Executive Director's
Monthly Column
District News
Welcome to my monthly column, designed to inform everyone who lives, works or visits within the boundaries of the Near Northwest Management District how Assessment Funds and partnerships are governed to create a more enjoyable environment for everyone.
July 2008
NNWMD: Helping community members unite to improve area
This month I would like to update you on the Near Northwest Management District’s efforts currently underway to improve our community and provide information on how members of the business community can partner with us in these endeavors.
SuperBlock One
In an effort to make the area near the intersection of Antoine and Desoto a better place to live and do business, owners and managers of the apartment complexes as well as representatives from home owners associations and local businesses meet once a month to discuss security issues, identify problems the properties face in common and find joint solutions. This committee has become known as SuperBlock One and is currently working to find ways to improve the area.
The committee has developed a SuperBlock One Resolution that outlines the criteria necessary to be considered a member of the coalition and includes requirements to maintain property, make repairs in a timely fashion, enforce a drug free zone, similar to the Blue Star Program, and participation in a joint screening program to reduce the numbers of evictions and “skips”.
The committee members are also exploring ways to unify the private security personnel in the area. Both hiring a single private security firm to patrol the entire area and finding ways to coordinate the existing private security personnel are under consideration.
The committee is beginning to explore joint marketing efforts for Super Block One properties, including finding a storefront space on Antoine to use as a leasing office for the entire area and hiring a professional marketing person to make recommendations on the best way to bring new tenants into the area.
The SuperBlock One committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. for businesses and residents on or near Hollyview and DeSoto streets. We are also planning to start SuperBlock 2 & 3 and parties interested in being part of those initiatives should contact the District.
Candlelight Trails
Of primary concern to all SuperBlock One area residents is the status of Candlelight Trials. At a recent District security meeting, held every month on the second Tuesday at 10 a.m. and open to all businesses in the District, guest speaker Chief Dorothy Edwards, with the Houston Police Department’s Neighborhood Protection Division, expressed concern that the property might not meet the city’s criteria for demolition. Shortly after that meeting, signage announcing efforts to refurbish the property by new owners was posted but provided no details as to how they plan to do that.
The District sees this as unlikely, considering the buildings current state of disrepair and that the building’s owner is uninterested in working with area law enforcement to keep surrounding residents safe from the attractive hazard the building now presents to neighborhood children. The last thing we would want is to have an accident like the one in July at a Southwest area apartment complex where two young boys were crushed while playing on a stairwell that collapsed. In the past, both HPD and Precinct One Constables had keys to the locked gates. Now the locks have been changed and law enforcement cannot go onto the property without either a call for service or permission from the new owners, which they will not provide.
Chief Edwards is currently working with us to help us find a solution to removing the blight that Candlelight Trails has become to our community and we will be meeting with Councilmember Jarvis Johnson who is very interested in helping us as well.
Please plan to attend our next Security Meeting on August 12 at 10 a.m. to get an update on our progress.
Community Policing
The District has launched www.Crime-track.com, a Web site for community members to report crimes and suspicious activity within District boundaries to be investigated by the District’s Harris County Precinct One Constables. The Web site was first developed for use by area apartment complexes and has been very helpful in limiting criminal activity in apartment communities by allowing multiple community members to provide information, anonymously, on incident which can then be used by our investigators.
Business owners interested in learning more about how to use crime-track.com are invited to attend and introductory session on the software at the District office at 5300 Hollister on August 12 at 9 a.m.
Area Beautification
The District continues to work to spiff up our community. We are working with the city to get District street signs approved and will be meeting with Councilmember Toni Lawrence to move that initiative forward.
Our Adopt-an-Esplanade program is still ongoing and there are still opportunities for area businesses to do their part to improve the appearance of the area by adopting an esplanade.
National Night Out
Finally, I would like all area businesses to know that the District and GFI Management will once again host a National Night Out celebration for our area in the Kroger parking lot at 5620 W. Tidwell on October 7. Last year’s event was extremely well attended and one of the largest in the city. We already have commitments from several local government and law enforcement officials to speak and there will be prizes, food and fun for everyone.
To make this the best event possible we are looking for participation from local businesses. We need prizes to give away and sponsorships to provide the attractions that will make this event a success. If you would like to participate in return for the opportunity to promote your business to the community, please contact Melanie Fahey at melfahey@nearnorthwestdistrict.com or 713-895-8021 for more information.
For more information about the Near Northwest Management District, go to www.nearnorthwestdistrict.com or contact Roy Millmore at 713-895-8021.
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