Missouri City is about to expand its recreational offerings to include tennis with the purchase of eight acres of land at the site of the former Quail Valley Tennis and Fitness Center.
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP – This sign at the former Quail Valley Tennis and Fitness Center lets Missouri City residents know the city is the new owner of the shuttered facility. The city is working on plans to re-open the center for public play.
At its Nov. 16 meeting, city council approved the purchase of the $1.076 million land facilities at 2701 Cypress Point, near Cartwright Road.
Acquisition and development of the tennis center will be partly financed through a $1 million matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The city is currently accepting statements of qualifications from interested firms to renovate or construct a new facility that will be adequate to serve the community’s fitness, leisure and recreation needs.
The property, purchased from Reliance Trust Company, has been vacant since May 2007.
“We have just taken possession of the property, and a time frame for use of the tennis courts has not been finalized,” City Manager Frank Simpson said. “Staff will be inspecting the facility to determine when residents may be able to play on the tennis courts.”
A sign has been posted on the property informing residents of the new ownership.
City officials say a company could be contracted to assess the property around the first of the year, with public input hearings to be held early next year to determine residents’ opinions and ideas for the recreation center.
30. November 2009 at 3:20 pm
Yeah, because that would surely clinch a relection. Yup!
30. November 2009 at 3:09 pm
‘Did you also notice that the publication of the expenditures of big money for these projects coincides with the upcoming elections for Mayor and at-large City Council. Of course, that’s a coincidence’ Very good point dos!
30. November 2009 at 1:37 pm
I’m with you dosCentavos, It’s actually already behind a half empty strip center.
30. November 2009 at 1:32 pm
Yeap, it should be yet another strip center.
30. November 2009 at 1:25 pm
Interesting point in that the average MoCity resident has no idea how much public (of his/her) money is being obligated by the City for the financing of these recreational pursuits for QV residents. How many First Colony sidewalks could have been repaired, how many bike crossings could have been made safer and how many streets resurfaced in the older sections of Missouri City with the money that the City now sees fit to spend on QV amenities? Did you also notice that the publication of the expenditures of big money for these projects coincides with the upcoming elections for Mayor and at-large City Council. Of course, that’s a coincidence
30. November 2009 at 12:26 pm
How much of the parks bond have they already spent on the old country club?
30. November 2009 at 12:19 pm
The grant matches the first million spent, which is why the above comment states ‘partly financed’ rather than completely, mostly, or will be financed by half.
This does not to say that the project will only cost 2 million in total, but rather it will cost no less than a total of 2 million dollars (one million of which is coming from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department).
The fact of the matter is that they City does not know how much it will cost to renovate or rebuild this property, which is why:
‘…the city is currently accepting statements of qualifications from interested firms to renovate or construct a new facility that will be adequate to serve the community’s fitness, leisure and recreation needs.’
Would it be too much to ask for a little due diligence – to know what they are getting into BEFORE they purchase the property, instead of flying by the seat of their pants?
If the City has already approved spending on the ‘$1.076 million land facilities,’ does this mean the City will cap improvements, renovations, or rebuilds at $924,000 (the money left over from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)? I doubt it.
30. November 2009 at 12:06 pm
Looks like it PM. They passed a huge parks bond last year to pay for much of this, but the city PR/marketing people called it the “Parks Bond” and not the QVCC bond to make sure it passed. Most “Parks bonds” do pass. It also helps when 4 members of the city council including the mayor are pushing for it, even if it did wrap them up in one of the largest eminent domain abuse cases in the Houston area.
30. November 2009 at 9:30 am
“…the tennis center will be partly financed through a $1 million matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.”
30. November 2009 at 9:03 am
Help me out here people: Are city governments now going to start picking up recreational areas that HOAs are logically tossing due to unaffordabiliy?
Developers have been so busy in top loading their developments with unsustainable “amenities” just to sell them to unsuspecting new homebuyers and now the problem seems to be coming home to roost. As much as I like Parks and recreation, there is a limit to what is reasonable and rational.
Also Parks and Recreation departments seem to be vendor feedlots for some rather unscrupulous fellows. Just look at Sugar Land’s new hire!
30. November 2009 at 8:32 am
Getting back to the topic.. I think MoCity government (more specifically the City Council) should reexamine what their objective is with this Tennis property purchase. Really, are they just trying to ensure their reelection by placating QV residents? There are a few of us who would like to see our taxes going to more constructive paths than providing additional recreational outlets for residents. I strongly believe in private enterprise knowing whats best. If this property is an eyesore and a bargain, then let business people buy it and determine its best use. MoCity’s City Council has one objective and it isn’t to reduce our tax burden.
