Requests from Museum Park Super Neighborhood regarding construction of high-rise apartment building to be constructed at Caroline and Oakdale:

• Provide glass reflectivity numbers.
•  Provide written assurance that the park will be open to the public.
•  Confirm if materials from existing structures being demolished will be recycled  and/or reused per the project's pursuit of LEED certification.
• Provide a letter of commitment and parking plan for construction period that stipulates all construction workers will be restricted to off-site parking and that Hines will work with the community to restrict street parking.  Failure to do so will result in significant congestion within the neighborhood. 
•  Construction traffic ingress and egress should be routed along major thoroughfares.  All effort should be made to route traffic via Fannin and San Jacinto and avoid use of the heavily residential portion of Southmore from Caroline to Highway 288. 
•  Confirm that this project falls within the guidelines of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.  In addition to complying with all SWPPP standards, we request that the project:
• • Establish reasonable construction hours (please let us know in advance what is anticipated.)
  • Establish a reasonable construction workweek (please let us know in advance what is anticipated).
  • Avoid allowing construction trucks to idle while waiting to load and unload.
  • Avoid allowing construction trucks to block drives and streets for any length of time.
  • Provide waste receptacles for workers to avoid trash blowing through the neighborhood.
  • Establish and enforce a construction worker code of ethics to avoid 'cat calling," smoking, drinking alcohol, and to require proper attire outside the site yet within the immediate neighborhood.
  • Communicate in a timely manner with surrounding buildings and neighbors should utility service be interrupted temporarily or street access be interrupted temporarily so preparations can be made.
  • Perform frequent cleanup of streets to remove mud and construction debris.
  • Repair any street damage that might occur as a result of additional wear to streets not designed to handle vehicle loads required for large construction projects.
    

    

•  Coordinate with other neighborhood stakeholders who will have constructions projects occurring simultaneously, particularly Museum of Fine Arts Project slated for 2015.

• Work with Museum Park Neighborhood to support their ongoing efforts to improve the Museum Park medians.  During construction protect the Caroline median across from the ‘Southmore,’ and in consultation with MPNA provide improvements to the median, post-construction.

 

 

 

Representatives from Hines met with neighborhood stakeholders May 28 to present current plans for the construction of their 25 story highrise apartment building slated for opening in 2016.

For details of the meeting please follow the link below:

Hines presentation of _The Southmore’.pdf

Houston Galveston Area Council's Regional Plan is open for public comment.  Information regarding the Plan is located at:
http://www.ourregion.org/OurRegion2040Supporting_Documents/OurGreatRegionSummaryEnglish.pdf

http://www.ourregion.org/index.html

All are welcome to comment and/or attend HGAC's Open House, which will be held:
                                      Saturday, November 9.
                                      10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
                                      3555 Timmons Lane
                                      Houston, TX 77027

MPNA in conjunction with Museum Park Super Neighborhood is seeking a $250,000 Grant for a Livable Centers Study available through the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a voluntary association of local governments within thirteen counties of the Texas Gulf Coast.  H-GAC’s mission is to serve as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region’s orderly development and the safety and welfare of its citizens.   Museum Park is responsible for raising a 23% local funding match, or $57,000 for a total project investment of $307,000 by October 31.

 

The goal of the study is to address Museum Park challenges that have developed with the success of the area, including the need for better transit, bike lanes, parking, sidewalks, crosswalks, sustainable streetscapes, bus management, way-finding signage, and the complete lack of a sense of place.  The best destinations in Houston are right here, but they’re among the most difficult in the City to access.  A Museum Park Livable Center study will result in a master plan that, when implemented, will offer safer transit and pedestrian-friendly access to our 12 million annual visitors. Currently the whole is less than the sum of its parts; the goal is to create a destination that is greater than the sum of its parts.  Please see the Livable Centers Brochure below for more information regarding Livable Centers in general.

