Southwest HPD Substation Grand Opening Celebration
December 15, 2017 was a GREAT DAY in District K! Council Member Green presided over the highly anticipated ribbon cutting event to commemorate the official grand opening of the Southwest HPD Substation. The new substation is located at 13097 Nitida St., nestled within Cambridge Village Park.
The grand opening was co-sponsored by the Houston Police Station – Southwest Patrol Division. As part of the ceremonial event, Parker Elementary School band serenaded the audience and Madison High School cheerleaders rallied the sprit of the crowd and the ROTC cadets participated as greeters.
“Over five years ago, we realized the need for a more centralized location for the HPD substation serving beats 15 and 16. Having this new station in the heart of District K is a huge asset to our community,” states Council Member Green.”
The event was attended by Mayor Turner, HPD Chief Art Acevedo and his HPD executive team, as well as Houston At-Large council members and other elected officials that serve this southwest sector of Houston. “I definitely have to acknowledge the Southwest Patrol Division team that does a remarkable job everyday as our first responders.”
An added feature to this new substation is also its location adjacent to Cambridge Village. This facility’s construction project brought upon needed park improvements which resulted in a new playground, benches, trash cans, and an extension of the current walking trail to the new enlarged parking lot that will serve both the park and police substation.
Also, this new 50,000 square-foot HPD facility boast of a 112-seat capacity public community meeting room that will allow for community functions such as the Westbury/Southwest PIP meetings and possible Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Houston PIP meetings. Just like the South Gessner HPD Substation in the Brays Oaks area, the large community room will also serve as a meeting venue for regularly scheduled civic association meetings.
Fall Arbor Day Tree Planting a Huge Success
Planting season is here! The District K office, in partnership with Trees for Houston, Centerpoint Energy, the Five Corners Management District, and the Parks and Recreation Dept., hosted a Fall Arbor Day tree planting event along the West Orem Dr. corridor from Waterloo Dr. to Almeda Rd. This tree planting event was a continuation of the trees planted along the West Orem Dr. corridor from the Arbor Day event the District K office sponsored in 2014.
“Having so many volunteers and residents to join us in planting these trees is a true testament to the importance of beautification throughout our district,” states Council Member Green.
Over 100, 15-gallon trees consisting of crepe myrtles and live oak trees were planted. Special thanks to the Girls Scouts, Top Teens, and the Five Corners Management District for sponsoring breakfast for the volunteers.
Altura Heights Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Last month, Council Member Green, along with co-developers DMA Development Company and the Houston Area Urban Development Corporation, welcomed the Altura Heights Apartment community to the Hiram Clarke area with a ribbon cutting celebration.
“I want to personally acknowledge the members of South Houston Concerned Citizens Coalition and the Five Corners Management District for playing an active and vital role with the design phase of this apartment complex. This group of community stakeholders wanted assurances that this facility would not only be a Class A product that reflects positively on their community, as well as allow their input in the interior and exterior features of this complex,” states Council Member Green. “I commend these community stakeholders for their persistence and the co-developers for working along with the community during the design and construction phase of this project.”
This new 124-unit workforce multi-family complex serves individuals whose incomes are at or below 60% of the area median income. Of the 124 units, 19 units are being offered at market-rate. As an affordable apartment complex for this area, this new facility has the same capacity as many other Class A apartment complexes such as a community center, business center, fitness center, swimming pool, etc. The units also include full appliance packages that are energy efficient, washer/dryer hookups, and private patios with storage. The perfect place to call HOME.
Almeda Rd. (FM 521) Overlay Project Update
Earlier last month, the Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) started the asphalt maintenance of Almeda Rd. (FM 521) from I-610 (South Loop) to south of Broadhurst near Beltway 8. The roadway project will enhance the existing riding surface along this TxDOT highway.
This maintenance project consists of the rehabilitation of the existing road base repair, milling, seal coat, thin overlay, concrete pipe and pavement markings. Most of the rehabilitation maintenance will occur during the nighttime hours after 9:00 p.m. and before 5:00 a.m.
