Livable Centers Study Grant


Creating a vision for the future

The District has been working to put together a vision for what our community could become. Almost a year ago the District submitted one vision of how to improve the area to the Houston-Galveston Area Council for consideration for a Livable Centers Study Grant.  In September 2010 we received notification that our application was approved and we have been awarded the grant.

The Livable Centers Grant will provide funding to develop design recommendations, infrastructure improvements and urban design solutions that will provide residents and businesses with more appealing places for people to interact and gather, make walking, bicycling and transit more convenient, preserve the environment and create a unique community that will act as a catalyst for investment and development.The focus of our Livable Center Study is to explore the creation of a Town Center along the Antoine Corridor from the former Inwood Forest Golf Course to Aron Ledet Park that would attract business into the area as well as increase the area's livability for its residents.  The Livable Centers Study will help to define practical ways to improve the area's accessibility, increase venues for  community activities and generally improve the  area through projects like the creation of pedestrian and biking thoroughfares, providing bike parking at bus stops, adding beautification elements, revitalizing vacant shopping centers, improving existing parks and adapting the vacant golf course into a community center and  wellness park.


The Process

The design team has been assembled and is currently studying the area to become familiar with our benefits and challenges so that those can be addressed in their recommendations.  The next phase of the study included two public meetings which all community members were encouraged to attend via 4000 postcards mailed to businesses and residents, more than 2000 flyers distributed to homeowners, ads in The Leader, articles in the GIP e-newsletter and a story on KUHF.  On April 26, community members were invited to drop by and review preliminary drawings and planning documents and share with the design team their ideas for improvements to our community.  On April 28, all community members were invited to a presentation by the design team on their recommendations based on community input. The preliminary sketches by the team have been posted for all community members to see.


Next Steps

The design team will meet present their final recommendations on November 2 at Advent Lutheran Church, 5820 Pinemont from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Contact Melanie Fahey at melfahey@nearnorthwestdistrict.com if you wish to be kept informed of study progress.