 

Most importantly, winning this grant opens doors to opportunities for implementation money.  Of the recently completed Livable Centers studies, resulting construction dollars have ranged from $10-$25 million.  The Completed Livable Centers spreadsheet (attached) shows the Return on Investment for these studies.

Our accomplishments to date in meeting our matching goals include:

• We have the support of the City of Houston, which is critical to our winning this very competitive grant.  Please see the attached presentation to the city to further your understanding of why we seek a Livable Centers Grant.

• Greater Southeast Management District has committed to sponsoring this effort, a requirement to receive the grant.  They have also committed $5000 toward the local match.

• To date, we have commitments from the Museum of Fine Arts, Hines Development, Z Resorts (Hotel ZaZa), Holocaust Museum, TEMA, Museum Park Modern, and others.

• Several requests for support are still pending.

We are not there yet!  We need your support to make our matching goal of $57,000.  Please choose the donation tab to help us make our goal.

A joint meeting of the MPNA (residents) and the Museum Park Super Neighborhood (businesses, cultural institutions, churches) was held July 17, 2013 to discuss the potential development by the Hines Corporation in our neighborhood. 

 

Please see statement below listing concerns and recommendations. 

 

Read full MPNA Position Statement. 

NOTICE  OF PROHIBITED YARD PARKING REQUIREMENT AREA APPLICATION:

The Museum Park Neighborhood Association has submitted an application for the

establishment of a Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area

(Section 28-303 of the Code of Ordinances) for the general area

north of Binz, south of US 59,

west of Almeda, east of San Jacinto (north and south sides)

with the Houston Planning and Development Department.

Once established, violating the Prohibited Yard Parking Requirement Area will be a misdemeanor and violators may receive

a fine not to exceed $150 a day.

For information, contact the applicant at (713) 447-9179

or the Houston Planning and Development Department at (713) 837-7880.

 

A copy of the Prohibited Yard Parking Public Notice sent to affected properties by the City of Houston Planning and Development Department along with this notice has been posted on the Museum Park Neighborhood Association website www.museumparkna.org

 

Please note that comments must be received by 5 pm, Monday, May 6, 2013.

PYPPublic notice attachment 001.jpg

P130202_AV.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinewood Cafe hosted MPNA's second annual Burger Night/Happy Hour on Friday, March 22.  The weather was lovely, the food was great, the company (our neighbors) couldn't be beat.  This year's attendance at the event was approximately 60 people--effectively doubling last year's attendance.

Social events give us the opportunity to know our neighbors better.  Please join us for next event where you will not only have a good time, but also become a part of your neighborhood. 

 
   Arbor Day in Museum Park…Celebrating 100 Trees planted by
                        Museum Park Neighborhood Association!

35 trees – 2013    65 trees – 2010      175 trees – 2011, Hermann Park

Our neighbors make this an incredible place to call home.  Thank you to the Arbor Day Planters!

                                          And thank you Trees for Houston!

Past President Cindy Jackson with Lee Brown

A capacity crowd of MPNA members and friends ushered in the holiday season on December 2, at Lucille's, one of the neighborhood's newest additions.  The dinner, which included everything from shrimp and grits to bread pudding, was the centerpiece of an evening designed for better knowing your neighbors.


Membership Chair Cynthia Tang with Armin Porter and Darryl Herzik


Bobby and Faith Davis

Well over one hundred of our neighbors turned out October 2, a lovely fall evening, to enjoy good food and get to know one another.  By all measures the evening was a success.

Great food was provided by three of our Neighborhood Restaurants, Bodega's Taco Shop, Luigi's Pizzeria, and Spanish Village.  The food quickly disappeared, but the fun continued.  Thirty five--forty neighborhood children bounced in the Moonwalk until they reluctantly headed for home and bedtime.

Neighbors had the opportunity to visit with members of the Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department, representatives from Council Member Wanda Adams staff, and representatives from Metro.