Dark times dim bridges in Montrose
THE colorful lights illuminating the arched bridges over U.S. 59, the ones that glowed blue and orange after the Astros advanced into the World Series and often change color to represent holidays and other local events, have been turned off. When they’ll burn again is unknown.
The blackout is a consequence of a feud between the Montrose Management District and angry property owners who want it dissolved. The district didn’t pay the electricity bill, triggering Reliant to cut the lights, a district spokesman said Thursday.
The Montrose district, which collects assessments from commercial property owners to spend on area improvements, is one of the groups behind the bridgelighting project. But it’s being sued by a group of property owners in its assessment area and has been prohibited from spending money, including the $1,400 bill for the last three months’ electricity usage, under a temporary restraining order signed in December.
A hearing in that case is scheduled for Friday afternoon in state District Court.
Last week, the district’s director said none of its bills were being paid and that more than $350,000 in property assessments that were due at the end of January had not yet come in.
The bridge lights, which officials hustled to get installed before the city hosted Super Bowl LI a year ago, went dark Friday night, although other lights that illuminate the sidewalk and street surfaces along the bridges have been turned back on.
“Out of concern for public safety and considering the unusual circumstances
Power bill left unpaid as colorful lights fall victim to a dispute between district and property owners
involved, we have restored service to the pedestrian bridges and continue to monitor the situation,” Pat Hammond, a spokeswoman for Reliant, said in an email.
Spanning seven consecutive bridges, the lights added a dramatic touch to evening commutes along the Southwest Freeway.
Carlo Di Nunzio, a local architect whose office is in Montrose, likes the lights, but he doesn’t think beautification projects should be a priority in a city with more serious concerns.
“I love aesthetics, but there is a fundamental importance to take care of our city’s integrity first,” Di Nunzio said.
The lighting system is still not complete. Montrose district spokesman Richard Weber said it is technically still under construction, and the service providers are being managed by the Texas Department of Transportation, which helped pay for the $3.7 million project through federal funds. The Houston-Galveston Area Council also provided funding.
TxDOT spokesman Danny Perez said work is expected to be completed next month.
“We have not received notification that the management district will not be able to meet their obligation. Once the punch list is completed, we expect the management district to proceed in accordance with our agreement,” Perez said in an email.
The decorative LED lights, which illuminate bridges along Woodhead, Mandell, Dunlavy, Hazard, Graustark and Montrose, have a history of going dark.
The lighting project was initially created in 2001 as part of a freeway widening project.
The lights burned out in less than a year, and repairs were unsuccessful.
In 2013, the plan to restore the lights was set in motion.
The Montrose Management District is one of dozens in the Houston area. Commercial property owners within its boundaries are assessed at a rate of 12.5 cents per every $100 of property value. Residential property owners are not assessed.
The temporary restraining order signed in December is related to a bitter legal battle between the district and property owners who want to see the district dissolved.
In a separate lawsuit filed against the district, a judge in October ruled that it illegally collected nearly $6.6 million in assessments and that the money must be paid back.
In an email Thursday, the district said it remains committed to paying all of its service providers, contractors and professional services, but that there is not a specific policy to prioritize the outstanding bills.
“The executive director will work hard with the board of directors to come up with a plan that is as fair as possible, given that there are not adequate funds to cover all district expenses due to unpaid assessments by some property owners,” the email read.