Do you enjoy the live oaks along Montrose Blvd?  Did you know that the Montrose TIRZ has plans to widen the sidewalks on Montrose Boulevard by cutting down many of the mature live oak trees?  61 trees will come down just in Phase 1 which will start in Q1 2024.

At the Sept 18, 2023 meeting, construction plans showed they will remove 50 live oaks currently protected by city ordinance (which will be waived for this project) and 11 other existing trees.  And 61 is just the number of trees to be cut down for Phase 1, which runs from Allen Pkwy to Clay St.  Eventually the removal of even more mature trees will continue the rest of the way down Montrose to US 59. 

Why?  So that they can put in wider sidewalks -  6' wide pavement and 4" wide buffer area. TIRZ envisions a “vibrant corridor” where pedestrians and cyclists will walk and ride along Montrose Blvd. to access businesses and Allen Parkway. There will also be some cross streets that will no longer allow traffic to go across Montrose; these include Welch, Bomar, W. Clay, W. Main, and others. This will feed more traffic onto the parallel streets.

Montrose TIRZ claims to have widely socialized this plan with the community because they have held four public meetings and have accepted public comments. We believe most people in Montrose were NOT effectively made aware of these meetings and have no idea about the impact of what is being planned as part of this project.

These majestic trees have stood tall for decades, providing us with a much-needed shade canopy and contributing to the unique character of our community.  Not only are they beautiful, these trees play a crucial role in mitigating air pollution, reducing noise levels, and lowering the average temperature in our neighborhood.  To cut them down in favor of MORE pavement is outrageous. 

It is disheartening to learn that this plan prioritizes sidewalk expansion over preserving our natural heritage. While we understand the need for pedestrian-friendly spaces, it should not come at the expense of sacrificing mature trees that have taken years to grow.

According to experts from renowned organizations like Arbor Day Foundation and American Forests Association, mature live oak trees can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year while providing oxygen for two people annually. Their extensive root systems also help prevent soil erosion and reduce stormwater runoff during heavy rains.

The Montrose TIRZ plan to replace these magnificent live oaks with newly planted small trees is not an acceptable solution. It takes 20-30 years for replacement trees to reach maturity.  The Montrose live oaks are irreplaceable!  The current plan does not even commit to replacing each cut down live oak with a new live oak tree.  Many of the planned replacement trees will be less expensive and less shade-producing varieties like cypress and pines. 

We urge all residents of Houston and particularly those living in or around the Montrose neighborhood to join us in protesting against this ill-conceived plan that threatens our beloved trees. Together, we can make a difference by demanding alternative solutions that prioritize both pedestrian safety and environmental preservation.

Sign this petition today if you believe that:

1. Houston's Montrose neighborhood should preserve its mature live oak trees.
2. The TIRZ plan to widen sidewalks on Montrose Boulevard should be reconsidered, taking into account the importance of our shade canopy.
3. Alternative solutions must be explored to ensure pedestrian-friendly spaces without sacrificing our natural heritage.

Please also express your concerns directly to:

• The board of the Montrose TIRZ at info@montrosehtx.org
• Abbie Kamin at districtc@houstontx.gov or 832.393.3004  

Let us unite as a community and show our collective strength in protecting what makes Montrose truly special. Sign now and help us safeguard these magnificent live oak trees for generations to come!

Thank you for your support.

Dr. Georgia Hitchcock and Jonna Hitchcock 

Please note:   When you sign a petition, Change.org automatically asks for donations to help promote the petition. Be aware that this $ does not go to the petition organizers nor do we have any control over how change.org uses the money.  Donations do not directly support Saving the Montrose Live Oaks.  We have requested that promoted petition donations be turned off.  If you have made a donation and want a refund, you can do so within 90 days through Change.org's help desk    https://help.change.org/en_US/contact-us

Meanwhile, we are still working on producing yard signs to protest the TIRZ plan.  You can send email to houstonvoter (on gmail) if you donated on change.org and want sign(s).  We hope to have them by the first week of October.   Also if you are willing to pass out flyers in your neighborhood to make people aware of this project, let us know.   THANK YOU!