Greater Heights Management District
The planned agenda included a presentation by the small group of neighbors who were working on the idea of a Greater Heights Management District. I was very interested in then project. Back in January, I’d seen an early presentation given to the Montie Beach Civic Club. This is what inspired me to present some background information to the WHCA member’s meeting in March.
Not much was known about the project, which was at it’s core a very small group. I saw significant merit in the idea. I appreciated that it needed to be more fully fleshed out, so that something more clearly defined could be presented to a larger audience. In fact, I had hoped to be allowed to help in the effort.
Alas, the lack of good information caused the online rumor mill to work overtime. In particular, there are a few threads on Next Door where people, with no knowledge of the matter, vented about imagined harms.
Faced with such criticism before they even broke cover, the organizing group decided to disband the project. So, there was no presentation. I for one am disappointed. It was good idea. There was an opportunity to be engaged in shaping the effort to address the needs of the neighborhood.
I appreciate that there are a diverse range of opinions hereabouts. But it’s just not smart, civil, or kind, to reach for the pitchforks before you have a concrete idea about the project details. This is why we can’t have nice things.
The 11th Street Safety Project
The state of 11th Street was the other item on the agenda. There is some concern that Mayor Whitmire may intend to reverse the improvements that were implemented in 2021. Since becoming mayor he’s had several similar projects changed or reversed, most recently Austin Street in midtown, which was done without any notice or opportunity for public comment.
Kevin Strickland, chair of SN15, had prepared a letter to the mayor and city council. This letter expresses support for the project and the new state of 11th Street, with the bike lanes. He invited Chris Parma from Walk & Roll Houston to present an overview of the project, from inception to post-installation analysis.
This was followed by some questions from, and discussion amongst, the council members. It was noted that a couple of civic associations were working on their own letters. I note WHCA has supported the project from it’s inception. In fact, you can still find a video of one of the public meetings on our web site. It was actually our March 2019 Members Meeting.
Next came Q & A from the audience. Emmanuel Nunez, organizer of I Love 11th Street, rose to offer support for the project. He noted that a reinvigorated community along 11th street was the basis for the festival he has organized for the past two years.
With strongly held views on both sides of the matter present, the Q & A was quite animated. Some questioned the details of the study methodologies used to evaluate the project. Others voiced concern for traffic on neighboring streets. Numerous voices were heard.
The agenda item concluded with the super-neighborhood council voting to send the letter.
Other Items
Staff from CM Castillo’s and CM Kamin’s offices made short presentations. They noted a listening session about 11th Street planned for 10am Saturday, April 26th at the Vineyard Church. RSVP is recommended.
