The Harris County Democratic Party would like to invite you to join Democrats from all across Harrris County to hear HCDP Chair Gerry Birnberg deliver his State of the Party Address, Tuesday, February 10th, 11:45 a.m. Chair Gerry Birnberg will report on the current state of Party affairs, election analysis, and how Democrats sit in Harris County in the Obama era. Join us at the HCDP Headquarters, 1445 North Loop West, Ste. 110, Houston, Texas 77008, (exit Ella Blvd) for the festivities and fellowship.  Please note: construction continues at 1445, so you may want to park in the garage behind our building or in the Lowe’s lot behind the IBEW Union Hall.]

NEARTOWN/HEIGHTS

Safe streets, community centers top concerns in District H

By BETTY L. MARTIN HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Feb. 3, 2009, 3:44PM

Central-northwest Houston’s need for new or remodeled facilities and working streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure didn’t end when former District H City Council member Adrian Garcia became the new sheriff Nov. 4, 2008.

Position 3 At-Large City Council member Melissa Noriega donned the district hat Jan. 29, assisted by the district’s remaining staff, in hosting the city’s annual meeting to hear residents’ ideas about what capital improvement projects need to be added to the city’s five-year CIP Plan.

The council seat vacated by Garcia will be filled by voters in the May 9 election.

District H staff members remain on the job on the first floor of the City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, answering calls to 832-393-3003.

Noriega said the CIP projects are the big-cost items such as building a new community center, library or fire station, or major road, water and sewer line extensions.

MKT Trail right of way

Jane Cahill West, president of the combined Washington Avenue/Memorial Super Neighborhood Council, said she was glad to see the MKT (Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad) Trail on the current CIP project list.

“But I urge you to extend the MKT Trail right of way to Memorial Park,” she added.

The $1.9 million bike trail is being built along the former railroad right of way in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Cahill West also asked the city to add reconstruction of the heavily trafficked Sawyer Street; upgrades to security and lighting for West End Park, 1418 Patterson; and establishing quiet zones along Houston Avenue and other streets with major rail crossings.

Mike Marcotte, chief of the Department of Public Works and Engineering, said the area has so many trains that it made the cut on a recent study of possible quiet zones to shield residents from train noise.

“We identified 14 requests for quiet zones,” Marcotte said, “and this area scored very well because of the number of trains.”

Marcotte said Dan Raines, the city’s full time bikeways coordinator, is putting together a proposal for the next bike trails to be constructed in Houston under its long-range trail plan.

Raines would like to hear from residents, Marcotte said, who have identified areas that would fill the gaps between trails or suggestions for new trails.

Current projects

Other current projects already on the CIP list for District H include:

• The $10.3 million reconstruction of North Main Street from Interstate 45 to Airline Drive, estimated for completion Oct. 27;

• Replacement of water lines in the Gardendale area, estimated at $8.3 million, scheduled to be completed last month, and north Houston’s Ellena Gardens subdivision, $4.46 million, to be completed Sept. 12;

• Market Street paving from Lockwood to Wayside, $7.3 million, estimated for completion Sept. 12; and,

• Little White Oak Bayou Trail, $1.17 million, to be finished in September.

Upcoming projects

Upcoming projects on the list include:

• A new prisoner processing center in partnership with Harris County, $38 million;

• Hempstead Road and Washington Avenue reconstruction in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, $23.8 million;

• Yale Street paving from Tidwell to Parker, $10.4 million;

• Yale Street rehabilitation, Phase I, from Interstate 10 to 17th Street, $9.3 million;

• Yale Street rehabilitation, Phase II, from 17th Street to Loop 610, $6.5 million;

• Little York paving, from Airline to Hardy Street, $9.7 million;

• Moody Park Community Center expansion and park, 3725 Fulton, $3.5 million; and,

• Buffalo Bayou Trail, from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, $2.08 million.

Guadalupe Plaza Park

Jessica Hulsey, president of the Second Ward Super Neighborhood, complained about the condition of Guadalupe Plaza Park, 2311 Runnels, the lack of a skateboard area in Eastwood Park, 5020 Harrisburg, and street sign and bike trail identification.

Isa Dadoush, general services manager, said the city is advertising for a construction contractor to upgrade Guadalupe Plaza Park, a $271,000 project to be completed in late summer.

Marcotte said that while street labeling wasn’t on the CIP, it is a good idea to have clear signage on all city streets for safety’s sake.

Noriega asked Hulsey to make a written request that names the street that needs signage.

Independence Heights

In response to a request for a community center in Independence Heights, Dadoush said the city is still investigating a spot for a joint library-multiservice center for the area.

“Last year, we looked at a church for the library-multiservice center. We’re looking at other locations,” Dadoush said. “The deal is not finished.”

Property at Whitman and North Main is being targeted by the city for a three-purpose center.

It would house reusable materials, neighborhood recycling and community education when the project wraps up in 2010.

Intersection confusion

Sister Eleanor Dickmann, a hospice care provider, said the Cavalcade and Main Street intersection needs a roundabout to lessen confusion caused by five different traffic signals.

“Fire Station No. 15 trucks go by, busses act like they own the street and it’s dangerous,” Dickmann said.

She asked if the city could also standardize street signs.

“We lost a neighbor because the fire truck went to the wrong block,” Dickmann said.

Friends of Woodland Heights member Pat Rutlege said he would like to see a full-length basketball court and a complete remodeling project for a community building built in the area in the 1940s.

Shady Acres

Nancy Wilcox, vice president of the Shady Acres civic group, said she is worried the city wants to increase two-lane 19th and 20th streets to four lanes.

“No one wants four lanes of traffic behind their houses,” Wilcox said. “Tree-lined boulevards would be nice.”

Sidewalks also need to be widened over the 18th Street Bridge, Wilcox said.

“And, also, we need a new bridge, while you’re at it,” she said.

Said Marcotte, “That’s a CIP item we will put in the mix.”