29. November 2009 at 3:46 pm
That makes a great deal of sense given the low voter turn-outs.
29. November 2009 at 3:23 pm
‘…all this moving around… creates a lack of cohesiveness to become informed, outraged, and engaged; simultaneously, the old guard remains stable, intact, and in sync, and are able to keep doing things in the same old way, thus retaining the status quo.’
I can’t argue with that FS.
29. November 2009 at 3:03 pm
Even though, there are stable residents that have lived in Fort Bend for many years; however, upon reflecting, it occurred to me that the lack of cohesiveness and outrage could be that there are soooo many folks who move to Fort Bend who are simply passing through. They light and flitter momentarily because Fort Bend is a hot area to be and in the long run, however, many residents end up being temporary and/or transient due to leaving the area because of job transfers, downsizing, or moving on to bigger and better. Therefore, all this moving around, lighting, flittering, and flying bye-bye creates a lack of cohesiveness to become informed, outraged, and engaged; simultaneously, the old guard remains stable, intact, and in synch, and are able to keep doing things in the same old way, thus retaining the status quo. I have been in the Fort Bend for 25 years, and I have observed and known lots of families who light, flitter, and fly bye-bye.
29. November 2009 at 2:31 pm
Actually there are quite a few laws, government ethics codes, etc. that if enforced (as we know many aren’t) should be used to keep actions by elected officials transparent, but only if they are enforced, ergo the problem in our county with codes meant for this. Once again Delay was in for decades (many re-elections) and was allowed to continue many times unchallenged. I don’t think we have the background knowledge of what he was like before office to know if he was “a good guy” or not.
Many of the current group of elected officials are brought up through a system that is set for failure. For example, just look at the initial MUD , LID, MMDs and most special interest taxing zones (or even Toll Road boards). These committees/boards are set-up by “insiders” (involved vendor corps, lobbyist) and their politicians. From these lower level initial crony boards we often get our first round crop of council and commission candidates. This is not conducive to open and transparent government or independently elected bodies that will adequately represent us. So yes, along with not allowing these self-perpetuating systems to exist (closed systems, model 1), enforcing current codes, laws and related ethics panels we need candidates of strong character and principles (yes we are back to that again). Currently we don’t have that in large numbers.
I remember a few years ago when the MC city code of ethics was basically dismissed when citizens called for an investigation into voting by the mayor for special interest projects that involved some of his contributors. We saw this again, without a formal complaint when he engaged in several recent votes involving contributors and use of taxpayers funding, which according to their city ordinances violates their ethics rules (remember the rule states “perceived ethics violations or conflicts”). Has anything been done or has the mayor changed his behavior via recusal from these votes? No, of course not, nor has the DA looked into these apparent conflicts of interest. After the citizens group called for his investigation a few years ago, the city disbanded its ethics committee.
Yes, the financial strings still run our system and not the electorate. We allow the vendors to run the show and make the rules.
29. November 2009 at 1:55 pm
Good quote – I hadn’t heard that before.
‘I wonder if it is the same developer too?’
That is a great question. I don’t recall, although I am sure it was printed. I will look to see if I still have the article in my office. I cleaned up my office before the holidays and it is likely that I threw it out.
‘…as for the the Delay example, I don’t [think] he makes a good proactive, positive example for politicians to follow…’
I’d agree. I am just saying that before Delay came into office, most folks would likely have said he was a good person. I guess my point is that people tend to change once in office and it is hard to tell the good folks from the easily corruptible until they are put to the test. Electing based on the goodness of an individual is like voting for someone because they are related to your sister’s live-in boyfriend. Other than what you have heard about the guy, you really won’t really know how he will perform until he is sitting in the big chair.
29. November 2009 at 12:18 pm
Good point FS. Of course that location continues to change depending on where the developers decide. It looks like the Alvin area is getting the Christus that Owen promised for MC in ‘07. I wonder if it is the same developer too?
“On a completely different note – I read in the Business Journal a few weeks ago that Christus (through developers) is building a hospital in Alvin.”
Mcty-as for the the Delay example, I don’t he makes a good proactive, positive example for politicians to follow. The same financial strings that steered him steer many of our top officials now. I was using him as a negative example (if you remember his close working relationship with Abramoff and his gang and eventual the fall). So yes that would be a very good example of the point I was supporting above. Character and principles do matter and electing people that won’t sell those out is very important and part of the problem at the national, regional and local levels. We’ve had plenty of those of weak character who are easily bought. You are right though, nothing will change until the voters/taxpayers decide they are sick of paying for the corruption.
“Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse.” Stevenson
29. November 2009 at 11:49 am
Is it not true and relevant to note that the Manvel/Alvin end of Brazoria County on the Fort Bend side right down from the “good’ part of Missouri City and/or Sugar Land
also benefit in its location of from being in close proximity?
Actually, the two areas, the “good’ part of Missouri City and/or Sugar Land, blend so seamless in that area where the both intertwined I cannot tell one from the other and neither can does who capitalize from being in close proximity and, certainly, any area close by leading outward from do not bother to try and make distinctions, I’m sure. As a casual, simplistic thinking observer, it is probably a selling point for developers, I would venture to guesstimate.
29. November 2009 at 8:57 am
That was my last long post – I promise.
29. November 2009 at 8:56 am
A few comments:
‘They were caught spreading numerous lies about several of the candidates as well as the last 3 tax increases.’
They are constantly caught spreading lies when they aren’t running for office, so this shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point. The uninformed do not realize this though or are too blind to notice. I certainly was until, as my neighbor says, my ox was gored. They way to fight this battle isn’t to (a month or two before election) bring the lies to the public at-larges attention. It will only muddy the water and create confusion. When confusion is entered into the mix, people tend to vote normalcy – whatever the currently have is what they currently want. Why? Because at least they know what they are getting. (Or at least they think they know.)
‘Hopefully you are not defending such illegal activity.’
I am sure you wrote this for shock value, because just based on my posts from the last several months, I would hope you would know that I don’t support illegal activity, injustice, or any other such nonsense. I call it like it is. Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc – it doesn’t matter to me. Wrong is wrong.
‘One QV resident told me recently that the face of QV is changing and we can hope that is true…’
The face is changing. Within three months of my wife and my moving to QV, three homes on our street went up for sale. One was due to the couple moving into a retirement home and the other two were from people passing away. We have more minorities moving in and more families with young children planting their roots. Let’s face it – the homes are unique, there are mature trees, there is a golf course or two, plenty of green space, and the homes are down right cheap. $65 – $75 a square foot to live in a golf course community? What a bargain.
‘Or maybe not, but this is a pretty good guess given the current chatter.’
I would tend to agree with you… not a bad guess at all. We’ll see in the upcoming months.
‘But good luck what ever you decide, but don’t wait too long because filing for those races is in March and if you are planning a grass-roots campaign then you will need to get started.’
I personally am not planning anything. If I were to run, I would fit into the category of one running on spite and that again, would not be appropriate. At this point, I don’t have enough information on the potential candidates because most of them haven’t given notice that they are running.
‘“Whether the candidate is a good person or not does not make a difference.” As for this statement above, I completely disagree.’
I have to disagree with your disagreement. :)
Take Tom Delay (as you mentioned in your above comments). He was a church going individual. He was an advocate for foster care and donated a ton of money to the cause. He had humble beginnings as a pest control service provider. He was a ‘nice’ guy outside of the political realm. A ‘good’ person. But obviously him being a good person wasn’t enough. Should we elect drug dealers and pimps? Of course not, but being a good person doesn’t qualify them to an elected position. There are lots of good people out there, but who defines whether or not a person is good?
On a completely different note – I read in the Business Journal a few weeks ago that Christus (through developers) is building a hospital in Alvin.
29. November 2009 at 8:07 am
Tennis anyone?
29. November 2009 at 7:51 am
When viewing a program on C-Span last evening, I was stuck by the poignant comment, “Leadership becomes hollow if it is not for the best interest of its constituents.”
28. November 2009 at 10:13 pm
“Whether the candidate is a good person or not does not make a difference.”
As for this statement above, I completely disagree. It is the essence of our political problems and not just locally. We have enough unprincipled jerks in office. Good night!
28. November 2009 at 10:05 pm
Good point FS. It is that very neglect that lead to the 2006, ‘07, ‘08 and ‘09 challenges and the current disparity that is even cropping up on hwy 6 (see the goodwill store and the repeat empty strip centers, not to mention all the other empty strip centers on TX Pkwy with Owen’s broken promises on the “special zone” for that area while getting one up for his campaign givers on hwy 6 in a relatively short 6 month period).
Mocty–My point is simple. When you run a campaign year end and year out financed by mega-corps from Houston who do regular vendorship with your city, it is they and not the citizens that run the council. For several decades QV has had the run of MC and has a fairly extensive communications network controlled by the same group. They were caught spreading numerous lies about several of the candidates as well as the last 3 tax increases. One of those people had the nerve to call me and tell me all those taxes were for a fire truck not knowing we have been watching this council and their budget for years.
