Houston Southeast Management District

THE DISTRICT 7 Places, 1 Place to Be

Volume 01, Issue 01

houstonse.org

First Quarter 2019

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY & CONNECTIVITY

INNOVATIVE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Multimodal Mobility Solutions will guide the City of Houston’s short-, mid- and longterm multimodal mobility planning efforts.

Neighborhoods that increase connectivity between people, places, and the things they need become more vibrant and healthy.

Since the District’s creation, major growth and development, as well as collaborative short- and long-term planning has occured.

HERMANN PARK

BELOW

A MEASURABLE IMPACT

Houston Southeast serves as an economic hub/corridor with integrated infrastructures set in place to attract investments and generate economic activities, while preserving its historical presence in Houston.

HISTORIC THIRD WARD MUSEUM PARK

HERMANN PARK

MACGREGOR UNIVERSITIES

MACGREGOR

MUSEUM PARK

TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER

OST/PALM CENTER

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rom the first coalition meetings held by the Third Ward Redevelopment Council in the mid 1990s to present day, the Greater Southeast Management District (The District) serves as Houston Southeast’s curator, managing its economic viability, infrastructure, and maintenance—making it a great place to live, work, and transact business.

7 PLACES, 1 PLACE TO BE Houston Southeast encompasses a variety of neighborhoods including the Historic Third Ward, worldrenowned Texas Medical Center, culturally-filled Museum District, and is home to notable institutions of higher-learning, University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and is bordered by Rice University and Houston Community College’s Central campus. Houston Southeast is positioned as a premier place to live, learn, work, and transact business.

SUSTAINABLE CHANGE

In 2001, State Representative Garnet Coleman authored and passed legislation creating the Greater Southeast Management District with the purpose of enhancing public safety, strengthening economic development, and creating a visually stimulating multi-modal hub in the Houston Southeast area.

Houston Southeast is comprised of seven (7) distinct areas: Historic Third Ward, MacGregor, Museum Park, Hermann Park, Texas Medical Center, Universities and OST/Palm Center.

SUPPORTING AN INNOVATIVE VISION FOR THE FUTURE Nearly twenty-five years in the making of Houston

Southeast, the District’s poised to provide robust services and amenities to attract businesses, investments, and residents to the area.

OST/PALM CENTER

HISTORIC THIRD WARD

For more information on how business owners and residents can be engaged and benefit from the Greater Southeast Management District, visit www.houstonse.org.

HOUSTON SOUTHEAST IS A GATEWAY TO ECONOMIC STABILITY AND A BRIDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND POSITIVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER

UNIVERSITIES

WWW.HOUSTONSE.ORG

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ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY 6 A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

Real estate advisors are familiar with the commercial real estate markets and provide knowledge of specific property and safety issues; The District is a conduit for addressing issues that are critical to the seller/lessor, the buyer/lessee and to the commercial real estate advisor.

PREEMPTIVE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE CRIME

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Houston Southeast is at the forefront of Houston’s Enhanced Public Safety efforts.

t the heart of any community, the security and the need for people to feel safe is a primary concern. Recommendations from the United Nations Global Pulse provide support for preemptive efforts to mitigate crime and in the process instill a positive impact on communities. The Houston Southeast Public Safety Initiative continues to refine and expand, The District has contracted with local law enforcement officers for efforts to reduce crime within Houston Southeast.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS In the foreground, the presence of the Public Safety Initiative program can be seen on a daily basis by the Enhanced Public Safety Coordinator, off-duty HPD Officers, and Precinct 7 Deputy Constables patrolling the streets and businesses throughout The District. The Enhanced Public Safety Coordinator and HPD Officers have been contracted since 2004; Precinct 7 Constables since 2005.

Protective services are ongoing commitments. Houston Southeast works with commercial property managers to create a security blueprint that ensures proper

BELOW

RESIDENTIAL IMPACT

A study by John Burns Real Estate Consulting posits that safety is more important to home investors when compared to other factors, including price.

Risk continues to evolve, as does the sophistication of enhanced public safety resources and crime detection technology.� security coverage while allowing tenants, visitors, and businesses to operate in a safe environment.

Our uniformed security officers are trained to understand the unique security challenges that exist.

