The Planning and Development Department recommends passing a motion of support for the Action Plans for the Phase 2 Complete Communities: Alief-Westwood, Fort Bend Houston, Kashmere Gardens, Magnolia Park-Manchester and Sunnyside.
In accordance with Mayor Sylvester Turner’s vision of creating transformational change in under-served and under-resourced neighborhoods, the Planning and Development Department provided professional planning, coordination, and advocacy services to the Phase 2 Complete Communities. These five communities were the second phase to be included in the Mayor’s ongoing program. The city continues to work in all neighborhoods regardless of development patterns, demographics, socio-economic conditions or the strength of civic organizations.
Starting April 17, 2017, when Mayor Turner announced the Complete Communities initiative, dedicated staff across twenty-three City departments provided support and worked side-by-side with the pilot communities: Acres Homes, Second Ward, Third Ward, Gulfton and Near Northside. A Complete Communities Advisory Committee, comprised of twenty-six experts and community leaders, was created to guide the initiative. The community engagement consisted of fourteen community-wide meetings and 1,400 stakeholder meetings. More than 3,500 people shared their insights, values, and visions.
On June 17, 2019, Mayor Turner announced five new Complete Communities: Alief-Westwood, Fort Bend Houston, Kashmere Gardens, Magnolia Park-Manchester and Sunnyside. Public engagement began and followed the structure that was guided by the Complete Communities Advisory Committee. A Neighborhood Support Team (NST) was created in each of the five Complete Communities. The NST was comprised of locally identified leaders, residents and allies, that guided each Complete Community effort. Topic areas include: civic engagement, economy and jobs, education, health, housing, mobility and infrastructure, neighborhood character, parks and community amenities, and safety.
Although the Complete Communities planning process was interrupted by COVID–19, community engagement proceeded. We were challenged to push forward while keeping residents safe and healthy and switched to a virtual format. The Mayor’s Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force, created in April 2020, created engagement opportunities to assess community needs and implement COVID-19-relief strategies in all ten Complete Communities. We listened, responded and also documented those actions and goals in this plan. By the end of the engagement process for the Phase 2 communities, twenty-three community-wide meetings were held with more than 2,400 stakeholders participating. An additional 1,515 people participated in the extended engagement via online surveys, virtual meetings, and website activities. At the end of the public engagement process, project-specific working groups emerged to accomplish each of the goals identified in the Complete Communities Action Plans.
This community-centric effort has resulted in Action Plans that demonstrate the depth of community involvement. They also represent numerous opportunities for private investment and public private partnerships. By adopting these plans, City Council signals support and opens up opportunities for public sector funding such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, philanthropy and private sector investment.
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Margaret Wallace Brown, AICP, CNU-A Shannon Buggs
Director Director
Planning and Development Department Mayor's Office of Complete Communities