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Kickoff Anniversary and Presentation of Action Plans!
A year ago, Mayor Turner announced the launch of a new initiative - Complete Communities. Within this year, the City has held over 200 community meetings, met with over 1,400 citizens, including organizational and governmental representatives, and produced five Complete Communities Action Plans. The draft Action Plans were presented to the Economic Development Council Committee on May 10. Many thanks to the individuals that were able to attend last week's committee meeting and provide comment on the plans. To view the draft Action Plans or provide input, visit the Complete Communities website. Public comment on the plans will be taken through May 23.
City Council will likely consider a resolution of support for the Action Plans in June. Although Council action is pending, fundraising and implementation have already begun to support community supported projects and programs. The Complete Communities website has detailed information on all five communities.
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Community Highlights
Acres Home
Harris Health System wants to hear from you: The Acres Home Community Health Center is participating in the Community Centered Health Homes Initiative. A Community Centered Health Home is a clinic that acknowledges that factors outside the clinic walls affect patient health outcomes and it actively participates in improving them. We are in the process of developing strategies to help improve community utilization of our Acres Homes Community Health Center walking trail and would love to get your input on this survey! If you have questions, contact
kristin.bennett@harrishealth.org
. Click here to take the survey.
FY 18 Acres Home Visit My Neighborhood Community Access Grant:
The Acres Home Multi-Service Center Community Advisory Committee has received the Visit My Neighborhood Grant from the Houston Arts Alliance to identify organizations and creative individuals who will enhance artistic experiences and education for residents and visitors in Acres Homes. The committee is currently accepting applications for artistic projects. Funding can range from up to $5,000 for short-term activities to several thousand dollars for larger projects. If you are interested in funding an art project in Acres Home, please request a grant application by email at
acreshomesvmn@gmail.com
. The deadline for all grant submissions is June 1, 2018. All grant submitters are required to attend a Meet & Greet Orientation on May 21, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center. Please RSVP your attendance via email to
acreshomesvmn@gmail.com
by May 17, 2018. Contact Catherine D. Dorsey at 832-731-6208 or
cddorsey@sbcglobal.net
for more information.
Juneteenth Parade: Mayor Sylvester Turner's 7th Annual Acres Home Juneteenth Parade is on Saturday, June 16, 10 am - 2 pm. The parade begins at Acres Home Multi-Service Center at 6719 W. Montgomery; travels north on W. Montgomery, and west on Dolly Wright; and ends on 1620 Dolly Wright at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church. For more information, contact Kynetta.Moore@houstontx.gov at 832-393-0825, or visit the Special Events website.
Contact Information: The lead planners for Acres Home are Christa Stoneham and Arica Bailey. You can reach them at CC_AcresHome@houstontx.gov.
Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council: The SN monthly meeting is held every 3rd Monday of the month at the Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Dr., 77074, 12 pm - 1 pm.
26th Annual Gulfton Parade & Festival: The annual festival is Saturday, May 19, 2018, 11 am - 2 pm. The parade begins at Benavidez Elementary School (6262 Gulfton) and ends at Burnett Bayland Park (6000 Chimney Rock). The Gulfton Citizen's Advisory Council is comprised of members of the Gulfton community whose goal is to raise funds to support the Gulfton HPD Storefront and establish a healthy relationship between the police and the community. Click here for more information.
Get Moving Houston Farmers Market: The Farmers Market will be at the Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Dr. 77074, on May 16 & 30, 10:30 am - 2:30 pm.
Contact Information: The lead planners for Gulfton are Tonya Sawyer and Abraham Zorilla. You can reach them at CC_Gulfton@houstontx.gov.
On April 21, 2018, the Near Northside community received national recognition for their efforts in removing lead paint from homes in the neighborhood through the Lead Remediation Program and a Build Health Challenge grant. The celebration included representatives such as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, State Representative Jessica Farrar, State Senator Sylvia Garcia, Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, Council Member Karla Cisneros, and many more. The event was supported by the Houston Office of Special Events, the Houston Health Department, and the Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes office. It included a health and resource fair that was hosted by Holy Name Catholic Church, along with music and dance performers. Over 20 partner organizations participated in the fair to provide information about available programs for families and individuals like health and lead screenings.
