CM Green Provides Over $100K in Afterschool Funding Throughout District K

Neighborhoods in Houston City Council Member Larry Green’s District K benefitted this year from over $100,000 in City of Houston funding designated for afterschool programs. The partnership is provided through the Harris County Department of Education’s Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids, or CASE for Kids City Connections.

Funding began Oct. 23 through April 27 for organizations selected as afterschool providers in District K. Awards ranged from $4,000-$15,000 for each organization.

The partnership with the City of Houston and CASE for Kids provided $45,000 in funding for nonprofit organizations in each of the 11 Houston City Council districts A-K. In addition, council members had the opportunity to increase their grant budget with council district funds. Council Member Green added an additional $62,000 in funds to ensure more programs are available for students throughout District K.

Boys & Girls Club Greater Houston, Bridging the Digital Divide, Mufassa’s Pride, SEWA, Comp U Dopt, Shamelessly Saved, Edison Arts Foundation, Brentwood Community Foundation, TEEROC and Urban Outreach all received funds for their afterschool programs.

“Afterschool programs keep kids in our neighborhoods safe and provide enrichment,” said Green. “It’s a win-win for communities and our students.”

Aldi Grocery Store Coming to Westbury

An ALDI supermarket is planned to be built on the site of the old Westbury Centerette at the corner of West Bellfort and Chimney Rock Rd. The old Westbury Centerette was demolished in 2015 in anticipation of a LA Fitness location. However, the site did not work for this proposed fitness center. Since then, not much has happened on this vacant lot.

With the proposed plans for a new supermarket, this site has the capacity for the store and accessible parking. The District K office is coordinating with the Westbury Civic Club to reach out to the land developers to get more details. As of now, construction on this site is delayed until a natural gas utility line can be relocated, which is expected to occur this Spring. The supermarket is slated to open in 2019. The District K office will continue to monitor this development which will be an economic boost for this residential community.

Proposed Revisions to Chapter 19 Floodplain Management Regulations

The Houston Public Works Dept. presented information relating to proposed revisions to Chapter 19 of the Houston Code of Ordinances, which are the regulations governing development in the floodplain.

The proposed revisions include:

  • Applying the floodplain management regulations contained in Chapter 19 to the 500-year floodplain (currently they only apply to the 100-year floodplain)
  • Requires freeboard above the 500-year flood elevation (currently described as “x” feet; the administration recommends 2 feet, but this is specifically open to public comment). This would require any addition to the property to be elevated to the 500-year flood elevation plus two feet
  • Prohibits any net fill in the 500-year floodplain

PUBLIC INPUT AND NEXT STEPS
Public input on proposed changes to Chapter 19 can be made by emailing the Houston Public Works Department at [email protected]. The ordinance will be presented to City Council on March 21, 2018.

More information about the proposed revisions to Chapter 19, go to www.houstonrecovers.org.