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH In commercial real estate settings, all parties involved have distinct concerns. The District is positioned to maintain a birds-eye view on a variety of overlapping developments and initiatives. By working hand in hand with public safety partners, The District is providing continuity, increasing value and ensuring communities are safer for visitors, residents and property owners,

crime deterrence measures and supports a commitment to safety for all.

AN ADDED VALUE on Fire Safety as well DRIVING ENGAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE IMPACT as Crime Prevention

ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY

CRIME DETERRENCE Comprehensive public safety programs increase the visibility of

Want to learn more about what The District offers?

Plan to attend our public meetings and/or sign up for our newsletter at www.houstonse.org.

Efforts to making the community, safer, more resilient, and better prepared.

CONNECTING PEOPLE, IDEAS & SOLUTIONS

ABOVE

SUSTAINABILITY

ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY is a collaborative program between The District, Houston Police Department (HPD), Precinct 7 Harris County Constables, METRO Police, Houston Independent School District (HISD) Police, Texas Southern University (TSU) Campus Police, and University of Houston (UH) Campus Police that promotes effective cooperation, and law enforcement information sharing within Houston Southeast.

The District has contracted with realtors and other consultants to provide workshops and on-site consultations about state-of-the-art developments in anti-crime deterrence technology programs offered to commercial property owners and proprietors.

The workshops include seminars and information

through Environmental Design (CPTED) standards that are both effective and cost efficient. The District is also partnering with public agencies and community-based organizations to address other issues such as homelessness, public health, emergency preparedness and fire safety programs.

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BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC HEALTH, GROWTH & SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY The District’s goal is to provide sound economic infrastructure for its stakeholders and business owners to have a competitive labor force and enable upward mobility.

POSITIVE IMPACT

ECONOMIC IMPACT Workforce development is an essential process in order to cultivate a top-quality workforce.

Results of The District studies yielded support for improvement initiatives and explored grant-funded, collaborative and cost effective methodologies.

THE HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY may indeed be correlated with the health of its economy. A report by Brookings Institute’s Richard V. Reeves offers the argument that economic growth may help to “create the conditions for relative, as

well as absolute [social] mobility.”

In 2013, the District partnered with Texas Southern University and University of Houston to conduct an Economic Development Analysis of the Houston Southeast.

Looking ahead, while still preserving Houston Southeast’s history, The District’s Service and Assessment Plan includes programs that pertain to innovation, technology, historic preservation & facade improvements.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA? The District welcomes your input on programs, initiatives and tools that support the

stabilization, revitalization, and expansion of businesses within The District. You are invited to participate

TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER (TMC) TMC is the largest medical complex in the world.

TMC is at the forefront of advancing life sciences. Home to the brightest minds in medicine, TMC nurtures crossinstitutional collaboration, creativity, and innovation because together, we can push the limits of what’s possible.

in a committee and shape the future of Houston Southeast.

Learn more, or visit at www.houstonse.org.

PARTNERSHIP University of Houston and Humana The University of Houston and Humana Inc., one of the nation’s leading health and well-being companies, have announced a long-term partnership to train the health care leaders of tomorrow.

$15 MILLION

LEVERAGING A HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGY

A PLACE FOR EVERYONE

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THE DISTRICT IS A PARTNER in workforce development inititives that promote and expand Houston Southeast’s business activity, such as creating more jobs to further economic vitality and revitalization within Houston Southeast.

Workforce development, is an approach to economic development which attempts to enhance a region’s economic stability and prosperity.

The District has incorporated into its

Service and Assessment Plan multi-factor objectives that connect people to places and things. The District has gathered resources from public and private strategic partners, within the District, that include commercial property owners, business owners/proprietors, and residents. The District has a history of engaging those who have a vested interest in the posterity of The District’s workforce.

A $15 million gift over 10 years from Humana will help defray start-up and operational costs for the U of H’s College of Medicine and also fund endowed chairs for each of the five colleges.

Overcoming a Growing Deficit

4 MILLION The number of new residents in the Houston metropolitan area since the last medical school was established in 1972

180,000+ 8THLARGEST $3 BILLION 106,000+ ANNUAL SURGERIES TMC begins one surgery every three minutes

BUSINESS DISTRICT IN THE U.S.

