This Week: Construction to Begin on Main St/Fannin St at Sunset Blvd; Deadline Approaching: Neighborhood Matching Grant Program; Houston Italian Festival; Garden Oaks Wine Walk
Construction to Begin on Main St/Fannin St at Sunset Blvd
On Monday, October 14th, the Public Works Department and METRO will commence construction on the intersections of Main St and Fannin St with Sunset Blvd.
Council authorized over $1.5M for these critical safety upgrades in June 2019, following two bicyclist fatalities at this intersection in the past two years.
The upgrades include enhanced pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, modernization of all traffic signal equipment, and improvements to the pedestrian crossing at the Hermann Park/Rice University METRO Rail Station.
Please be advised: during the first phase of construction, the southbound left turn movement on Main St and the eastbound through movement on Sunset Blvd will be permanently eliminated to provide safer crossings for pedestrians. All southbound traffic on Main St that intends to turn left at Sunset Blvd and head south on Fannin St must change their route via other intersections. Similarly, all eastbound traffic on Sunset Blvd that intends to go straight across Main St and turn south on Fannin St must change their routes via other intersections.
Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of March, 2020.
Deadline Approaching: Neighborhood Matching Grant Program
The Neighborhood Matching Grant Program was established to help neighborhoods fund community beautification and improvement projects via matching grant reimbursements for up to 50% of project costs.
Mayor Pro Tem Cohen has allocated $45,000 in Council District Service Fund resources to this program. Example projects have included a new swingset for Nellie Keyes Park in the Washington Corridor, street sign-toppers that identify Yale St as the first Green Corridor, esplanade improvements in the Maplewood South/North communinty, and more.
In partnership with Council Offices, DON will administer grants from $500 – $5000 and will accept applications through Friday, November 1st at 5PM. Interested neighborhood groups and civic clubs that are registered 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organizations may review the Information Packet and Application and submit as directed.
What’s Happening in the District
This weekend, the 41st Annual Houston Italian Festival is taking place on the University of St. Thomas campus, hosted by the Italian Culture and Community Center of Houston. This is one of the largest festivals in Houston and attracts thousands of visitors from around the country each year. The festival will include authentic Italian food and wine, live traditional music and dancing displays, grape stomping, a bocce ball tournament, and much more. The festivities will take place from 11AM-10PM today and tomorrow (Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th) and from 11AM-6PM on Sunday, October 13th.
The Garden Oaks Civic Club will host the 11th Annual Garden Oaks Wine Walk on Saturday, October 19th. The event supports their neighborhood Constable Program. Twelve tables of wine, food, and beer options will be stationed around the beautiful backyard of Ed and Brenda de Alba, who generously host this event every year. Festivities will begin at 4PM.