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Management district push continues
By JOSHUA MELVIN
Renaissance 1960 and the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce’s inspiration can be found in rising crime statistics, abandoned strip centers and traffic congestion along FM 1960. Their goals can be seen in a vision to create the closest thing the unincorporated Spring area could have to a local governing body.
But there are a few obstacles between these nonprofit community groups and their goal of creating a pseudo-governmental body called a management district- time and communication among them.
Yet the inherent challenges they face have not stopped this collective of business owners, community leaders and residents from making headway in their effort to protect their neighborhoods.
Currently the groups are in a drive to drum up support for a management district, a community body headed up by a supervisory board which would have the power to make certain improvements within its boundaries, apply for federal grants and enter into partnerships with bodies like Harris County said Mary Davis, executive director of Renaissance 1960.
“The power [of a management district] is being able to obtain resources,” said Barbara Thomason, president of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce. “A chamber of commerce can’t do that.”
The area concerned would likely run from Interstate 45 to State Highway 249. Final boundaries have not yet been set.
But according to Davis the district would likely start with a smaller geographic unit where support is strongest and then expand outwards as neighboring areas seek annexation.
In order to do its work the district will need funding. The core of that money will be raised by assessments on commercial properties. Residential property would be exempt.
The range of rates being discussed is 6 to 13 cents per $100 of property value Davis said.
“We don’t use the word tax; those go to Washington or Austin,” said Thomason. “[The assessment] is a form of a tax, but every penny of that money stays here.”
According to Thomason, high priority for using the funds would be given to addressing public safety issues, abandoned buildings and creating a consistent look and feel for the area.
Also, Renaissance 1960 is creating a master plan for the area that should be brought back to the public by September, Davis said. The suggestions made by the plan will require money.
But before any of this can begin the district must be authorized by the Texas Legislature, which will be convening in January.
And the way to Austin is via three local representatives who must be convinced that the district is wanted and needed by their constituencies.
“We have set some deadlines for ourselves,” Davis said, noting early filing of proposed bills happens in November.
One of the legislators who will need to see proof of public support is Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-District 150. She said she will be working with Sen. Dan Patrick, R-District 7, and Rep. Patricia Harless, R-District 126, as the project progresses.
While Riddle agrees the 1960 corridor needs attention, she is skeptical of the assessment , which she said is essentially a tax, that would be levied against people who are already doing their share for the community.
“[Business owners] are getting hit from all sides. It’s just one more thing on top of a lot of other things,” she said.
Thomason doesn’t believe business owners see things that way.
“I’ve talked to 80 to 100 companies and I haven’t found any opposition,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t opposition out there.”
A campaign to collect letters of support is ongoing. And while the letters are not flooding in, the letters are coming Davis said. E-mail blasts, speaking engagements, notices in homeowner association newsletters and canvasses are part of the effort.
In order to get a full gauge of public opinion on the project, Renaissance 1960 and the chamber are contacting residential property owners, who would not pay the assessment.
“We are concentrating on the whole area,” Davis said. “We just want as many people as we can get.”
The nature of the area makes contacting stakeholders a challenge. Five different newspapers cover the area, there is no centralized municipal government and many commercial properties belong to absentee landlords.“It is very difficult,” Davis said. “We’re having to contact people one by one.” According to Riddle, constituents have communicated both support and criticism for the district, but there are not enough of either to make a final decision.“I believe in local control,” Riddle said. “It’s quite necessary, if not urgent, that people contact my office and let me know where they stand.”What to do?
While many agree that something needs to be done to clean up the rough patches along the FM 1960 corridor, just what to do is less clear.
For Davis and Thomason the management district isn’t necessarily the only option.
“If people don’t want the management district, what do they want?” Davis said, “For long-term improvements and maintenance this is the way. But if anybody else has a better idea, I’m all ears.”
“I’m not yet fully convinced that [the management district] is the silver bullet that we need and maybe there is no such thing as one silver bullet,” Riddle said. “I think this battle is going to have to be fought on several fronts.”
