S P E C I A L P R E S E N T A T I O N A T F E B R A U R Y F M C M E E T I N G

“You Need A Permit for THAT? ”

We are pleased to have a special presentation from the City of

Houston Permitting Office entitled “You Need A Permit for THAT?” at

our February 21st FMC meeting. Come learn what does and does not

require a permit in Houston. Note – those who live within the First

Montrose Commons Historic District must also obtain a Certificate of

Appropriateness for any project involving exterior modifications to

their home prior to obtaining a Building Permit. Please arrive early so

we can begin the presentation promptly and without interruptions.

FMC Information

PLEASE PAY YOUR 2017 FMC DUES

NOW

Spend a Hamilton – Do Some Good!

NSR467 –

the Next Phase Begins – page 2

Brandt Street Woes – page 3

Bute Street Blues – page 4

District C CIP Meeting – page 6

Flood Insurance – page 6

Window Worries – page 6

The McBrayer Reports – page 7

First Montrose Commons is on

.

You should be, too!

You can join First Montrose Commons – your neighborhood association – for only $10 per person per year.

The Newsletter of the Civic Association of the First Montrose Commons, Inc.

P R E S E R V I N G O U R H I S T O R Y

P R O T E C T I N G O U R F U T U R E

Phase One – construction of the 84” Storm Sewer on W Alabama

is complete. TCL Crews have begun installing new water mains

throughout FMC using a pipe boring machine. [DETAILS P 2> 111

1112017 Membership Drive 111

THE 2017 FMC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE HAS BEGUN. Now is the time to join or renew your membership in First Montrose Commons. You can join or renew online at using PayPal, or by cash or by check at our meeting February 21st. For less than 1/100th the cost of a ticket to HAMILTON, you can spend one to become a member of Houston’s least expensive, most effective, and most active civic association. [DETAILS P 4>

February V23 No2

Now that the Super Bowl is Gone

The Spur 527/US 59 Colonies are BACK! Not even 48 hours after the last planes departed Houston following “the

show”, squatters descended en masse to re-establish their tents, carts and

sleeping bags throughout Midtown and the Spur 527 US 59 Corridor.

Perhaps NOW that Council is not so busy securing permits for popups they

can come up with a real solution for the REAL TAXPAYERS who elected them.

WEST GRAY MULTISERVICE CENTER, 1475 West Gray

TWO I M P O R T A N T M E E T I N G S T H I S M O N T H

PLEASE AVOID STREET PARKING ON EITHER SIDE OF BLOCKS

WHERE CREWS ARE TUNNELING.

NSR467 PHASE ONE DONE! TCL Contractors Now Installing

New Water Mains

throughout FMC

ll lanes of West Alabama between Milam and Brandt Street are now reopened as TCL Contractors have completed the installation of the 84”storm sewer there. This marks the completion of Phase One of NSR467 construction and means that crews will now be working within the boundaries of First Montrose Commons to complete this massive undertaking.

While planning to preserve FMC’s trees continues, TCL have decided to proceed with installation of the replacement water mains throughout the neighborhood using a boring machine and minimal excavation. Work to install the new water mains has already been done in the 300 block of Sul Ross, where the location of the water line was switched to the south side of the street in order to preserve the three large oak trees beside the Lucia House. (The orignal plans called for a large storm drain to be located on that side of the street , which would have required removal of those trees.)

Crews will continue to work from the northeast corner of FMC, proceeding westward and southward as they install the remaining replacement water mains. Sul Ross will be the first east-west street to be done, and crews will install the pipe under its entire length from Brandt to Montrose before moving on to the next east-west street. This is so the line can be pressure tested and disinfected prior to City and TDEQ inspections.

The boring technique requires excavation at the ends of each block, and in the middle to allow the crew to slide pipe sections into the ground. The boring machine will block one lane of traffic throughout the day as it drills the length of the block.

The boring machine is not very maneuverable, and additional heavy equipment is used to deliver and place the pipelines. Vehicles parked in the roadway significantly impair the ability of crews to work rapidly and safely.

YOU ARE WARNED THAT HPD AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE NOW

STRICTLY ENFORCING PARKING ORDINANCES AND

ISSUING CITATIONS

THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION AREAS.

