v25 n2 february 2019

Help METRO Plan for the Next 25 Years

Attend the METRONext Meeting at The Montrose Center –

Wednesday February 6 from 6:30-8:30pm

OUSTON EXPECTS FOUR MIL-

LION PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO

THE CITY BY 2045! METRO

has developed a master

plan to provide transportation

options to accommodate this

huge increase in population and

traffic. This meeting is your opportunity to learn about their plan and tell METRO

what you like or don’t like about the proposal before it is finalized.

The Montrose Center venue was chosen specifically to provide a better opportunity

to engage with METRO Officials and planners than would the West Gray Multi-

service Center. You are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to

engage one-on-one with METRO!

Important Decisions to be Made

at Feb 19 FMC Meeting

PROPERTY OWNERS TO DECIDE PLACEMENT OF 100 REPLACEMENT TREES THROUGHOUT NEIGHBORHOOD AS NSR 467 WINDS DOWN

The final list of trees available to replace those removed during NSR467 will be presented and property owners asked to select which trees will be planted where. The firm charged with planting the trees will be present to answer questions and concerns. This is the final opportunity for property owners to express their wishes

before tree planting begins. More details – page 2.

H

Scan & Renew now

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Normal

Recycling and

Trash Schedules

Resume

February 4th

NSR 467

Engineer CONTACT INFORMATION:

ZACH MARTIN

Project Supervising Engineer United Engineers

832-731-7299

zkmartin22@gmail.com

Please note – Mr. Martin should be contacted for all problems associated with NSR 467. He should not be contacted for problems caused by other contractors (such as CenterPoint or AT&T). Contacting the City of Houston before you contact Mr. Martin will only delay any response to your issue, as the City will automatically refer the issue back to Mr. Martin.

Solid Waste Management Resumes Normal Scheduled Pickups Monday, February 4 MAYOR TURNER ANNOUNCED this week that the Solid Waste Management Department will resume its regular scheduled pickups beginning Monday, Feb-ruary 4, 2019. Residents should place their trash bins and recy-cling bins curbside on the regular schedule days. For First Mont-rose Commons, that means that Monday February 4 you should place only your trash bins curbside. On Monday February 11, you should place both your trash bins and re-cycling bins curbside.

February 19 FMC Meeting to Focus on Tree Replacement for NSR 467

This is the ONLY Official Tree Replacement Program for Trees Removed under the Contract for NSR467

Property Owners Will Be Asked to Select from 100 Replacement Trees

Planting to begin within days after the February 19th Meeting

The contract for NSR and the Ordinance passed by City Council authorizing the contract and work specify that certain trees removed to facilitate the work are required to be replaced using trees which are also specified in the contract and plans. The City is prohibited from accepting directed donations of replacement trees for this project.

In 2017 the Board of Directors and Membership of The Civic Association voted unan-imously to authorize the President of the Civic Association to act as the neighbor-hood’s representative to negotiate specific changes to the tree removal and re-placement portions of this contract. Such negotiations have saved the majority of the 48 trees originally designated for removal, but this means that the number of available replacement trees must be reduced proportionally. Over the course of many meetings with residents and property owners, it became clear that there was overwhelming displeasure over the inclusion of the Chinee Pistache tree in the list of replacement species. This species of tree was therefore deleted entirely as the number of replacement trees was reduced.

The original contract specified removal of 48 trees –not all these trees required re-placement under City Ordinance—requiring 480 caliper inches of replacement trees. The replacement species inventory included 74 Chinese Pistache trees com-prising ~296 caliper inches. Removing this species entirely yields a balance of 184 caliper inches. During recent meetings to discuss the replacement plan it was de-termined that approximately 300 caliper inches are required based on the actual number of trees removed throughout the project which are required to be replaced.

This equates to between 75 and 100 replacement trees. The landscape contractor

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hired to provide replacement trees has agreed to provide species (other than Chi-nese Pistache) which are on the City’s approved street tree list to make up the balance as a result of ongoing discussions with him during the past two years.