“a good smear campaign from the opposition” (yes a smear campaign)
When they are outspending opponents in some cases 10-15 to 1, lies become cheap tools of the trade. Hunter, Poats, Griffin, Gary, Elackatt, Pinnock and Tunstall were citizens who got involved because they clearly saw what was going on. Two of those candidates were from that neighborhood and in the last election series saw blatantly illegal activity going on with that subdivisions leadership soliciting campaign funds for their select incumbent (need I mention she did lose). Hopefully you are not defending such illegal activity. No, if one side is not going to play according to the rules it limits your choices and no one said “All” QV, just most. They do take the marching orders from that network and until there is a DA that prosecutes such crimes I doubt much will change.
Now, that being said, if a group has the volunteer base to focus on QV, without sacrificing the rest of the city, then perhaps they could pull the base from under the Owen-edc machine, but is that the most effective way to use the troops? (the real question) If they do not have enough to focus on QV then they have wasted the volunteers on a marginal gamble to get the truth out (this is a gamble at best given prior experience with this community and the rumor mill that controls it). As you have said many times yourself, the city is more than this one subdivision and could be defeated without its control clique. If you all wait until later you will end up with more of the same tired rhetoric and letting outside forces dictate your property tax increases, bond useage and city government vendor subsidies. I know, we’ve watched that council for years.
You need to form a group to continue that function, otherwise you are left with Owen’s version of vendor feeding government and PR/marketing spin paid for by the taxpayers. Here is my prediction on the “insider” candidates. 1) Nguyen (trade: Another developer) vs. Wyatt (QV/Owen insider) and 2) Smith (former district B incumbent defeated by former indep. reform candidate Gary, for Jimersons spot and of course 3) Owen (borrow, tax and spender—gov’t vendor feeder). Or maybe not, but this is a pretty good guess given the current chatter. Another prediction, they will use the same tactics of misinformation and the cities PR people against all independent challengers claiming they aren’t qualified (whether they are or not) and will push their information in violation of the the non-profit status of “friendlies” in the HOA board communities (not all of them because we know quite a few that do not walk lock-step with Owen’s pol. network).
Naturally, I could be wrong, but given the precinct wins from the last city-wide race it is possible to upset the QV boyz, but once again it will take at least 3000 ballots, most of these outside QV. One QV resident told me recently that the face of QV is changing and we can hope that is true and that they too are ready for a move away from the old Delay machine politics of the past, but I wouldn’t count on it happening soon. In all likely-hood the newer areas being brought in and the older areas feeling neglected are a much better bet. After-all under the current machine boyz the city has increased spending significantly, taxes increased 3 times already and they lost the only hospital they’ve had as well as never fully funding the side-walk repairs, supporting a growing landfill at their back door to nearly 20 stories and repeatedly failing to keep the promises on low end high density housing (apartments) while shifting resources to the ETJ developments for campaign contributors, just to name a few. But good luck what ever you decide, but don’t wait too long because filing for those races is in March and if you are planning a grass-roots campaign then you will need to get started. If you are planning to run a spec. ints. race then you better get calling those list of 6-8 big Houston dev. corps so you can get their financial commitment. The problem with the later is that you end up with the same problem, a council taking orders not from their constituents, but the absentee special interest corps.
28. November 2009 at 8:24 pm
Often the truth is a bitter pill. What Sugarlander is saying rings true. I just saw a real estate listing on craigslist which emphasizes its location as being in the “good” part of Missouri City.
28. November 2009 at 7:02 pm
‘…I do not agree with your assessment of prior candidates and their rationale.’
I am not saying they were all like that, however (and this is said without knowing the last few folks personally) I can tell you that that is the way the many of them came across. If the message is not being communicated properly, that usually falls on the individual communicating, not the person or people listening. It can also come across as a poorly run campaign, a good smear campaign from the opposition, or in some instances it can come across as the candidate is just plain disingenuous. Again though – not all of the prior candidates were running out of spite or came across that way.
One cannot say they care about the entire community and then attack the residents of one particular community. To win this battle, QV must be embraced as well, not used as a scapegoat because so many representatives live there.
‘You will need 3000 ballots and most of them from outside QV.’
Someone seeking office cannot avoid QV and hope everyone else will get out and vote. Trust me on that one. Don’t avoid QV.
Whether the candidate is a good person or not does not make a difference. There are plenty of ‘good’ people elected into positions they frankly shouldn’t be elected to. I am sure many folks think Owen is a ‘good’ person, but he obviously has lost sight of the overall picture and needs to go.
