Good news for all Houstonians! The Planning & Development Department (P&D) wants you to know about some recently adopted tax exemptions for the restoration and renovation of historic sites. The historic site tax exemptions benefit all sizes and values of properties, in all types of neighborhoods.
City Council approved the amendment to Section 44-5 of the City of Houston's Code of Ordinances on March 19, 2019. The tax exemptions apply to historic
structures that have been designated as a landmark, a protected landmark, or as a contributing structure, pursuant to Article VII of the Chapter 33 Historic Preservation Ordinance. Click here for more information on the two
tiers of tax exemptions and a map of the qualifying census tract areas
.
Applications
for the historic site tax exemptions will be administered by the Mayor's Economic Development Office in conjunction with the Finance Department. For questions about historic preservation, call the Historic Preservation hotline at 832.393.6556.
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Lyons Avenue Bike Lanes Ready to Ride!
 Traveling in Fifth Ward has just gotten easier with the completion of bicycle travel lanes along Lyons Avenue. These bikeways are located in the heart of this historically significant community, immediately northeast of downtown. As part of the broader bikeway network in Near Northside, the first on-street bike lane has been implemented on Lyons Avenue. Construction is complete, with green paint applied at certain intersections.
Lyons Avenue bike lane photo courtesy of Geoff Carleton with Traffic Engineers Inc (TEI)
Lyons Avenue bikeway serves as a piece of the Phase 1 Bikeway Network in the community, which totals 9.2 miles and includes key north-south and east-west connectors such as Hardy, Elysian, and Kelley. The facilities were constructed via a partnership between Harris County Precinct 1 County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and the City of Houston, with support from Harris County Precinct 2. For details, click here.
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Professional Certification Achievements
Margaret Wallace Brown, Thomas Kirn,and Melissa Beeler achieved AICP certification
Kudos to three members of the Planning Department who just received certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). The newly certified AICP planners are Melissa Beeler, Thomas Kirn, and P&D Interim Director Margaret Wallace Brown. They join other staff members who have also achieved this important recognition of professional development. The prestigious AICP designation is granted by the American Planning Association (APA), the premier organization for professional planners.
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Program Updates
Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC):
The committee met on May 30 to discuss the Bike Friendly Communities Report Card, Build 50 Update and Next Steps, including Maintenance, and Vision Zero. Click
here
for details about the BAC and to view the agenda.
Bike to Work Day 2019: The annual Bike To Work Day was held on May 17 and had an estimated 250 participants and numerous volunteers! The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of this alternative transportation mode. A special thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who helped make it such a success, and to all participants for making it a fun, memorable event. See you next year!
BIG thank you to the PD team for another job well done at BTWD
Complete Communities:
You're invited to a Complete Communities celebration and announcement of new complete communities. The celebration will be held at 10 am at Eastwood Park and will be followed by a news conference at 11 am.
For more information about the Complete Communities program, or to view the Complete Communities May newsletter, click here.
Walkable Places: T
uesday, June 11, is the final meeting of the Walkable Places Committee, to finalize the proposed Walkable Places ordinance framework and the Transit Oriented Development ordinance amendments. Click
here to view the agenda and presentation.
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