BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
More details
The local impact
What you need to know
Montrose residents also raised frustrations about not burying overhead power lines. TIRZ attorney Alia Vinson said the TIRZ does not have the authority to pay for the cost of burying power lines, as it can only implement projects authorized by the city. Vinson said some areas have utilized management districts for burial, but Montrose lacks an active management district. However, during an Aug. 18 board meeting, officials said they will look into options such as creating a utility district or partnering with CenterPoint Energy to bury power lines.
As of mid-August, the project is in the preliminary design phase, with potential construction set to start in late 2026. Brollier said the board is already in discussion with project engineers to min- imize any disruptions to local businesses during the construction period, which is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete. “We want to do everything that we can to avoid impacts to local businesses or just the way certain properties operate, but there is always that concern,” he said. Ali said engineers are planning to main- tain two lanes of traffic to minimize the disruption of travel and limit any detours. He said his strategy also includes working with property owners to close only one driveway at a time, working at night and using fast-drying concrete.
Official design is set to begin by the fourth quarter of this year, Ali said, with the prelimi- nary engineering report sent to Houston around mid-August. TIRZ officials said another commu- nity meeting is expected to occur after the draft is completed, with construction set to begin shortly after Montrose Boulevard improvements are finished in spring 2026. The $28.5 million project is a combination of TIRZ funding and federal grant money from the office of U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston.
Project funding
$11 million: Federal grant $17.5 million: Montrose TIRZ
Total $28.5M
SOURCE: MONTROSE TIRZ/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Burying power lines costs $1.5 billion per mile.
KEVIN VU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
From Bu alo Speedway to Kirby Drive: Upper Kirby TIRZ, construction starting end of 2025 From Kirby Drive to Shepherd Drive: Upper Kirby TIRZ, construction starting mid-2026 From Shepherd Drive to Spur 527: Montrose TIRZ, construction starting late 2026 From Spur 527 to Highway 69: Midtown TIRZ, construction not yet determined
One more thing
1
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY
Improvements to West Alabama Street will also stretch beyond the Montrose TIRZ boundaries to encompass the entire street from Buffalo Speedway to Hwy. 69, with adjoining segments split between the Upper Kirby and Midtown TIRZ districts. Lee Cisneros, project director for the Upper Kirby portion, said construction on Phase 1 will start in 2026. Midtown officials did not respond to a request for details by press time.
2
3
4
527
3
2
1
69
4
288
N
SOURCES: MONTROSE TIRZ, UPPER KIRBY TIRZ, MIDTOWN TIRZ/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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