Last week the TIRZ cancelled their public board meeting just two hours before it was to begin. It has been rescheduled for Monday, December 18 at 6:30 PM, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1800 Sul Ross Street, in Pecore Hall (pictured above) AND THEY WILL NO LONGER OFFER A ZOOM OPTION - interesting choice for a group which claims to genuinely want to listen to public input.
We have to show them they can not get rid of us so easily. We will not back down or go away. WE ALL NEED TO BE THERE FOR WHATEVER AMOUNT OF TIME WE CAN.
We will start with a short peaceful PROTEST on the public sidewalks in front of the church on W. Alabama at 5:30pm. If it is actively raining, this protest will be cancelled and we will just go directly to the 6:30 TIRZ mtg. Save Montrose Live Oaks signs will be available for protester.
COME JOIN US!
Then we will attend the TIRZ Public Board meeting at 6:30pm at Pecore Hall. As many as people as possible need to show up and sign up as you enter to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting (max 3 mins). Even if you have to leave immediately after speaking, it will help a lot for you to be there. If you’re not sure what to say, email us at SaveMontroseLiveOaks@gmail.com and we can provide some suggested talking points. But mostly you just need to speak from the heart. Ask questions, state your concerns.
If you can absolutely not attend, then please at least send email to info@montrosehtx.org stating: "I am unable to attend your Dec 18 board meeting but would like the following statement (s) to be included in the public feedback portion of your meeting:" Then list your comments or questions.
MONTROSE and ALL HOUSTONIANS WHO LOVE MONTROSE: IT'S TIME TO SHOW UP AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK! SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY!
Another very important update: The TIRZ recently responded in writing to the questions we sent them, and they met with us for an hour to allow some follow-up clarification discussion. Please go to our website at www.SaveMontroseLiveOaks.com to read their full written answers. Stay tuned for a synopsis of what we learned further in the meeting.
Here are some highlights from their memo (with our commentary in italics):
- Public comments have caused a delay for starting the project to end of 1st qtr or sometime in the 2nd qtr. Read question 1A. (What we are doing is working to slow them down – we must keep up this pressure)
- The TIRZ is “exploring” using the same Phase 1 design, which requires the elimination of every single tree on both sides of the street and which requires a 10 foot narrowing of all the medians, all the way to Hawthorne St, two blocks south of Westheimer. Read question 2A. (As we have said all along, hundreds of mature trees are at risk, including the oaks in front of Brookstreet BBQ, Burger Joint, Texas Art Supply, Art League Houston, Canary, Niko Niko, Auto Zone, Christie’s Donuts, Magic Cauldron, Walgreens, the old Kroger site, etc.)
- Funding for Phase 2 is not secured. An application is pending with the Houston Galveston Area Council. Read question 1B. (We still have time to stop phase 2 of this ill-conceived project, but we must act now. Show up and make your voice HEARD!)
- The TIRZ left in notes to their own team, apparently accidentally, questioning why they couldn’t maybe use crushed granite to be able to work around some of the trees. Read question 2C. (Even the TIRZ own team can’t come up with a rational answer to this question. They suggest an excuse they could be offered up to us about mobility issues in the rain, as an ostensible reason. This is your TIRZ board in action folks!)
- The 140+ yr-old Post Oaks which grace the entrance of the Magnolia Cemetery will be cut down even if the city grants a variance to allow no sidewalk to be built there, because the TIRZ plans to put UTILITY POLES where the trees are currently growing. Read question 5. (This is an absolute affront to an historic cemetery where many notable Houstonians including Gus Wortham and many of the Bering family, are laid to rest. This is such an important historic site that the Daughters of the American Republic have invested time to document every burial that took place here. How can Houston allow this to happen?)
Read the whole set of questions and responses on our website.