Semark Landscape will attend the February 19, 2019 meeting of The Civic Associa-tion of The First Montrose Commons to explain the species available, to answer questions about the requirements, and to document owners’ preferences regard-ing species and location of replacement trees.

An all-volunteer campaign, led by Naturalist Melissa Gilhart has already planted approximately 57 native species trees throughout First Montrose Commons. Placement of some of these trees conflicts with the planned placement of replace-ment trees specified by the contract for NSR467. There have been to date two meet-ings to attempt to resolve these conflicts so that the trees required by the contract can be planted. These meetings were attended by Stephen Longmire, President CAFMC, Melissa Gilhart, Rachel McDonald, Stephen Wright, Project Manager for COH for NSR467, representatives of Total Contracting Limited, the contractor for NSR467, Dale Temple, Urban Forester, COH, and representatives of Semark Land-scape, the contractor hired to manage the removal and replacement of trees for NSR467.

The available options for replacement trees to be planted, and the requirements to have them planted will be referred to the membership at the February 19, 2019 meeting of The Civic Association of The First Montrose Commons to comply with CAFMC’s Bylaws and the terms of the NSR467 contract. Because the Contract for NSR467 specifies “Tree replacement must be coordinated with adjacent proper-ty owner and City of Houston Urban Forester prior to excavation for plant-ing.” the actual selection of replacement trees and locations must be made by property owners themselves.

Please bring some proof of your ownership of property within First Montrose Commons to participate in the selection of tree placements. This can be as simple as a printout of your HCAD property tax page (blacking out your valua-tion and any details not showing your ownership). You can obtain this infor-mation by going to https://www.hcad.org and searching for Real Property under the street address of your property. We are asking this because the City will ask us whether only property owners were allowed to select the placement of the trees. All owners of property within FMC are welcome to aid in the selection of tree locations regardless of their membership status in the Civic Associa-tion.

Copies of the original NSR467 tree plan—prior to any changes to reduce the num-ber of trees designated for removal—will be available for reference, as will de-scriptions of the available replacement species selected with the approval of the City of Houston Urban Forester.

We understand the passionate nature of landscaping and trees, and kindly ask that everyone participates respectfully and calmly as we work togeth-er to improve our unique historic neighborhood!

Current list of Replacement Trees for NSR467 As of February 1, 2019

Required Replacement Caliper Inches = 300

Live Oak 14

Quercus virginiana

Monterrey Oak 6

Quercus polymorpha

Bur Oak 8

Quercus macrocarpa

Savanah Holly 15

Ilex x attenuate v. Savannah

Cedar Elm 3

Ulmus crassifolia

Total Trees 46 Total caliper inches 184 Needed 116

All of the replacement tree species specified in the contract were ap-proved by the City of Houston Ur-ban Forester as part of the final review of the contract before ap-proval by City Council. All comply with the City’s requirements for planting as street trees within the City of Houston.

All replacement trees author-ized by this contract must be planted within the contract boundaries and on land owned by the City of Houston.

FMC Meeting to Address NSR467 Replacement Trees February 19 continued from page 2

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Where can you Learn More about METRONext, METRO’s

plans to meet the transit needs of our area over the next Quarter-Century?

http://www.metronext.org

click on the resources tab, and then

select the December board presen-

tation.

Be informed –attend the METRONExt

Community meeting February at

The Montrose Center.

The future of transit in Houston is in

Our Hands!

Meet The Candidate Greg Myers for District C Houston City Council 2019 to address First Montrose Commons Greg Myers has announced his candidacy for Houston City Council District C. He will make a brief introductory presentation at the February 19 FMC meeting and be available to take questions afterwards.

We’ve waited 14 years to get new streets but one special person couldn’t wait even 48 hours for them to dry!

Workers struggled for hours January 30 to re-pair the damage caused by a truck driver who ignored the construction barricades and exited over the fresh concrete in the 4200 block of Jack Street.

