• Over a two year period governmental, civic, and industrial leaders of 15 communities and 14 chambers of commerce in the southeast quadrant of Harris County provided input to the master plan.

• This Economic Alliance task force has united both public and private efforts.  Most of our 15 communities involved have a population only averaging approximately 30,000 or less; however, over one million Texans who live and work in our region of “corridors” will be positively impacted.

• As small Houston Ship Channel communities, we value the jobs, commerce, schools, and neighborhoods that are provided by more than 125 refining and petrochemical manufacturing facilities or “plants” and numerous international port trade warehousing facilities and docks.  We also value other quality of life components, particularly transportation.

Why was this Task Force formed and how did the regional master plan (known as Project Stars) evolve into a regional master plan?

• Quality of life issues in our communities captured our attention and forced our leadership to collectively focus on our transportation “industrial” corridors which lacked consistent complimentary landscaping and sense of green space on freeways and main corridors.

What is targeted for change?

• Though our industrial corridors have pockets of landscaping and aesthetics; blighted areas exist.  Our “image and quality of place” impacted our economy; we were limited in our ability to recruit targeted amenities, high level professionals for residential neighborhoods, or diversified economic development.

• Custodians of our communities’ tourism assets faced difficulties attracting tourists and visitors through our industrial corridors.

• On a reoccurring basis, ozone air quality questions were raised in the Houston Chronicle newspaper and other forums, propelling a negative “smokestack” image for the industrial communities located adjacent to the Houston ship channel.

Project Stars™ is our master plan that targets our Strengths (uniqueness) and Combines Art, History/Education and Corridor Beautification to Improve Image.

This plan:

• Capitalizes on Historic Heritage – to educate both young and old

• Provides “Public Epic Art” to enhance aesthetic appearance in a highly visible way in a “Museum Without Walls”

• Creates regional pride and positive image with creation of San Jacinto Texas Historic District

• Creates Corridor Standards with attractive entrances to region – visible corridors now considered unattractive, negatively impacting image

• Blends perspectives into unified goals, demonstrating positive solutions to occupy same space

• The canvases for public art are being carefully selected in a strategic manner that will enhance the aesthetic appearance in a highly visible way, while guiding the driver toward and through the San Jacinto Texas Historic District.

• In looking for unique canvases, especially industrial, the public art indicates an ability to blend perspectives into unified goals, demonstrating positive solutions to occupy same space

Grassroots momentum propelled a master plan that incorporates:

• Texas Department of Transportation’s Green Ribbon Project as a model for project management

• Findings from an Economic Alliance S.W.O.T. analysis/study

• Community feedback over 2 years in meetings with chambers of commerce, rotary clubs, teacher groups, industry associations, civic groups, and government entities

• Combined research from recognized groups such as Rice University

• Benchmark examples of U.S. cities which creatively and successfully changed a negative image to positive

• Research by Native Sun Productions (an award-winning, full-service film, video, photography production company) for its next history channel production project

Our first master plan action: 

• In 2005, the south east Harris County communities committed to plant 2006 Trees in 2006.

• Harris County Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia was named Honorary Chairman for the tree planting day held on February 18, 2006.

• More than 1200 trees were planted on that freezing rainy morning, with commitments for up to 4100 trees by the end of 2006.

• Tree planting volunteers names and honorariums will be added to the historical collections of San Jacinto Museum.

The Plan Unites Partners of Strength

• Generates mechanisms for joint funding - Non-profit entities can tap into art and education foundations, public/private funding arrangements

• Systematically integrates numerous stakeholder “asset enhancement initiatives” to ensure complimentary approaches and synergies

The Plan is Grounded with Marketing/Economic Business Plan

• Using economic feasibility studies and best practice modeling, the holistic approach of the master plan for San Jacinto Texas Historic District integrates theme and “story” with economic development business model suitable for attracting tourism commerce.

• Gives regional stakeholders access and input into depiction of region by film media.