Houston residents are encouraged to offer input today at the kickoff event for a project to develop a long-term vision for the community.
The City of Houston is undertaking the project that will guide the town for the next 15-20 years.
Organizers said the process “will help organize, assess, research, explore, evaluate, critique and prioritize a range of community assets, values and visions for consideration and implementation over the next 15-20 years.”
The city is participating in the effort with assistance from the Hammons School of Architecture through its Center for Community Studies, as well University of Missouri Extension’s state specialist for architectural studies. All are based in Springfield. Jay Garrott, an architect with Drury University, is the project administrator. The project facilitator and instructor is Drury’s David Beach, an architect and assistant professor at Drury.
The Drury University Center for Community Studies has completed 59 similar studies in southwest Missouri since 2001.
Here is the schedule for Saturday, with public input sought from an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Houston Storm Shelter at Pine and First streets:
•11 a.m. — Drury University students arrive at the storm shelter to begin tour with Committee Chair Jason Pounds, Mayor Don Tottingham, City Administrator Larry Sutton and Development Director Elaine Campbell.
•Noon — Local committee attends luncheon at Mayuga Café at Texas County Memorial Hospital.
•1 p.m. — Drury students continue community tour.
•2-4 p.m. — Open house for community to meet Drury students. Public can drop in and leave.
Other public meetings and workshops are planned for Sept. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8 at the community building at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds. All of the meetings are on Monday and begin at 6:30 p.m.
Elaine Campbell of the City of Houston said community involvement is key to a successful project. Every business, organization, council, church group and resident should be represented at the group meetings, she said. “We will share the challenges, assets and aspirations for our community, and the Drury team will assemble projected goals and ideas to carry out the community wishes,” she said.
At the end of the semester, the Drury Design Team will develop a document that will identify strengths and weaknesses of the community. The document will also pinpoint areas where the Houston community can improve opportunities for housing, employment, education, recreation and other areas that are important for the future growth of the community. The final product will be a visioning “tool kit” that will be used by the local Visioning Advisory Committee in the development of the community’s specific long-range visioning plan.