East Aldine Management District is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month, after its founding in 2001.
The month of October 2011 is filled with observances and activities to honor the spirit and the effort of the Aldine community over the last ten years.
Activities started on Saturday, Oct. 1 with a clean-up of Keith-Wiess Park that involved over 150 volunteers from several organizations that are partners with the District.
The next activity was the 10th Anniversary Gala, held at the Greer and Lowdermilk Conference Center in the Interwood Development off Aldine-Bender Road.
Also planned for the community next Thursday evening, Oct. 20th from 6 to 7 pm is an Open House, at the District offices. At this event, the new 15 minute Video reprising the history and accomplishments of the District will be shown. The event will include a discussion period, for citizens to inquire about local issues, and to learn about the expansion of the sales tax into an area east of US59 that has not been collected previously.
State Representative Kevin Bailey, Jed’s co-owner Clyde Bailey (no relation), and a group of committed local citizens and business persons met and formed the first board and got the state legislature to pass necessary legislation to create the district and fund it with a one cent sales tax.
Since then, a Service Plan has implemented quality of life improvements in water and sewer, public safety, mobility, environmental design, parks and green space, marketing and public relations, economic development, and more.
The East Aldine District, originally known as the Aldine Community Improvement District, encompasses 16 square miles with over 50,000 residents, in unincorporated Harris County.
At the Gala last week, EAMD president David Hawes reviewed the history and accomplishments of the District.
He said “Prior to formation of the District, East Aldine was a nearly forgotten semi-rural unincorporated area with high crime, virtually no county services, aging and inadequate utilities, poorly conditioned streets, and virtually no sidewalks. With the help of District funding over the past 10 years the District is becoming totally transformed into a vibrant community that is attracting investment in new residential communities, industrial construction and other commercial businesses.