Reimagining Midtown 10 Year Service and Improvement Plan

Ten years ago, together, we developed the 2015 – 2024 Service and Improvement Plan that has guided our actions for the betterment of the community. The Midtown Management District is required to update the Service and Improvement Plan every ten years. It is now time to develop the 2025 -2034 plan and we need your help.  

In August 2023 we announced the plan’s development in The Buzz, our community newsletter. Since then, the district has hosted focus groups and completed the Reimagine Midtown survey to help guide the direction of the plan. Our plan timeline is listed below with the status of the project.

______________________________________________________________________________


March 2023:  Join Us for the Reimagining Midtown Charette
We invite Midtown property and business owners to attend our interactive Reimagining Midtown Charrette to be held Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Midtown Houston offices located at 410 Pierce Street, Houston, Texas 77002.

While all Midtown stakeholders are encouraged to participate we need to hear from those most impacted by our decisions.  Your voice is critical in developing the 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan.

Sign Up Here

What is the Reimagining Midtown Charette?
Our Reimagining Midtown Charette is a collaborative planning process that ensures we hear from as many Midtown stakeholders as possible as we forge our way into the future.

The four-hour day will include two sessions and lunch. During the sessions, you will be asked to share your opinions while helping to shape the future of Midtown in the development of the 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan. 

Tell Me More, Before I Give Up My Saturday
You are the reason we want to continue to work toward a safe, vibrant, and healthy community. During the sessions, you can expect to:

  • Learn more about all three entities that make up Midtown Houston with a focus on the district and the development of the community’s future.
  • Discussion around the narrative portion of the proposed plan.
  • Assist in setting the priorities, projects and program plans for the next 10 years.
  • Engage in business and community-building discussions and exercises while providing ideas and practical solutions to form the foundation of the 10-year Service and Improvement Plan.


How Else Can I Participate?
We need Reimagining Midtown Ambassadors to help us spread the word. More specifically, our RMA’s will assist us in building and maintaining positive relationships with community members, speaking on behalf of Midtown as needed and providing feedback.

We also want to earn your vote of confidence demonstrated by voting for the plan and signing the petition.

We Ask Your Participation in Three Ways

  1. Sign up for the Reimagining Midtown Charrettes (morning, afternoon, or both sessions).
  2. Become a Reimagining Midtown Ambassador and help us build a great community together.
  3. Vote for the plan and sign the petition.


What’s Next?
The Reimagining Charrette is the first public meeting of several public events that Midtown Houston will hold in the development of the 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan.  

Be on the lookout for the Community Impact Report that will be released in April.

And, don’t forget to review the results from our Reimagining Midtown Community Survey and Focus Groups

____________________________________________________________________________________


Reimagining Midtown 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan Timeline

Date 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan Development Task Status
August 2023  Published the Midtown Buzz with the Service and Improvement Plan as the lead story.
September 2023 Focus Group / Listening Sessions 
This is a preliminary inquiry into how to organize and implement what topics are addressed in public information sessions. The purpose serves as a standard investigatory method to identify language, values, and issues that should be addressed with the assessment payors in the district. We intentionally created an opportunity for small, intimate, safe groups focused on each type of assessment payor in the district so that our consultants can help us develop clearer communications and inquiries to the larger groups. The focus groups/ listening sessions do not identify or represent any plans for the new 10-year Service and Improvement Plan.We will use the information from the Focus Groups/Listening Sessions to inform the Reimagine Midtown Community Survey and methods for input regarding the insights and concerns of all the stakeholders. It is very important that we are intentional about inclusion, intended outcomes, and how we implement this process. Focus Groups/ Listening Sessions are intentionally small so that we can authentically listen and have an opportunity to gain clarification on language and values in a short timeframe.

To prepare for and receive the Reimagine Midtown Community Survey, we urge you to attend a District Board Meeting or review past meeting agendas or minutes here.

October 2023 Plan Announcement + Survey Release

In the annual assessment billing, there will be a listing of the regular Midtown Management District Board of Directors meetings for 2024. 

