April 15, 2025
The hybrid meeting began at 7:03 PM. A quorum was recognized. On-site snacks were provided by Nick Whitaker and Natalie Matuszcsak…olive oil cake!
Nick Whitaker, CAFMC president, presented the evening’s itinerary.
Neighborhood Updates:
The raised crosswalk at Westheimer and Crockett, in front of Katz’, is being removed. There is a petition to stop it at https://www.change.org/p/hands-off-whitmire. The site does ask for a donation, which goes to change.org but it is not required.
The short-term rental ordinance has been delayed until April 16. Short-term rental suppliers would pay a fee and register with the city. More information can be found at www.houstontx.gov/ara.str.html.
The coyotes are still around. They seem to be living in abandoned houses. The city will not remove wild animals unless they are in your house. TPWD recommends leaving the coyotes alone. Do not leave pets outside. Remove food sources.
The bridges over US59 are illuminated again.
METRO will be redoing Montrose from W. Clay to US 59. Construction should begin in June or July.
Tax protests are due.
CRUISE is moving out of their worksite. Cars and generators are gone.
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TIRZ 27 Project
David Greaney, project manager for Gauge Engineering (now H.R. Green) presented information about the TIRZ27 project from Allen Parkway to West Clay on Montrose. He has worked on the project for three years. It started in the late 2010’s after a drainage study. Montrose is the drainage spine for all neighborhoods.
Project Goals
- Improve drainage
- Improve mobility and safety
- Promote a pedestrian-friendly environment
- Preserve as many trees as possible.
Improve drainage
10’ X 10’ storm sewers will be installed. Improvements will be consistent with the Regional Solution. Houston Public Works is replacing aging inlets.
Mobility
Sidewalks will be wider where possible. Sidewalks will narrow to provide room for trees. METRO is adding BOOST 56 which will include the new sidewalks, updated accessibility, bus shelters with lighting, and real-time bus information. Lighting will include 2 lights on each pole, one for the sidewalk and one for the street. This will provide enhanced safety and security for the sidewalks, increased visibility, and road safety.
New pedestrian signals are to be installed. They will include utilities for the blind, wheel chair ramps and HAWK crosswalks. HAWK is an acronym for High Intensity Activity CrossWalK. This is similar to the one currently in use in the Museum District. These will work in the following manner:
- The crosswalk button will be pushed
- The light will flash yellow
- The light will turn solid yellow
- The light will flash red
- The light will turn solid red
- The light will return to flashing red
There will also be refuge in the median for pedestrians.
TIRZ is trying to save as many trees as possible. There will be no sidewalk on the west side of Montrose by the cemetery so those trees can be saved. A tree canopy with new cypress trees (sans cypress knees) will be planted. Trees south of W. Dallas will be preserved. The new trees will by 100-gallon trees with a four-year program of watering. Any trees that die during that period will be replaced.
Information about the project can be found at:
Comments can be made at:
Work has begun and will continue until March 2027. There WILL BE traffic delays during this time. The timeline was driven by the Ismali Center grand opening and the need to install the HAWK crossing for the nearby school.
TIRZ was funded based on a property value of $1B. That property value is now $2.5B! The TIRZ27 portion of the Montrose improvements will cost $17.9M.
The speaker indicated that the Westheimer raised crosswalk will be replace with a different crosswalk style.
Alabama Street IS GOING TO BE RECONSTRUCTED!!! Preliminary engineering is currently be carried out. This will be followed by a proposal which should be complete in 2026. The project will proceed after that.
The meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM.