Planning continues for FM 1960 revitalization
Community leaders in Spring recently toured the area of Cypress Creek Parkway that is poised for revitalization.
Barbara Thomason, president of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, said members of the steering community and interested members of the Spring community walked the study area which is situated in the one block radius of Kuykendahl and Ella Boulevard of Cypress Creek Parkway to inventory existing sidewalks, new tree planting opportunities and additional Metro bus stops.
“We made notes of where sidewalks are and where they could be; we looked at tree planting opportunities…We made those notes and they are being synthesized by the chair (of the steering committee),” she said.
The Cypress Creek Livable Centers study, which was conducted in 2014, focused on the area of Cypress Creek Parkway, also known as FM 1960 West, and the intersections of Kuykendahl Road and Ella Boulevard.
The study, which concluded in November 2014, was funded through a $125,000 grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, and awarded to a stakeholders group that included the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, the Ponderosa Forest Utility District and the Cypress Creek Parkway Property and Business Owner’s Association.
The plan calls for creating an effective use of space that includes transforming abandoned shopping centers and underused parking lots into green space and thriving economic centers; adding trees
and sidewalks along the corridor for walkability and helping to create future building and design standards for the corridor.
Earlier this year, members of the steering committee took a field trip with officials from H-GAC to see firsthand some of the successful livable center study areas in Greater Houston.
John Basel, president of the stakeholder group who also represents the Ponderosa Forest Utility District, took notes and comments during the last tour along Kuykendahl Road and plans to work up a presentation for stakeholders that will be distributed in September.
Basel said while the study provided a good comprehensive plan of future needs, the group hopes to find smaller projects that will help spark a community-wide movement to beautify the area.
“Out next step is to compile all our notes and create a map of the area,” he said.
Many of the projects, Basel indicated, would likely focus on landscaping and on efforts to re-green the sides of Cypress Creek Parkway from Kuykendahl to Sugar Pine, and then further on to Ella Boulevard.
“In an effort to make the area more walkable, bikeable, and commuterfriendly, we are looking at where we can put sidewalks, where we can put greenery and where we can put bus shelters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thomason said the re-greening and tree efforts would be the least costly of the projects, with the exception of getting water to those areas, which might require some fundraising.
Other potential low-impact projects include new street signage that would be unique to Cypress Creek Parkway, similar to that in the Museum District area of Houston and the Heights neighborhood.
In order to be successful, the steering committee and Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce are trying to identify ways the projects can be funded.
Much of the funding would be generated through the Grow Northwest campaign, a strategic initiative launched in 2013 to build on the community successes.
Since its start, Grow Northwest has generated about $300,000, but more will be needed.
During the last legislative session, state Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, authored House Bill 2528 which allows the water utility districts in the area to accept public donations for community improvement projects through the use of a voluntary check off box on the water bill.
Consumers can donate as much as $2 a month by checking off the box, which will go directly to the Grow Northwest fund and be used for these projects.
“We sent packets out to the MUD districts a few weeks ago,” Thomason said. “Some of those went to the MUD board presidents’ homes, so we know those met their mark, but others were sent to the MUD attorneys, so those may be at the bottom of someone’s In box. At this point, we are really just assimilating all we can, and we will be following up with some (MUD boards) that we don’t hear from. This takes everybody’s help pitching in . . . but we are very encouraged about what we are hearing from utility districts.”
To learn more about GrowNorthwest, visit http://growhoustonnw.com