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to outgoing midtown board members
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Capital Improvement
he Midtown District extends a warm and heartfelt “thank you” to outgoing Midtown Redevelopment Authority TIRZ #2 (MRA) board members David L. Edwards and Nicole Phuong Cao. In 1995, David and Nicole joined 13 individuals at Trinity Episcopal Church on Main Street to become the founding board for the MRA. Their devoted attendance record and vision have, in the words of former MRA executive director Charles LeBlanc “helped unite the neighborhood” bringing opportunities, improvements, and rejuvenation to a once declining area of the city. Retiring board member David Edwards is owner/president of his company, United National Insurance Agency, since its inception in 1979, 18 years before the Midtown district was formally drawn. Nicole left her Vietnamese homeland in 1976 bound for Houston, later establishing a pharmacy with her husband on Milam. She went on to join the banking industry. Today, Nicole is a Guided Portfolio Manager, Wealth Advisory Specialist for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Nicole was instrumental in creating the Vietnamese Heritage Plaza, located in Midtown’s Elizabeth Baldwin Park, honoring the early Vietnamese settlers. "As Midtown Redevelopment Authority Board Members, Nicole and David have contributed greatly, not only to the formation but the ongoing growth of the Midtown District,” says Matt Thibodeaux, current executive director for Midtown Management District and Midtown Redevelopoment Authority (Tirz #2). “The concern and responsibility they demonstrated has helped create a vibrant community I am proud to be part of. Their enthusiasm, creativity and dedication will be greatly missed."
then & now
from page 1
(Drumusic Studios) as well as other visual and performing arts organizations. Today, the 20,000 square foot Center stays true to its beginning and is known for its active performance venues. Artists’ studio rentals, a Repertory Theatre, an Art Gallery, a Dance Studio and the Gallery Connection are most accommodating, both in size and affordability. Names like Mildred’s Umbrella, Midnight Theater, Pandora Theater and Deva Mack Productions frequent the stage. Recently, Houston’s Edge Theatre’s version of Edward Albee’s comedy Me, Myself & I drew rave reviews and a spot on My Fox Houston’s Ida Thompson, Hubert Thompson and Tim Hughen. (Fox 26.) Artist Hughen’s work will be on view April 14 at Midtown Art Center, part of the 13th Annual Midtown Visions Cultural Arts Tour. Hughen collaborates with artists Babita Patel, Gayan Gunawardana, John O’Fiel and others in the exhibit The Thread. Check out the Midtown Art Center’s calendar (www.midtownartcenter.com) or stop by 3414 LaBranch. A free parking lot is available next to the building. (Also, stop by the Tea Room Gallery, home of the Community Artists’ Collective.)
Midtown Management District 410 Pierce Street, Ste. 355 Houston, TX 77002
By marlon marshall
he Midtown Redevelopment Authority recently began the Bagby Street and Pierce Street Improvements Project. This project includes the reconstruction of Bagby Street from St. Joseph Parkway to Tuam Street and Pierce Street from Baldwin Street to Brazos Street. The project’s Low Impact Development design achieved registration as the first “Greenroad” in Texas. The completed project will provide an enhanced pedestrian environment and an improved vehicular connection for southbound traffic through Midtown. The contractor for this project is SER Construction Partners. Construction duration for this project is 18 months. FTA Phase III - Gray Street (Hamilton to Brazos) The Midtown Redevelopment Authority is currently working on the third phase of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant project which makes improvements for pedestrian access to transit facilities. The Gray Street project includes rightof-way enhancements from Hamilton to Brazos. Improvements will include wider sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, brick pavers, accessibility ramps, and other pedestrian-related infrastructure. Construction from Brazos to Main was recently completed. Remaining construction from Main to Hamilton is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2012. Houston Community College Capital Projects Midtown has partnered with Houston Community College (HCC) to make improvements to streets near the HCC campus. The HCC Capital Projects include improvements to Holman Street and Alabama Street. These projects are partially funded through a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant. The Holman Street project will improve access for HCC students to the METRORail station and other transit services on Holman Street. This project is currently in the design stage with construction scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Alabama Street project is in early design stage. Construction schedule is to be determined. Asphalt Overlay – Austin Street & Crawford Street Midtown has recently partnered with the City of Houston by providing funding for asphalt overlay projects to improve the road surface quality on Austin Street and Crawford Street. Both streets will include mill and overlay from Pierce to Holman. The City of Houston will perform the construction through its Right-of-Way and Fleet Maintenance Division. This project is scheduled to be completed in April 2012. Elgin Street Drainage A local drainage project on Elgin Street from Austin to Crawford was recently completed. The utility improvements along Elgin, Crawford, and Chenevert Streets will help to address flooding in the area. Construction of this project was funded by the Midtown Redevelopment Authority with the City of Houston provided engineering design and construction administration.
MIDTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Todd Triggs
Chairman of the Board
Matt Thibodeaux
Executive Director for Midtown Management District & Midtown Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ #2) mattt@houstonmidtown.com
Cynthia Alvarado
Managing Director cynthiaa@houstonmidtown.com
Katherine Mestousis
District Assistant kmestousis@houstonmidtown.com MIDTOWN redevelopment authority and tax increment reinvestment zone #2 ( TIRZ #2)
Robert Sellingsloh Chairman of the Board
Kandi Schramm
Administrative Manager kandis@houstonmidtown.com
Marlon T. Marshall
Senior Project Manager marlonm@houstonmidtown.com 713-526-7577 (tel) • 713-526-7519 (fax) houstonmidtown.com © midtown paper, all rights reserved 2012
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Design & Production: Quantum/SUR 12818 Willow Centre Drive, Suite B Houston, Texas 77066 281-955-2449 www.quantumsur.com Editor Mary Chavoustie, mary@quantumsur.com Publisher/Art Director Leonel E. Mejía, leo@quantumsur.com Contributing Writers Tracy Elsner Marlon Marshall Katherine Mestousis Elizabeth C. Searcy Accounting Manager Marta M. Mejía, marta@quantumsur.com The Midtown Management District (MMD) and Quantum/Sur do not knowingly accept false or misleading information or editorial, nor do they assume responsibility should such material appear in the paper. Views expressed in the midtown paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, publisher, or the MMD. Every effort has been made to ensure accurate information at the time of publication, however, this cannot be guaranteed. Publishing of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of any product or service offered. All submissions of editorial or photography are only accepted without risk to the publisher or the MMD for loss or damage.