The Montrose Center, A First Montrose Commons Neighborhood Patron Renews its Support for 2019

UR DEAR FRIENDS AT THE MONTROSE CENTER have renewed their Patron Level support for First Montrose Commons for 2019.

The Montrose Center has gone out of its way to support FMC, providing meeting space as well as financial contributions to improve the quality of life in our unique neighborhood. We are grateful that Houston’s LGBTQ Center chose FMC as its home.

https://montrosecenter.org/

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If you own a business and

wish to become a

commercial member of

First Montrose Commons ,

please contact us via our web

page:

Strong neighborhood businesses

help build strong neighborhoods.

Email: tonystreecare4u@yahoo.com

https://www.timberlinefitness.com

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2019 FMC Dues are Due – All Residential Memberships in The Civic Association of The First Montrose Commons EXPIRE each December 31st.

lease RENEW TODAY so we can devote our energy to our core mission rather than seeking renewals.

YOUR support keeps YOUR neigh-borhood the best place to live in Houston!

Scan the QRCode above with your smartphone and it will take you di-rectly to our PaPal renewal page. You do not have to have a PayPal account – you can pay by credit or debit card, oryou’re your venom account. Dues remain $10 per per-son per year. If paying for more than one person please be sure to indi-cate the names of each person in the instructions to seller field.

FMC Memberships continue to grow at rapid pace Compared to prior years, the 2019 Membership Campaign is off to a great start.

Multimember PayPal renewals are far outstripping other methods, as households

are taking advantage of the convenience to renew multiple residents in a single

transaction. You can join or renew your membership in The Civic Association of

the First Montrose Commons via our PayPal page or by paying with cash or check

at our monthly meetings. Https://firstmontrosecommons.org – stay connected!

Remember to place your Trash Bins out Monday Feb 4 Place your RECYCLE BINS Out Monday Feb 11

Do NOT Park blocking the new fire hydrants!

Do NOT Park within 20 feet of the back of the new sidewalks!

Do NOT Park facing the WRONG WAY!

Do NOT Park within 30 feet of a STOP SIGN or TRAFFIC SIGNAL!

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_____________________________________happenings

arts & history______________________________ FMC Crime Reports December 2018 LOCATION CRIME PREMISES DATE

TIME

700 Colquitt

Rape Apartment parking lot

12.01 Midnight

300 W Alabama

Robbery Street 12.01 3:00 am

700 Richmond

BMV Parking lot 12.04 5:00 pm

900 Branard

BMV Restaurant parking lot

12.06 12 noon

500 Richmond

Robbery Street 12.06 4:00 pm

700 Richmond

BMV Parking lot 12.11 4:00 pm

600 Richmond

BMV Restaurant 12.15 1:00 pm

3900 Brandt

Theft Residence 12.16 6:00 pm

3900 Montrose

Burglary Unknown 12.17 5:00 apm

900 Richmond

BMV Convenience store

12.18 6:00 pm

400 Sul Ross

Theft Driveway 12.19 10:00 am

500 Richmond

BMV Parking lot 12.17 12 noon

700 W Alabama

Theft Parking lot 12.29 8:00 am

600 Richmond

Burglary Restaurant 12.30 3:00 am

3900 Brandt

Theft Residence 12.31 2:00 pm

Check out the date/time column.

There is the usual activity

through the 19th. It picks up

again on December 27. What do

you think happened? A Christmas

break? Stranger things have

happened.

Always Report Everything! Police Patrols are assigned

based on reports received.

HIDE LOCK REPORT EVERYTHING!

