Our response to the TIRZ Update Memo
On Friday, September 29, the Montrose TIRZ issued a Project Update Memo with an attached a 22-page “Project Update – Existing and Proposed Trees” which seemed to deliver reassuring news about the plan and changes to save more trees. At first we all breathed a sigh of relief reading that “No healthy, mature live oak trees will be removed or replaced.” This quote has been splashed across the news and repeated without question by many of our elected officials.
Regrettably it is NOT TRUE! Go to our website www.savemontroseliveoaks.com to see our complete response to the TIRZ’s project update memo. Here’s the bottom line:
57 EXISTING TREES ARE BEING CUT DOWN IN PHASE 1, including 53 under city-ordinance protection. 27 of those are live oaks and 2 are century-old post oaks. Why remove these 57 trees? Because they are “not optimally located for the pedestrian sidewalk”, “conflict with the shared use path”, or because the plans for the sidewalk “will likely irrevocably impact” them. The Phase 1 sidewalk design, which is made possible by narrowing both the medians and street lanes will continue down Montrose. Read their report! Links on our Learn More page.
The TIRZ plan contains no provision for irrigating or maintaining any replacement trees. Read their report!
The goal worth destroying these trees? A completely reconfigured Montrose Boulevard that narrows the current medians and eliminates essentially all trees lining the streets to carve out 20 feet of pavement, 10 feet on each side, for recreational purposes including cycling on one side, even though TIRZ just installed bike lanes 2 blocks west.
We believe that the result will be a long construction period, followed by a much more paved Montrose Boulevard with few old trees, and with the same traffic volumes and noise that make it unpleasant for pedestrians, plus increased traffic on side streets that will make it harder, not easier, for kids to bike with their families in the neighborhood. This is not intelligent design and it gives up too much for too little.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Please note this important correction: There is NO meeting for all Montrose residents on Weds 11/11 at West Gray MultiServices Center. This was an error on our part. If you spread the word of that meeting to others, please let them know that it’s not happening.
Next critical action: MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 Public Input Meeting with TIRZ at 6:30pm – location still to be determined. Mark your calendars! We must have everyone possible attend this meeting.
Even though the plan to conduct this meeting has been announced by TIRZ at city council and on local media, there is no additional information posted on the TIRZ website yet. Please keep checking our website www.savemontroseliveoaks.com or the TIRZ site www.montrosehtx.org
The last chance for public comment is still listed as 10/18. Email input to info@montrosehtx.org
It is very disappointing to hear Abbie Kamin say that we all had plenty of time and opportunities to learn about this project and to provide input over the last few years.
Email her at districtc@houstontx.gov and the mayor at mayor@houstontx.gov to let them know if you disagree.
Traffic safety concerns - Business owners and parents are organizing to oppose this project who are focused on the ~500 cars per day, per modified intersection expected to be routed to the small residential side streets as a result of permanently closing several thru streets that cross Montrose, including Clay, Welch, Bomar, West Main and others. You can find information about their concerns and how to sign up for their updates on our web page.
Save Montrose Live Oaks
A coalition of concerned citizens