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Thursday
March 18, 2010 Since 1922 |
Barrett Station’s future focus of meeting
By Lauren Sallee
Baytown Sun Published March 23, 2004 BARRETT STATION — Organizers of a community development system hope to gather input from residents at an upcoming public forum.
The meeting will address issues and concerns in the area including; water and sewage problems, how to bring affordable housing to the area for both the elderly and moderately priced homes, how to bring jobs into the community and social issues including crime and lack of resources.
“This activity will be a business plan when we are done with it,” Janeen Spates, Barrett Station project manager with the Harris County Community and Economic Development Department said. “We really want Barrett Station to be in full attendance.”
Although the development is a long process, Spates said the idea is to confront what needs to be changed in the community and update a plan that was developed in 1997.
There are no cost estimates for the projects, but Spates said after the steering committee for the plan determines what
needs to be implemented, money would come from grants, fund-raisers or contributions.
Depending on the project, funding costs could range from $1,000 to $1 million for some of the developments.
The process of revising the community plan will be around a five year process Spates said and the meeting will help the organizers to identify and trouble shoot specific areas of concerns for residents.
The officials from Harris County will continue working with the community through workshops and seminars for the plan development.
A section of the plan will be given to a developer and they will in turn, Spates said, work with the community to develop some of the ideas.
After the plan is pulled together, Spates said, it will be sent to the Community Development Corporation to implement and create the projects outlined in the plan.
There is a steering committee called the Vision Team that has taken a hands on approach to getting the plan developed.
Willie B. Goodlow is one of about 20 members of the team and is also the president of the community civic league.
Goodlow said the team presented plans to Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia and her staff in March, and said most of the issues are things that are well overdue for a change.
A large issue of concern, Goodlow said, is drainage problems in different parts of the Community and in particular FM 1942.
These problems Goodlow said are caused because of sandpits in the area.
The meeting will also touch on subjects that include alternate access to subdivisions and widening roads that are too narrow for school buses and cars to pass by each other at the same time.
"This is a very old, historical community and we would like to give it a face lift and see some things done that have not been done in the past," Goodlow said.
Officials from various organizations have combined forces to put together needs of the residents and facilitate the community plan.
Although this is the third meeting for the project, Goodlow said, this is an opportunity for the residents to have input into changes they want to see in the area.
"We want them to be sure to come in large numbers and voice their opinions," Goodlow said. "We feel like in working together we can get more things done."
The town, originally an all black settlement, is named after former slave Harrison Barrett, who purchased the land shortly after emancipation. At the time, it was one of the largest land holdings in Harris County to be purchased by a slave. There are more than 2,800 residents living in Barrett Station.
The community meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Riley Chambers Community Center and childcare will be provided.
Door prizes and refreshments provided at the meeting. For more information contact the Riley Chambers Community Center at 281-328-4713.
The civic league meets on the fourth Tuesday and every month and will have a session at the center at 7 p.m. today. For more information call Goodlow at 281-328-2289.
Baytown Sun Published March 23, 2004 BARRETT STATION — Organizers of a community development system hope to gather input from residents at an upcoming public forum.
The meeting will address issues and concerns in the area including; water and sewage problems, how to bring affordable housing to the area for both the elderly and moderately priced homes, how to bring jobs into the community and social issues including crime and lack of resources.
“This activity will be a business plan when we are done with it,” Janeen Spates, Barrett Station project manager with the Harris County Community and Economic Development Department said. “We really want Barrett Station to be in full attendance.”
Although the development is a long process, Spates said the idea is to confront what needs to be changed in the community and update a plan that was developed in 1997.
There are no cost estimates for the projects, but Spates said after the steering committee for the plan determines what
needs to be implemented, money would come from grants, fund-raisers or contributions.
Depending on the project, funding costs could range from $1,000 to $1 million for some of the developments.
The process of revising the community plan will be around a five year process Spates said and the meeting will help the organizers to identify and trouble shoot specific areas of concerns for residents.
The officials from Harris County will continue working with the community through workshops and seminars for the plan development.
A section of the plan will be given to a developer and they will in turn, Spates said, work with the community to develop some of the ideas.
After the plan is pulled together, Spates said, it will be sent to the Community Development Corporation to implement and create the projects outlined in the plan.
There is a steering committee called the Vision Team that has taken a hands on approach to getting the plan developed.
Willie B. Goodlow is one of about 20 members of the team and is also the president of the community civic league.
Goodlow said the team presented plans to Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia and her staff in March, and said most of the issues are things that are well overdue for a change.
A large issue of concern, Goodlow said, is drainage problems in different parts of the Community and in particular FM 1942.
These problems Goodlow said are caused because of sandpits in the area.
The meeting will also touch on subjects that include alternate access to subdivisions and widening roads that are too narrow for school buses and cars to pass by each other at the same time.
"This is a very old, historical community and we would like to give it a face lift and see some things done that have not been done in the past," Goodlow said.
Officials from various organizations have combined forces to put together needs of the residents and facilitate the community plan.
Although this is the third meeting for the project, Goodlow said, this is an opportunity for the residents to have input into changes they want to see in the area.
"We want them to be sure to come in large numbers and voice their opinions," Goodlow said. "We feel like in working together we can get more things done."
The town, originally an all black settlement, is named after former slave Harrison Barrett, who purchased the land shortly after emancipation. At the time, it was one of the largest land holdings in Harris County to be purchased by a slave. There are more than 2,800 residents living in Barrett Station.
The community meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Riley Chambers Community Center and childcare will be provided.
Door prizes and refreshments provided at the meeting. For more information contact the Riley Chambers Community Center at 281-328-4713.
The civic league meets on the fourth Tuesday and every month and will have a session at the center at 7 p.m. today. For more information call Goodlow at 281-328-2289.