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Metro National to reclaim Texas Heritage Park site
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| Metro National Corporation will reclaim the land and management costs of the Texas Heritage Park. It donated the park to the Memorial City Management District about three years ago. |
By KIRSTEN SALYER
The Memorial City Management District moved Wednesday to allow Metro National Corporation to reclaim the land it donated for the Texas Heritage Park.
Metro National can take back the land, one of three pocket parks in the district, after a 180-day waiting period, but it can begin to take over the maintenance before then, said Pat Walters, the executive director.
But will the park stay a green space?
“We have no plans for it not to be at this time,” said Bill Huntsinger, the board of directors president. Huntsinger is also vice president for Metro National.
Residents who spoke at the meeting were not so sure. Donna Freedman made an open records request for documents relating the park. The corporation could decide to develop the land, she said.
“This is the only thing the management district has contributed to the neighborhood and now Metro National wants it back,” she said.
Roberta Prazak said she was also suspicious of Metro National’s motives for taking back the land, for which they received a tax break when they donated the land.
“I would like to see the city demanding that these management districts have a master plan for park space,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s just a moving target.”
The park maintenance costs the management district $14,000 a year, not including water and electricity costs, Walters said. The decision to allow Metro National to reclaim the park is consistent with the goal of the board to be cost-effective and lower the expense for businesses in the area, he said.
“That money will go toward lowering our assessment to area businesses in the district and putting it toward some project that would enhance the area’s identity,” he said.
Money saved from park maintenance will help the board lower assessment rates, Walters said.
Members of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee proposed to lower the assessment rates from 15 cents to between 8 cents and 10 cents to keep the tax burden down on businesses, members said. The assessment rate will be discussed at later meetings and will not be set until the fall.
Branding of the district’s identity was also a large topic at the meeting.
The board members passed a motion to move forward with approved street sign designs for the district. But they decided to wait on choosing a design and paint color for the six stars that will be painted on the retaining walls of the Katy Freeway at Bunker Hill Road, Gessner Road and Beltway 8.
Board members also approved a contract with Kudela and Weinheimer for the I-10 landscape design. Members proposed to go ahead with the landscaping and wait for TxDOT to reimburse the district $346,000 next year.
The board received an updated report on the Gessner widening improvement project, the Bunker Hill widening improvement project and the Kingsride intersection improvement project.
Metro National can take back the land, one of three pocket parks in the district, after a 180-day waiting period, but it can begin to take over the maintenance before then, said Pat Walters, the executive director.
But will the park stay a green space?
“We have no plans for it not to be at this time,” said Bill Huntsinger, the board of directors president. Huntsinger is also vice president for Metro National.
Residents who spoke at the meeting were not so sure. Donna Freedman made an open records request for documents relating the park. The corporation could decide to develop the land, she said.
“This is the only thing the management district has contributed to the neighborhood and now Metro National wants it back,” she said.
Roberta Prazak said she was also suspicious of Metro National’s motives for taking back the land, for which they received a tax break when they donated the land.
“I would like to see the city demanding that these management districts have a master plan for park space,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s just a moving target.”
The park maintenance costs the management district $14,000 a year, not including water and electricity costs, Walters said. The decision to allow Metro National to reclaim the park is consistent with the goal of the board to be cost-effective and lower the expense for businesses in the area, he said.
“That money will go toward lowering our assessment to area businesses in the district and putting it toward some project that would enhance the area’s identity,” he said.
Money saved from park maintenance will help the board lower assessment rates, Walters said.
Members of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee proposed to lower the assessment rates from 15 cents to between 8 cents and 10 cents to keep the tax burden down on businesses, members said. The assessment rate will be discussed at later meetings and will not be set until the fall.
Branding of the district’s identity was also a large topic at the meeting.
The board members passed a motion to move forward with approved street sign designs for the district. But they decided to wait on choosing a design and paint color for the six stars that will be painted on the retaining walls of the Katy Freeway at Bunker Hill Road, Gessner Road and Beltway 8.
Board members also approved a contract with Kudela and Weinheimer for the I-10 landscape design. Members proposed to go ahead with the landscaping and wait for TxDOT to reimburse the district $346,000 next year.
The board received an updated report on the Gessner widening improvement project, the Bunker Hill widening improvement project and the Kingsride intersection improvement project.
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