28. November 2009 at 5:00 pm
Although I agree they will run an “insider” for Jimerson I do not agree with your assessment of prior candidates and their rationale. I knew them and they were good men trying to change the council by and for special interests, nothing more. Anything else is pure “insider” propaganda. You will need 3000 ballots and most of them from outside QV. They’ve already shown they will do whatever it takes. So far 2 reformers are on council, but more are needed, not more developer flunkies, but independent members who rep all the communities.
28. November 2009 at 3:36 pm
Owen (Mayor), Wyatt (At-Large), and Jimerson (At-Large) are all up for re-election in 2010. Jimerson has already said that he would not be seeking another term. (I am sure that could change, but for now we’ll just say he isn’t coming back.) This opens up a fresh seat and likely it will be a highly sought after one. I am sure Owen already has someone picked out for the position and it is likely someone the community has seen before – perhaps a former District Council Person or someone from the community where Owen receives most of his votes from… you know, a golfing buddy.
Owen and Wyatt will fight tooth and nail to stay in. Owen likes the position of authority too much to let it go. His own ego, I think would implode if he couldn’t be the Mayor. Plus, what would he do? Go back to being a full-time Wells Fargo VP? Yeah, that would be fun for him. Wyatts ego isn’t far off from Owens.
I personally have been in contact with a few folks that are toying with the idea of running. One or two of them wouldn’t be a bad choice, but they are no-namers – people who the community is unfamiliar with. The thing with the ‘At-Large’ positions is that they really need to be for the entire community, not just someone running out of spite. We have seen that before and it doesn’t work. It isn’t believable, the potential candidates are out to fix one or more things (typically whatever the City wronged them on), and change for the sake of change isn’t appropriate. Anyone could accomplish that task – but will they be a good council-member or mayor and a better one that what we have… that is the question.
Six months time will tell… we shall see.
27. November 2009 at 1:15 pm
Usually the older neighborhoods get neglected by the special interesting who control the machine, those ‘high profile’ residents in QV would never stand up to the ones financing their campaigns. For them it is about accommodation and appeasement, rather than answering to the voters and taxpayers who pay for those new subdivisions. This is a pattern all over the county until the residents already living here figure this out for themselves.
27. November 2009 at 12:23 pm
Considering the mayor and other high-profile residents reside in Quail Valley, you’d think those schools wouldn’t be some of the worst-ranking in the area. We used to live in the wonderful development of First Colony, but put our home up for sale and moved because our subdivision was one of the only on the west side of FM 1092 to be zoned to the poorer-performing Quail Valley schools east of FM 1092. Although it seemed like Missouri City was trying, it wasn’t trying hard enough. The parts of Missouri City with real value are those that are part of MPCs (First Colony, Riverstone, Sienna Plantation) AND are zoned to good schools. I hope things will change for the better around QV, but we have young ones now and couldn’t sit around for years waiting for it.
27. November 2009 at 9:06 am
Mocity, you and your group will need to organize and draft some candidates for the at large races. The only way to keep the city from neglecting the rest of the neighborhoods around the town is to replace the 3 at large edc-boyz in QV that steer the taxes and bonds to their subdivision. It wouldn’t be hard to do since they can only get out about 2500 ballots (and falling). Beat that and Owen and his clan are gone. In a way it’s kinda justified because the mayor gave so much away to the same Houston developers that kept him in power and financed his recent elections so that he would protect and help finance some of their larger projects at great costs to the citizens, but what did they expect from a commercial banker? Anyway it can be done, but you will need to produce about 3000 ballots, most outside QV to establish an independent council.
25. November 2009 at 4:42 pm
Its good to see MC moving forward in a positive manner.
Good job guys.
25. November 2009 at 3:22 pm
Thanks mocty. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
25. November 2009 at 2:44 pm
Oh – and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
25. November 2009 at 2:42 pm
‘… City officials say a company could be contracted to assess the property around the first of the year, with public input hearings to be held early next year to determine residents’ opinions and ideas for the recreation center….’
Here’s a thought Frank/Scott/Owen – attend to the area’s you have abandoned that back up to home owners homes first, then you can think of revitalizing your fun-filled recreation areas. I don’t need a public hearing to know that that is the appropriate thing to do. Especially when you intend on raising my taxes and yet have caused my home value to plummet by over $25,000.
And if you are reading this (which I am sure you do)… you know who I am and I am not going away – none of us are. Don’t get your hopes up because you haven’t seen us in force lately. You and your crew had better have some really good things to say to us at the next ‘charrette’ or else there will be a fight and you will lose. Enough is enough.