This is a $3M roadway project fully funded by TxDOT. Accordingly, this roadway project will extend over 5 months and is expected to be completed by late May 2018.
Westbury Wins Mayor’s Proud Award
During 2017, Keep Houston Beautiful participated in 417 cleanup or beautification projects with over 9,000 volunteers. Each year participants are asked to submit their projects for consideration of an award at the Mayor’s Proud Partner luncheon.
The Westbury Civic Club “Green Team” of volunteers has won a Mayor’s Proud Partner award for “Keep Westbury Beautiful Day” in 2017. The Westbury Civic Club “Keep Westbury Beautiful Day” is held in conjunction with the Keep District K Beautiful Day and the Keep Houston Beautiful Day events in April. Volunteers worked at Westbury Park, Chimney Rock Park, and on the public esplanades in Westbury. A Westbury project has garnered recognition almost every year since 2005. The Westbury Civic Club Greenspace Director, Mat Funk, accepted the award on behalf of the civic club.
In addition, the Prairie Garden at Willow Waterhole Greenway created in spring 2017 was recently selected to receive the Mayor’s Certificate of Recognition Award. Bill Burhans of Westbury represented the Native Plant Society and the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy in accepting the award. Working on this project were Hazel Potvin, Janie Schexnayder, Diana Lovelady, Noreen Hoard, Karen Schubert, Jackie Heidorn, and Brett Byers.
In addition to the specific Westbury recognitions, the District K office won three awards for beautification work throughout the District. The respective honors recognized the beautification projects for the 2017 Arbor Day Tree Planting project, Keep District K Beautiful Day, and for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Planting Day project. “I want to acknowledge all the outstanding works the District K office does to further promote beautification aesthetics throughout the District,” states Council Member Green.
“The Westbury Civic Club Green Team shares this award not only with all the volunteers, but also with Westbury residents who pay their dues which help fund the incidental expenses of these work days. Thanks to all the volunteers from around the neighborhood and also our youth volunteers from Sharpstown HS, Westbury HS, Bellaire HS, and Meyerland PVA Middle School,” states Becky Edmondson, Westbury Civic Club President and District K representative on the Houston Clean Commission.
Tri-Party Agreement Signed in District K
On November 21st, Council Member Green had the pleasure of participating in a signing of a Tri-Party Agreement, along with the Chairman of the Five Corners District Homer Clark, Chairman of TIRZ 25, Ted Andrews, and the Chairwoman of TIRZ 9, Algenita Scott-Davis.
This agreement is a partnership between the three organizations to work together, and with District K, on economic development projects in the Five Corners Hiram-Clarke area. Projects will include addressing needed infrastructure such as sidewalks and streetscape enhancements, parks and greenspace improvements, and more.
District K is becoming the ideal place in Houston to invest and expand on business opportunities and I invite you to come see what we are doing. You’ll be amazed.
Neighborhood 101: Protecting Yourself from Home Repair Fraud & Scams
Earlier this month, the District K office hosted another Neighborhood 101 workshop that addressed a post-Harvey topic: Protecting Yourself from Home Repair Fraud & Scams.
This workshop was held at Westbury High School Lecture Hall with over 85 attendees. The workshop addressed how to deal with home repair contractors; how to find, hire, work with and pay contractors; what should and should not be in your contract, the building permit process, how to set up payment schedules, insurance issues you may not know about, how to deal with problems that may arise, change orders, and lien releases.
“This workshop was important to residents that experienced flooding during Hurricane Harvey and are continuing the rebuilding process. It’s critical that we ensure homeowners have the tools and resources needed to avoid becoming a victim of unscrupulous contractors,” states Council Member Green.
This symposium was moderated by Phae Moore, Executive Director of the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud based out of Atlanta, GA. The panelist consisted of an attorney from the Texas Attorney General Office of the Consumer Protection Division, Special Prosecutor for the Texas Dept. of Insurance; City of Houston Code Enforcement Building Official, Houston Police Officer of the Theft and Burglary Division, and a local Houston attorney who addressed citizen’s rights regarding home repair and home building contractors.
