Hello & Happy New Year!
As we look towards the many opportunities for success that await us in the New Year, let’s not forget how far we’ve come in the last
12 months. 2012 was very productive for the Brays Oaks District in meeting many of the goals on the path to fulfilling our missions of business and economic development, environmental and urban design, public safety and mobility and transportation.
To demonstrate our dedication to improving the quality of life in Brays Oaks, the District has lent its support to a variety of community initiatives, including scholarship programs, school supply drives, real estate and business forums, and sponsorship of “Music in the Park
and Movie Nights” at the Willow Waterhole Conservancy.
The District’s Business & Economic Development Committee drafted a Long Term Commercial Business Development Plan designed to retain and attract quality retail and office tenants. When fully implemented, the plan is expected to add value to commercial properties in the District. The first step – an inventory of all retail and office tenants – is underway.
We have also tested methodology for attracting quality retail store names by undertaking a comparative analysis of the three-mile trade area around a potential site in the District and those surrounding two existing branded stores elsewhere in Southwest Houston. We have also performed a complete population, demographics and public transit analysis to support a Houston Community College Workforce Development Center in the District. The proposed new campus was one of three HCC Southwest College facilities included in the $425.0 million HCC bond referendum approved by voters on November 6. When constructed, it is expected to have a major impact on economic development by making training in a variety of vocational fields available to high school graduates throughout the District. The District’s Environmental and Urban Design Committee made substantial improvements to the overall appearance and image of the community with beautiful new landscaping projects along major thoroughfares. This year, we also amended our Master Parks Plan to include those areas newly annexed into the District and successfully procured grant funding from the Fondren Foundation to develop trails along the Fondren Diversion Channel. In 2012 we began an evaluation process to explore possible ways to increase connectivity related to the city’s plan for development of green spaces and hike-and-bike trails along the city bayous. We also started planning to more fully develop recreational uses in our local parks. This plan will work in partnership with the City Park’s Department. Our partnership with the Harris County Attorney’s office made significant strides in 2012 to take action against businesses and apartment complexes that have allowed criminal activities on their premises to threaten the safety and well-being of the surrounding community. Our mobile surveillance cameras have also significantly reduced crime in hotspot areas. We are also proud of the fact that The Reserve at Creekbend became the first multi-family housing complex in Brays Oaks to be awarded “Blue Star” status by the Houston Police Department.
In short, we’ve had a very good year in 2012 with much to celebrate and I’d like to invite you to join us as we build on the strengths of this wonderful community in 2013 and beyond.
Sincerely yours,
Etan Mirwis
Chairman,
Brays Oaks Management District Board of Directors
Hello & Happy New Year!
