Welcome to our conversation: #KeepTaminaTamina

The shaded area in the map below depicts the original region of Tamina. 

https://omeka.library.unt.edu/s/stjohns/page/tamina; https://www.taminatexas.com/history

(cover image: Freedmen's Town Tamina rich in history, family tradition (The Courier))

The historic community of Tamina was founded in 1871. Tamina is considered the oldest freedmen's town in Texas and we are one of the small number of inhabited emancipation communities in the entire nation.

For over 150 years, the residents of Tamina have maintained our ancestral roots in this region.  One hundred years after Tamina was established, communities such as Shenandoah, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge (North), and Chateau Woods were born.  The surrounding economic development has pressed into our historic community.

THE ISSUE:  GENTRIFICATION of Tamina.  The City of Shenandoah, Texas, has zoned the majority of Tamina for economic development (zoning the area for Retail; Office Commercial; and Mixed Use/Light Industrial).

Recently, ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) federal funds were allocated by Montgomery County and the City of Shenandoah to provide much-needed water and sewer to the Tamina community.  These critical improvements in infrastructure were welcomed and appreciated.  However, these improvements along with the zoning changes compel commercial developers to consume the historic and already-shrinking area of Tamina--our home. 

  

CALL TO ACTION!  SIGN THE PETITION!  SHARE THE PETITION!

(WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR DONATIONS THROUGH CHANGE.ORG!  You are not being asked to donate to support this specific petition through that mechanism!)

We are asking that you sign the petition to support the community of Tamina in our quest to stop gentrification and to continue in good faith with county and city leaders to revitalize and restore historic Tamina.  Your signature helps us in the objective to zone Tamina to single-family historic residential.  Please read our petition:

Petition to the City of Shenandoah, Texas

The historic community of Tamina was founded in 1871. Tamina is considered the oldest freedmen's town in Texas and is one of the small number of inhabited emancipation communities in the entire nation.

The community of Tamina is grateful to all those involved in the process of allocating American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds that will provide upgrades to water and sewer in the area. 

In consideration of the above, we petition the following separate, independent items:

Item 1

With regard to the water and sewer project, we, the undersigned, petition the City of Shenandoah, Texas, to:

• Hold regularly scheduled Town Hall public meetings to provide plans, processes, and flyers related to the project. The information should include, but is not limited to, project timelines, phases, hook up information, and the names and contact information of contractors.
• Scheduled Town Hall public meetings must be communicated to Tamina residents at least two weeks (preferably one month) in advance of each meeting.  Communication must be in the form of posted signage on Main Street in Tamina and in the form of confirmed e-mail contact from the City of Shenandoah to Tamina-designated representatives.

Item 2

Amenities, such as sidewalks and streetlights, are essential enhancements necessary in the community of Tamina.  The City of Shenandoah has indicated additional surveys and plans are yet to be completed for the water and sewer project.  A phased-in plan to include sidewalks and streetlight installation could coincide with the installation of the water and sewer facilities.  Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the City of Shenandoah, Texas, to:

• Schedule a Town Hall public meeting with Tamina residents prior to April 15, 2023, to discuss the installation of sidewalks and streetlights within Tamina.
• The meeting date and time should be agreed upon, in advance, by Tamina-designated representatives.

Item 3

Tamina residents desire to be part of the process to determine our future.  Our community at-large should be afforded the opportunity to be part of the process in determining decisions that affect all of Tamina. Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the City of Shenandoah, Texas, to:  

• Zone areas 4, 5, 6, 7 as single-family, residential historical district. (See map attached:  2023 – CITY OF SHENANDOAH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.  Map is also identified on page 16 of the P&Z agenda dated February 21, 2023.) 
• Zone areas along Tamina Road and east of the railroad tracks as residential historical district. (See map attached:  2023 – CITY OF SHENANDOAH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.  Map is also identified on page 16 of the P&Z agenda dated February 21, 2023.)

Item 4

The City of Shenandoah owns three (3) acres of land on Main Street in Tamina.  These Main Street properties are identified by the Montgomery County Appraisal District as R47059 and R48111 and are shown on the attached map.  The City of Shenandoah has discussed the placement of a water well on this property.  Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the City of Shenandoah, Texas, to:

• Designate and reserve the three (3) acres owned by Shenandoah (R47059 and R48111) as the location on which to build a fire department (public safety facility) to service the entire east side area. The facility shall be dedicated to the three children of the family who perished in a home fire in 2017.  
• The fire station (public safety facility) should also serve as a museum commemorating the history of Tamina.

 https://www.shenandoahtx.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02212023-453