There will also be a letter with a QR Code link to access the Reimagine Midtown Community Survey. The annual assessment billing is sent via U.S. Post to property owners sometime in mid-October. The Qualtrics survey will be open from October 6 to November 11, 2023. It is specifically for Midtown stakeholders (property owners, business owners, and residents) who have a vested financial interest in the continued success of Midtown. We would prefer that this only be shared with persons who identify as a Midtown stakeholder on social media and in community-focused platforms. The Qualtrics-based survey is specifically designed to engage with the Midtown community directly so that stakeholders can shape the trajectory of their neighborhood. Please take the time to participate in the survey.

The Reimagine Midtown Community Survey will be open for your participation through November 11, 2023. UPDATE: as of October 25, 2023, the Reimagine Midtown Community Survey will remain open through Sunday, November 19, 2023.

November December 2023 Reimaging Midtown Community Survey Aggregation

Data received from the Midtown Survey will be aggregated to determine stakeholder feedback. The feedback will give the Board of Directors and the community direction for potential goals, objectives, programs, and costs for the next 10- years.

January 

2024

Reimaging Midtown Community Survey Data Released

The Board of Directors will determine the date and time to release the aggregated data from the survey to the Midtown community. UPDATE – January 10, 2024. By notice of a publicly posted agenda, the Board of Directors and the community received the aggregated data from the Reimagine Midtown Survey. We realize this was an extensive survey. We wanted honest feedback about committee, Board, and staff work.

Here is the link to the aggregated data that was presented at the meeting. We would like to thank you for participating in the survey. We appreciate you!

February 2024 Midtown Management District Board Meeting  
Join us on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 6:00 p.m. for the regularly scheduled quarterly evening Midtown Management District Board of Directors Meeting. There will be ongoing discussions about the projects, programs, and goals the community can implement over the next 10 years.
March 2024 Community Impact Report + Reimaging Midtown Charette

Anticipated release of the Midtown Management District 10-Year Impact Report. Part of the Impact Report will include the aggregated findings from the Reimagine Midtown Community Survey in addition to historical accomplishments. This will be mailed to property owners in Midtown. It will also be made available online.

April 2024 Draft Plan Released for Feedback

Anticipated completion of the first draft of the proposed 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan and Assessment Plan (2024-2035) to be presented at the regularly scheduled March Midtown Board of Directors meeting. Receive feedback.

May 2024 Final Proposed Plan Completed + Plan Approval 

Complete the Final Draft of the proposed 10-Year Service and Improvement Plan and Assessment Plan (2024-2035)

At the regular quarterly evening Board of Directors meeting:

  • Consider approval of the final draft of the Service and Assessment Plan (2024-2035); and
  • Authorize solicitation of petitions from landowners requesting the services and improvements contained in the final draft Service and Assessment Plan.

By statute twenty-five valid signatures of Midtown property owners are required to move forward with continued services and improvements.

August 2024 Adoption of Order 

Assuming by this date the required number of petitions have been obtained there will be a meeting of the Board of Directors to adopt an Order which will:

  • Accept petitions requesting services and improvements.
  • Set public hearing to consider testimony and receive evidence on the Service and Improvement Plan and Assessment Plan.
  • By Statute, the Board will be required to authorize publication and certified mailing of a notice of a public hearing to assessment payers; and
  • Appoint hearing examiners to hold a public hearing.
  • Publish (Houston Chronicle) and required mailing of (Certified Mail) notice of hearing at least 30 days before hearing.

Prepare for public hearing (30 Days)

September 2024 Public Meeting 

Host a public hearing for the Midtown 10-Year Service & Improvement Plan and Assessment Plan 2024-2035.

October 2024 Adoption of Hearing Examiner’s Report + Recommendations

  • Receive and adopt hearing examiner’s report and recommendations.
  • Receive any additional testimony of the Service and Assessment Plan.
  • Approve any additional exemptions from the assessment.
  • Adopt an Order approving the Service and Assessment Plan and Levying Assessments; and
  • Authorize the assessor/collector to send out assessment bills.
January 2025 Assessment Due

 

Completed Task     Pending and/or in process