Service Plan

Background

The District is a municipal management district created by the 77th Texas Legislature pursuant to H.B. 1990 (now codified as Chapter 3811, Texas Special District Local Laws Code, the "Act") to address concerns about public safety and economic decline by promoting and coordinating the economic growth, cultural activities and public welfare of the property within its boundaries. The City of Houston, Texas (the "City"), consented to the creation of the District after the Act was passed. The District was modeled after other existing management districts in the City that have been successful in addressing the service needs of the commercial property owners within their boundaries, such as the Greenspoint District, the Westchase District and the Greater East End Management District.

The District boundaries include territory contained in the area bounded by T.C. Jester Boulevard on the east, Pinemont Drive on the south, Hollister Drive projected to State Road 249 on the west, and State Road 249 on the north as those roads exist on the effective date of the Act. The District, as a governmental entity, is a body politic and corporate, and is a political subdivision of the State of Texas, run by a 10-member board of directors that represents commercial property owners, tenants and residents in the near northwest area of Houston (the "Near Northwest Area"). District board meetings are open to the general public.

In 2005, the Board of Directors of the District (the "Board") approved a five-year Service, Improvement and Assessment Plan (the "Existing Service Plan") that has served as a guide in developing and administering services and programs for commercial property owners by District staff under the direction of the Board. Programs have been developed and implemented in the following areas:

• Security and Public Safety;
• Planning and Urban Design;
• Marketing and Perception Enhancement; and
• Administration

The District now has a firm foundation of five (5) years of real accomplishments. Today, the Near Northwest Area is safer and cleaner than in 2001 when the District first began operations. The District is making real progress in changing the public perception of the Near Northwest Area as rundown, unsafe and unappealing for businesses or as a destination. The District looks forward to building on its accomplishments to further serve its constituency and position the District as the next great place to work, live and do business and increases economic opportunity for area businesses and commercial property owners.

The District's challenge is to stay the course by continuing to identify and serve constituent needs and by promoting economic development and public interest in the Near Northwest Area. Such challenges and needs include the following:

• Continue to make public safety a priority. Encourage the growing partnerships among the law enforcement entities that serve the Near Northwest Area.
• Identify and rectify the problems of aging and obsolete infrastructure – streets, drainage and traffic signalization.
• Address long-term land use alternatives and offer solutions that benefit landowners and the District as a whole.
• Provide up-to-date information that promotes the Near Northwest Area in a positive way with a well-rounded marketing and media program.

Introduction

This Service Plan builds on the momentum of current revitalization as it follows a plan to make the Near Northwest Area a diverse, accessible and viable part of the greater Houston area. It was developed by the Board, who represent a variety of property owners and businesses in the District. The District will continue to provide services as initiated and implemented during the Existing Service Plan, will work diligently to expand and develop additional services and will undertake certain projects with widespread benefits that are beyond the ability of individual commercial property owners to provide.

The following outlines the nature of the services to be provided by the District and will be implemented by the District, working in conjunction with commercial property owners, service providers and the public sector. All
programs will be approved and monitored on an on-going basis by the Board.

• Security and Public Safety

• Planning and Urban Design

• Marketing and Perception Enhancement

• Administration

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