FMC representatives attended the first NSR467 Construction Progress Meeting January 26, 2016. Three FMC residents with engineering and construction expertise have been appointed to represent FMC at these meetings and help Board Members better understand the implementation of the plan. We will provide a brief summary of these monthly progress meetings at each FMC meeting as long as construction continues, so be sure to attend our monthly meetings to stay abreast of the project as it continues.

(

2 February 2017

Boring machine at Sul Ross & Garrott

preparing to drill for new water line

placement. Note the excavation to

allow the pipe to slide down into the tunnel once opened by the machine.

The boring machine requires service

vehicles to have free access to it to

supply water and pipe. Avoid driving or

parking where crews are tunneling.

Relief on W Alabama

Woe on Brandt! Work to install the large collector storm sewer on Brandt St begins after the W Alabama construction ends –

IF THESE PHOTOS AREN’T ENOUGH TO CONVINCE YOU NOT TO

PARK ON THE STREET NEAR THE CONSTRUCTION, PERHAPS

THE ONES ON THE NEXT PAGE WILL …

Tight working spaces, narrow streets, and landscape and

hardscape materials in the right-of-way combine to make

construction more difficult and tedious for everyone. Parking

in the construction area doesn’t help, either!

(

NSR467 Progress Photos – February ‘17

February 2017 3

Yes, we want you to join FMC as a paid member, but more

than that, we want your energy and ideas, your creativity

and spirit to help us as we face the largest construction project in our neighborhood’s long history. Please attend

the February 21, 2016 FMC meeting and learn how much we can do to earn your $10!

I f y o u c a n ’ t g e t t i c k e t s t o s e e H A m i l t o n , h o w a b o u t S P E N D I N G O N E

T O H E L P Y O U R N E I G H B O R H O O D

2 0 1 7 M E M B E R S H I P D R I V E I N P R O G R E S S

Seriously, folks, heavy construction remains the most dangerous and deadly occupation in

the United States. Let’s not make it even more so for the people trying to rebuild our neighborhood for us!

Give them a break and park in another block

– besides you could use the exercise!

4 February 2017

We had Colquitt Canyons and Lake Zika last summer. Now we bring you …

February 2017 5

Email:

Commercial Members help us keep our neighborhood special !

Please patronize these special businesses who support us .

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.

District C CIP

MEETING SET District C's annual Capital Improvement

Plan Meeting will take place on

Monday, February 20th, 2017 at

6:30PM at the West Gray Metropolitan

Multi-Service Center 1475 W Gray St.

(MAP).

The Public Works and Engineering Department and others will present upcoming infrastructure projects that will affect the district over the next five years, including road reconstructions, utility replacements, and upgrades to District C parks and libraries. In addition, information will be available from the Houston Parks Board regarding the Bayou Greenways trails in District C. For those who will be unable to attend, the meeting will be archived online via HTV.

Although FMC’s own NSR467 is underway, we encourage all residents and property owners in the neighborhood to attend this important meeting to learn how our project fits into the overall plan for our area. Pending projects in the master CIP plan include W Alabama, Lower Westheimer, and (someday) Richmond Avenue. Projects are prioritized according to need and need is measured by PUBLIC INPUT.

Additional parking for the event will be available in the back of the center and may be accessed on Haddon Street.

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR

FLOOD INSURANCE? Even though FMC is at the high point between Buffalo and Brays

Bayous, our streets still flood regularly. Ongoing construction is

likely to make this even worse for a while, so it’s only prudent to

be sure you’re covered. Don’t wait until the rain has started –

there’s a 30-day waiting period after you purchase before you’re

covered. Check out https://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/

today.

INDOW

Double Hung Windows, Jambs, Stools, Stiles & Meeting Rales

If just looking at these terms gets your sash cords in a knot, check out this helpful site to learn all you need to know to keep the rain out and let the breezes in.

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/articles/dept/green-building-blog/new-life-old-double-hung-windows

13 Years in the Making, but Here at Last … W Alabama @ Montrose

W 6 Febraury 2017

ORRIES?