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com (Free on Thursday 1-5pm) 3816 Caroline St – in the old National Guard Armory A complete look at African American military history from 1770 to 2000 (Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War) Houston Center for Contemporary Craft http://www.crafthouston.org To Be of Use: The Functional Ceramics of Mike Helke — February 2 — May 12 Houston Museum of Natural Science — www.hmns.org Curator’s Choice: Recent Acquisitions of the Houston Museum of Natural Science: Free with admission. Biophilia: A Dialogue of Nature Art and Science — Opens February 8 Death By Natural Causes — Extended by popular demand through Labor Day 2019 Museum of Fine Arts www.mfah.org Garden Paradise: The Magnificent Safavid Carpet from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow— Through March 24 Lncent van Gogh: His Life in Art — March 10 — June 27 Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait — Through December 29 Contemporary Arts Museum www.camh.org Cheryl Donegan: GRLZ + VEILS — Through March 31 Shapeshifters A group exhibition featuring work by over forty Houston-area teen artists. — March 2 – June 16, The Menil www.menil.org Richmond Hall: Dan Flavin untitled installation Contemporary Focus: Trenton Doyle Hancock — Through May 19 in the Main Building Collection Close-Up: John Cage — Through May 12 in the Main Building Roni Horn: When I Breathe, I Draw, Part 1 — February 15 – May 5 in the Menil Drawing Insti-tute Houston Museum of African American Culture www.hmaac.org Free admission 4807 Caroline CLOSED Sunday - Tuesday

When the chain link fence goes up, we know what happens next. Chelsea Market, it’s your turn and

that includes Danton’s Seafood. That block just south of I 69 will be the site of yet another highrise,

The Broadstone Museum District. At 16 stories, not quite as tall as The Carter next door.

Pax Americana, one of the top rated restaurants in town, has closed its doors after less than five

years of operation. So what happened? Not much info available so far.

Helpful hint: when the line is long at the CVS checkout, what to do? Just walk back to the Rx coun-

ter. The friendly pharmacy assistant will be glad to help.

The Cane Russo site won’t be vacant long. The Pit Room crew will take it over sometime in the

spring as a Tex-Mex restaurant. Won’t that patio be great for margarites — it’s in the shade.

Each month, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft presents HANDS-ON HOUSTON, a free

drop-in event held the first Saturday of every month. Each month, a teaching artist demonstrates a

craft related to the current exhibitions. Families and children of all ages are welcome to come any

time between 11 AM and 3 PM and participate in a 15 – 20-minute activity. Materials are provided. This

program supports HCCC’s mission to advance education about the process, product, and history of

craft. Check it out on their website. http://www.crafthouston.org

.

by tom mcbrayer

On Common Ground February 2019 v25n2

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Join or Renew Your Membership for 2019

ONLINE

https://firstmontrosecommons.org

Still only $10.00 per person per year! That's just 3¢ per day!

1. Parking on any street for more than 24 hours.

2. Parking blocking ANY portion of ANY sidewalk – EVER.

3. Parking between the sidewalks and the curb.

4. Parking within 20 feet of ANY intersection.

5. Parking within 30 feet of STOP sign or crosswalk.

6. Parking facing the wrong way.

Not even for “just a minute!”

T h e S T R E E T I S N O T Y O U R G A R A G E

Helpful Contact Information CrimeReports™ https://www.crimereports.com/

https://communitycrimemap.com

Who you gonna call? Emergencies -Life, Property in

IMMEDIATE DANGER

Non-emergency Police

NEXTDOOR.COM – South Montrose Group –

IF YOU LIVE, OWN PROPERTY, OR RUN A BUSINESS IN THE

AREA ABOVE, WE WANT YOU TO JOIN OUR

EFFORTS TO KEEP FMC THE BEST PLACE TO BE!

Residents pay only $10 per person per year. Businesses can choose from three levels of membership from $50 - $500 per year.

F e b r u a r y 1 9 , 2 0 1 9 F M C M E E T I N G A G E N D A

NSR 467 Updates Meet the Candidate – District C 2019

Dues f o r Membe r sh ip i n F i r s t Mon t rose Common s ARE DUE EACH JANUARY .

Please help us to continue to advocate for our neighborhood by joining or renewing now. –Thank you

2019 Board of Directors – The Civic Association of The First Montrose Commons, Inc.