TMC: 1,345 total acres & $25B in GDP,

IN CONSTRUCTION TOTAL EMPLOYEES PROJECTS UNDERWAY

WWW.HOUSTONSE.ORG

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ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN

Environmental, Urban Design and Visual Improvement provides the foundation for improving the District’s image and amenities. This aspect of the service and improvement plan will affect the quality of the business community and influence decisions of potential investors.

HEALTHY AND ECOLOGICALLY INTELLIGENT

BELOW Since 2005, The District has collaborated with groups such as the Greater East End Management for graffiti abatement.

With all the emphasis on healthy and green living, environmental design is becoming a more widely-used best practice and is essential to sustainable urban design.

KEEPING HOUSTON SOUTHEAST BEAUTIFUL and relevant as a place to live and do business is key to The District as it continues to expand partnerships with likeminded organizations and agencies. The District has partnered with organizations such as

Scenic Houston, Trees for Houston, and City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department.

The partnerships aim to plan, develop, and promote urban ecosystem sustainability of green spaces and along streets with efforts such as planting trees and other flora.

The District was one of several key spaces that was selected for a tree planting event which was hosted at MacGregor Park, an area within The District that is comprised of over 80 acres of land, where approximately 150 trees were planted.

A PLACE TO WORK, SHOP & CALL HOME

An Inclusive and Measurable Growth Plan

EMANCIPATION PARK Emancipation Park in Houston has undergone a major transformation.

Opened to the public in 1872 by its founders, Reverend John Henry

“Jack” Yates, Richard Allen, Richard Brock, and Reverend Elias Dibble, Emancipation Park is firmly rooted in African-American history. At the time

EMANCIPATION AVENUE RECEIVES MAIN STREET DESIGNATION

of its opening, racial segregation was the law of the land, and the park was the first truly public park in Houston.

INSTILLING PRIDE in the community where business is home is an integral responsibility of The District. Efforts in implementing programs and contracting services to improve the quality of life in the District have long been in place by The District.

To keep Houston Southeast clean and beautiful, The District has provided removal of unsightly objects, visual blight, heavy trash collection, litter removal, and other clean-up efforts in designated areas.

Graffiti abatement is a

joint effort between The District; The Greater East End Management District; police department; community members; and various public services to eliminate graffiti vandalism. In an effective graffiti abatement program, hot spots – areas frequently targeted by graffiti vandals – are checked regularly, with the overall goal of removing graffiti as quickly and efficient as possible. The reasoning given is, that graffiti is an expensive burden for a community as it lowers property values, generates repair costs and can incite additional criminal activity.

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GRAFFITI ABATEMENT

2006 2019 Graffiti is an expensive burden for a community as it lowers property values, generates repair costs and can incite additional criminal activity.

THE DISTRICT’S SUCCESS BY THE NUMBERS

1,486

Business

4,397

Public Properties

95

Dumpsters

ABOUT Emancipation Avenue in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood has been designated a Texas Main Street, the first time the state historical commission has selected a street in a major city for the program.

The Texas Main Street program is meant to help restore historic streets so they become economically viable for businesses. Typically, the historical designation is used to revitalize areas of smaller towns.

The Emancipation Economic Development Council, a group tasked with promoting revitalization and preservation in the Emancipation Park area of the Third Ward, will oversee the program.

WWW.HOUSTONSE.ORG

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TRANSPORTATION & LOCAL MOBILITY Want to learn more about what The District offers?

Plan to attend our public meetings and/or sign up for our newsletter at www.houstonse.org.

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ACCESSIBILITY

GOOD DESIGN DOESN’T HAPPEN, IT’S PLANNED

Not addressing low rates of social mobility could hurt growth

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n 2007 The District was granted Federal Transit Authority status and has since partnered with METRO, City of Houston, Texas Department of Transportation, Gulf Coast Rail District, Federal Transit Administration and other appropriate entities.

Richard V. Reeves proposes that economics can be a driving force for social mobility. Reeves suggest that economic growth, then, may help to create the conditions for relative, as well as absolute mobility. It is certainly plausible that low mobility is a factor behind weaker growth

in the areas of the US. Reeves continues, that it may also be the case that mobility helps create the conditions for stronger growth. In 2010, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that lack of mobility could “curb economic growth.”