Febraury 2017 7

TheHighSchoolForThePerformaingAndVisualArts! — http://hspva.org

Wind Chamber Music Performance — February 14, 7:00 pm

Mariachi Concert — February 20

Jazz Festival — February 24, 7:00 pm Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (FREE) — http://www.crafthouston.org

Ceramics in the Environment—Through March 12

Houston Museum of Natural Science — http://www.hmns.org

Trains Over Texas – Though February 20

Mummies of the World, Through February 21- LIMITED ENGAGEMENT Contemporary Arts Museum — http://camh.org/exhibit ions/current

Angel Otero: Everything and Nothing – Through March 19

Houston Museum of Fine Arts — http://www.mfah.org

Grand Designs: Neoclassical Taste in the 18th Century – Though February 20

Two Centuries of American Still Life – Through April 9

The Menil Collection (FREE) — http://www.menil .org

As Essential As Dreams: Self-Taught Art, Through October 16

The Fabiola Project, Installed at the Byzantine Fresco Chapel,

Through January 28, 2018 Art Blocks at Main Street Square — http://artblockshouston.org

Art Blocks is a new public art initiative to enliven Main Street Square. Take the

METRO RedLine to the 900-1100 block of Main Street and enjoy the art in the

pedestrian plaza!

by Tom McBrayer

LE AV E NO TH I NG I N V IE W

January’s PIP Reports were

delayed and will be

published in next month’s

newsletter.

IN the meantime, check out these

two new links provided by the

Houston Police Department – Crime

Statistics section. Both are said to

provide the most current maps of

crimes in Houston.

CrimeReports™

https://www.crimereports.com/

LexisNexis® | Community Crime Map

https://communitycrimemap.com

Who you gonna call? Emergencies -Life, Property in

IMMEDIATE DANGER

Non-emergency Police

(Parking violation, Crime Report)

713-884-3131

All other City Services 311

B E S T T O U S E S M A R T P H O N E A P P

A N Y S U S P I C I O U S A C T I V I T Y T O H P D

The property you save may be your own!

Good neighborhood turnout for the Aramco Half Marathon on January 15. The Half comes right down Montrose on the way to the finish line at Discovery Green. All our intersections were staffed by police cadets and, if this is what our future police force will look like, we’re in good hands.

According to the West U Examiner, you’ve been in good hands with Botis, Manager of the Shell station at Montrose and Richmond for the past 35 years. Yes, they’ve got the highest gas prices in town but, they’re open 24/7, offer full service gas and their mechanic will get you running again.

Finally getting started on the strip center at W Alabama at Mandell. The Alabama Row was announced months back but no signs of construction ‘til recently. No sign yet of what retail to look for at that spot across from Houston Center for Photography and Bistro Menil.

The Pit Room, the latest Richmond Bar-b-que spot, was reviewed by the Chronicle — Allison Cook no less — and got only one star despite her raves. Lots of promise though and guess what the must-have menu item is? A made from scratch ice cream sandwich!

There’s a new park coming to Midtown and they’ll call it — Midtown Park! It’s located on Main Street on six acres just south of McGowen and is not a city park but owned in part by the same folks who own the apartments right next door, Camden. Great place to walk the dog.

The University of St. Thomas will open their new Science and Technology building in April and have already announced an addition. The School of Nursing will also call it home. Check out the spiral staircase on the west side. It’s encased in a mesh screen so nobody gets any ideas about jumping.

Kush in the Commons It has just come to our attention that delivery of what appeared to be synthetic

cannabinoids has been observed near the intersection of Sul Ross and Jack

Street earlier this month during daylight hours. If you observed such criminal

behavior—PLEASE REPORT IT TO HPD’s

. “NO DOPE” hotline at 713-466-3673

MONDAY February 20 – 6:30pm DISTRICT C CIP MEETING 1475 West Gray (Parking via HADDON St.)

Tuesday, February 21, 2016 – 7:00 – 8:00 pm First Montrose Commons General Meeting TheHighSchoolForThePerfomingAndVisualArts! 4010 Stanford @ West Main St. Room 101

8 Febraury 2017

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

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!”

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.

February 21 FMC MEETING AGENDA

NSR467 Construction UPDATES

FMC Membership Drive 2017

Special Presentation – You Need a Permit for THAT?

TWO I M P O R T A N T M E E T I N G S T H I S M O N T H