State your case
Contact Rep. Debbie Riddle at 281-537-5252.
Contact Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce at 281-440-4160.
Contact Renaissance 1960 at www.renaissance1960.org.
But there are a few obstacles between these nonprofit community groups and their goal of creating a pseudo-governmental body called a management district- time and communication among them.
Yet the inherent challenges they face have not stopped this collective of business owners, community leaders and residents from making headway in their effort to protect their neighborhoods.
Currently the groups are in a drive to drum up support for a management district, a community body headed up by a supervisory board which would have the power to make certain improvements within its boundaries, apply for federal grants and enter into partnerships with bodies like Harris County said Mary Davis, executive director of Renaissance 1960.
“The power [of a management district] is being able to obtain resources,” said Barbara Thomason, president of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce. “A chamber of commerce can’t do that.”
The area concerned would likely run from Interstate 45 to State Highway 249. Final boundaries have not yet been set.
But according to Davis the district would likely start with a smaller geographic unit where support is strongest and then expand outwards as neighboring areas seek annexation.
In order to do its work the district will need funding. The core of that money will be raised by assessments on commercial properties. Residential property would be exempt.
The range of rates being discussed is 6 to 13 cents per $100 of property value Davis said.
“We don’t use the word tax; those go to Washington or Austin,” said Thomason. “[The assessment] is a form of a tax, but every penny of that money stays here.”
According to Thomason, high priority for using the funds would be given to addressing public safety issues, abandoned buildings and creating a consistent look and feel for the area.
Also, Renaissance 1960 is creating a master plan for the area that should be brought back to the public by September, Davis said. The suggestions made by the plan will require money.
But before any of this can begin the district must be authorized by the Texas Legislature, which will be convening in January.
And the way to Austin is via three local representatives who must be convinced that the district is wanted and needed by their constituencies.
“We have set some deadlines for ourselves,” Davis said, noting early filing of proposed bills happens in November.
One of the legislators who will need to see proof of public support is Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-District 150. She said she will be working with Sen. Dan Patrick, R-District 7, and Rep. Patricia Harless, R-District 126, as the project progresses.
While Riddle agrees the 1960 corridor needs attention, she is skeptical of the assessment , which she said is essentially a tax, that would be levied against people who are already doing their share for the community.
“[Business owners] are getting hit from all sides. It’s just one more thing on top of a lot of other things,” she said.
Thomason doesn’t believe business owners see things that way.
“I’ve talked to 80 to 100 companies and I haven’t found any opposition,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t opposition out there.”
A campaign to collect letters of support is ongoing. And while the letters are not flooding in, the letters are coming Davis said. E-mail blasts, speaking engagements, notices in homeowner association newsletters and canvasses are part of the effort.
In order to get a full gauge of public opinion on the project, Renaissance 1960 and the chamber are contacting residential property owners, who would not pay the assessment.
“We are concentrating on the whole area,” Davis said. “We just want as many people as we can get.”
The nature of the area makes contacting stakeholders a challenge. Five different newspapers cover the area, there is no centralized municipal government and many commercial properties belong to absentee landlords.“It is very difficult,” Davis said. “We’re having to contact people one by one.” According to Riddle, constituents have communicated both support and criticism for the district, but there are not enough of either to make a final decision.“I believe in local control,” Riddle said. “It’s quite necessary, if not urgent, that people contact my office and let me know where they stand.”What to do?
While many agree that something needs to be done to clean up the rough patches along the FM 1960 corridor, just what to do is less clear.
For Davis and Thomason the management district isn’t necessarily the only option.
“If people don’t want the management district, what do they want?” Davis said, “For long-term improvements and maintenance this is the way. But if anybody else has a better idea, I’m all ears.”
“I’m not yet fully convinced that [the management district] is the silver bullet that we need and maybe there is no such thing as one silver bullet,” Riddle said. “I think this battle is going to have to be fought on several fronts.”
State your case
Contact Rep. Debbie Riddle at 281-537-5252.
Contact Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce at 281-440-4160.
Contact Renaissance 1960 at www.renaissance1960.org.
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