Efforts are a continual process to improve current transportation infrastructures that address traffic problems, pedestrian and street improvements, mass transportation plans, and create/expand mixed transit-oriented development, thereby connecting all seven neighborhoods within the District.

AN EXPANSIVE CITY The increase in population and continued growth of Houston results in challenges to Houston’s mobility. The District works in partnership with numerous public and private agencies and with multiple departments within the City of Houston to analyze, evaluate, and address mobility issues in Houston and its extra-territorial jurisdiction.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

BELOW Efforts by The District have created transportation systems that support the mobility of all residents and offer balanced and flexible transit options.

These programs target the improvement of roadway reconstruction, and construction of pedestrian and bikeways in Houston Southeast. The District facilitates the implementation of more user-friendly transit services to provide more efficient pedestrian and transit connections that move people in, through and within the District.

LOW RATES OF SOCIAL MOBILITY COULD HURT GROWTH METRO AS A KEY STAKEHOLDER GSMD TO COLLABORATE IN 2019 WITH METRO, ENHANCING BUS SHELTERS IN IDENTIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS WITHIN THE DISTRICT. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MORE DEVELOPMENTS WITH METRO.

A GUIDED VISION TAKE A STROLL OR GO FOR A BIKE RIDE near your home. The Neighborhood Greenways Project, is an initiative of The District to connect a bike trail from OST/Palm Center to MacGregor Park, is in the works. This project is in partnership with City of Houston Planning and Development Department, Hwy 288, and SouthEast Houston Transformation Alliance! (SEHTA). Road construction. While not a District project, the Southmore Road & Pedestrian Bridge is a major project that The District

has been influential in facilitating, planning and coordination efforts with strategic partners.

Of the service areas administered by The District, those related to transportation and local mobility have the most visible and tangible execution of initiatives and projects throughout Houston Southeast. In particular, these include Joint Infrastructure Programs, Multi-Modal Transportation and Transit-Oriented Development Initiatives, and Planning Coordination and Funding Development Services.

WWW.HOUSTONSE.ORG

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MARKETING & PERCEPTION ENHANCEMENT

MORE THAN PERCEPTION OR SIMPLY A NEW LOGO

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It takes a thoughtful strategy to develop communication programs and branded environments that define, inspire, and engage consumers.

ENHANCING AND PROMOTING BUSINESS

that Houston Southeast evolves in line with the collective vision detailed in the 2019-2028 Service and Improvement Plan.

In 2012 The District began a rebranding campaign starting with

the website. Rebranding helps to discard negative imagery connected with an industrial heritage. The District is prepared to encourage and facilitate greater market penetration, by businesses, within Houston Southeast.

COORDINATED PLANS Given the coordinated plan’s role in the future of the District, there is a need for conversations about the changes happening

in the city and what is anticipated and desired in the future.

Your input will be used to ensure that the plan remains visionary

and responsive to the needs of the evolving and expanding Houston community.

2 MOTORCYCLE PATROL OFFICERS

PATROL 7 BIKE OFFICERS

BELOW Rebuilding distressed neighborhoods to achieve economic stabilization is a large task requiring a long-term, multi-disciplinary effort.

A primary objective of Houston Southeast is to market The District and increase awareness of businesses and amenities within the seven neighborhoods to create a positive image of the District as an outstanding place for business and investment.

HAVING A VISIONARY and up-to-date plan provides a guide for the long-term success of the District. It is the guiding document that District agencies, residents, employers, developers and other stakeholders use to ensure

ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY

Deputy Constables

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HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTY CONSTABLES PRECINCT 7 PATROL THE DISTRICT 24/7

3,517+

GLOBAL MARKETS & LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Since July 2018 deputy constables have logged 3,517 interactions with businesses and property owners in the District.

HOUSTON SOUTHEAST A brand promises something and delivers on the promise is operated by in a tangible way. a staff and is governed by a Board of Directors.

ALL NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE A BRAND. Brands are simply what people think of your neighborhood, either good or bad. Anyone who is aware of your neighborhood has a brand in mind. Successful neighborhood brands offer the promise of something positive, and hopefully unique, to your target audiences. Brands are not what you say about your neighborhood, but are what

BANNER District

others believe about it.

In this respect, brands are more about people’s experiences with the neighborhood and less about your marketing messages. A successful brand is unifying, distinctive, focused and consistent and it makes a promise to current and potential investors, residents, homebuyers and other target audiences.