Action Plan Implementation: Another Neighborhood Support Team meeting will be held this month to discuss implementation opportunities for the Complete Communities Action Plan. Moreover, work groups will be further discussed as these will soon be formulated to carry out various projects.
Second Ward
Sidewalk Program: One of the goals in Second Ward is to promote walkability through new and improved sidewalks. Many residents in the community use sidewalks to get to their churches, schools, and places of business. The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) administers the Pedestrian Accessibility Review program for residents with disabilities that need sidewalk improvements to improve accessibility. A sidewalk improvement in Second Ward was recently approved through this program to create an accessibility route from a resident's home on Brady Street to Sherman Street. Thank you to the Second Ward Super Neighborhood Council #63, City Council Member Karla Cisneros, and the MOPD for helping to meet this need in the community. If you know someone that may benefit from this program, additional information can be found
here.
Eastwood Park Beautification Project: As a reminder, Phase II of the Eastwood Park Beautification Project is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 8 am - 12 pm, at Eastwood Park. Join us on Saturday to garden, mulch, and pick up litter to beautify Eastwood Park. Special thanks to the Greater East End Management District, Home Depot, Junk King, and the ReUse Warehouse for helping with donations for this event! The Eastwood Park Beautification Project has been a collaboration with Second Ward Super Neighborhood #63, the Department of Neighborhoods, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and many others.
Buffalo Bayou East Sector Master Plan: Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is making a great deal of progress with its Buffalo Bayou East Sector Master Plan, which includes the Second Ward. More than 300 people turned out for community meetings in February. On April 25, the organization presented a plan draft to a crowd of over 125 people. BBP is now embarking on a series of smaller meetings and neighborhood gatherings. They plan to present the draft plan and secure additional input at civic association and community meetings throughout the Second Ward, Greater East End, and Fifth Ward areas. In addition, they are looking for neighborhood residents who would be willing to hold small gatherings at their homes. If you are interested in hosting a meeting, contact Anne Olson at 713-752-0314 or
aolson@buffalobayou.org
.
Contact Information: The lead planners for Second Ward are Misty Staunton and David Welch. You can reach them at CC_SecondWard@houstontx.gov.
Third Ward
SN/NST Meeting: The Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood #67/Neighborhood Support Team met April 19. Each of the nine workgroup Co-Chairs reported on the top priority projects selected by each workgroup and the regularly future meetings. To sign up to participate in workgroups, use the
online form. For meeting logistics, see the Third Ward Complete Communities
Event Calendar. The SN/NST will meet every third Thursday, 6:00-7:30 pm at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 17.
Walkable Places: Citizen participation in upcoming Walkable Places public engagement meetings will help shape how some of Third Ward's major streets will develop. Recommended changes to Chapter 26 and 42 of the Code of Ordinances can make Emancipation, and other streets, more vibrant and walkable, create attractive streetscapes, and can help preserve neighborhood character. Public meetings will be held in Third Ward on June 9, 9 am - 12 pm. The location is to be determined. Sign-up online to get updates emailed to you.
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Bike Plan Implementation
Third Ward's Action Plan calls to "expand area bike lanes and facilities" to address Mobility and Infrastructure. Join mid-June public meetings to provide input on what segments of the Bike Plan are most important to the community and which should be implemented first. Logistics are coming soon. Sign-up online to get updates emailed directly to you.
Bike Ambassador Training
BikeHouston, a non-profit bicycle advocacy group, has an Ambassador Training program on May 19. The Ambassador Training teaches community leaders how to effectively promote safe cycling and how to become an effective advocates for bikeway improvements. The event is Saturday, May 19, 10 am - 12 pm at Emancipation Park.
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Contact Information: The lead planners for Third Ward are Lynn Henson and Annette Mitchell. You can reach them at CC_ThirdWard@houstontx.gov.
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All Complete Communities
Homebuying Assistance: The City of Houston offers a Homebuying Assistance Program that provides financial assistance of up to $25,000! This program is available to qualified low-to-moderate income, first-time homebuyers in the city of Houston to help reduce some of the costs associated with purchasing a home, including down payment and closing costs. Visit the Houston Housing and Community Development website or call 832-394-6200 to begin your application.
Hurricane Season Preparedness: In case of disability, elderly concerns, or special needs, you can register yourself yearly with the STEAR program (State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry.) Call the United Way's 211 to register for this emergency assistance.
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