In October, the Houston City Council approved the creation of a banner district within the Greater Southeast Management District now known as Houston Southeast.

A banner district describes the area in which a very specific type of signage may be used––in this case, identification banners for the District along its major corridors.

The boundary for the banner district includes seven major corridors within GSMD: Almeda Road from US 59 to El Paseo Street; Binz Street from Main Street to Almeda Road; Griggs Road from Scott Street to Long coredesignstudio.com

For a full list visit HOUSTONSE.ORG

Drive; Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from IH 610 to Wheeler Avenue; Old Spanish Trail from Fannin Street to Spur 5; Scott Street from Tristan Street to IH 45; and Emancipation Avenue from Prospect Street to Pierce Street.

CASE STUDY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT – ABOUT BANNER DISTRICT: The objective of the Downtown Banner Program is

to add color and excitement to Downtown as well as create a sense of place. The Downtown District manages the banner program on behalf of the City of Houston. Banners are an outdoor display that is placed, erected or fastened to a street light standard owned and maintained by an electric utility or by the Downtown District (located in the public right of way).

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INNOVATION & NOTABLE MOMENTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR

Partnership expands and improves infrastructure for assessed property owners.

Assessment Plan,

INNOVATIVE AND RESPONSIVE

The District’s Service and Improvement Plan was a collaborative initiative created to provide urban connectivity to areas and destinations

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eyond maintenance of the visual aspects of Houston Southeast, The District coordinates programs related to Right-of-Way Maintenance & Median Enhancement Program, Urban Design Standards, Flood Mitigation Planning, Placemaking and Public Art Initiatives. Indeed a major objective of The District is the development of an overall master plan for parks, greenspace, planting, landscaping, street lighting, and streetscapes. These include the development and maintenance of all public spaces that

are enhanced above city standard such as sidewalks, medians, roads, and park spaces. Since 2005 The District has contracted with the Goodman Corporation to provide a Pedestrian–Transit Master plan for Houston Southeast. This master plan provides urban connectivity to areas and destinations such as parks, access to bayous, and neighborhoods by linking transportation routes to hike and bike trails.

In addition The District contracted firms such as Asakura-Robinson and M2L to develop Greenspace Master Plans. This resulted in the Neighborhood Greenways which connects

Palm Center to MacGregor Park.

The District’s Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year framework that guides future growth and development. it addresses a wide range of topics that affect how investors and residents experience the District. These BELOW topics include land use, economic The Service and development, housing, environmenAssessment Plan overseen by The District, tal protection, historic preservation, transportation, and more. The outlined the mission, services, projects, and District has continued to utilize the improvement programs Comprehensive Plan as a guiding to establish and maintain platform for activity and continuity The District’s viability as a place to live and do in order to remain innovative and business. ensure that it remains responsive.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS are integrated networks of infrastructure within a geographical area designed to stimulate economic development. Corridors may be developed within a community or even between countries.

Economic development corridors connect economic agents along a defined geography.

They provide important connections between economic nodes or hubs that are usually centered in urban landscapes.

They do not stand alone, as their role in regional economic development can be comprehended

only in terms of the network effects that they induce. Although each economic development corridor has distinct characteristics based on what it desires to achieve, long-term strategies allow an economic development corridor to interact dynamically and create positive patterns of regional economic development.

The District has a significant stake in the successful application of corridor development and is aligned with regional cooperation and integration of global best practices.

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ACCOUNTABILITY

REVITALIZATION THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS THE ROLE OF SMALL BUSINESS

THE U.S. OFFICE OF ADVOCACY defines a small business as an independent company with fewer than 500 employees.

Coined as the “backbone” of the economy, small businesses play a crucial role in our society by increasing opportunities for employment in conjunction with providing goods and services all around the country.

The District has contracted The Goodman Corporation since 2005 to conduct mobility studies and for soliciting federal, state and local funding for transportation and mobility projects. As a ,result, this collaborative work has resulted in over $4,845,328 received through December 2018.

7 PLACES, 1 PLACE TO BE @HOUSoutheast #housoutheast

HOUSTONSE.ORG

GREATER SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT 5445 Almeda, Suite 503, Houston, Texas 77004 | 713.942.0500