Reflecting on Lighting in Cherryhurst

Example of decorative fixture quoted by Centerpoint

Thanks to all who came out to the wonderful holiday party Tuesday night at Penny Quarter and to the CCA Social Committee (especially Laura Beatty for coordinating). It was a fun event! Walking over, passing yet another burned out park light, some neighbors and I were reflecting on lighting in Cherryhurst. December is the BRIGHTEST month of the year here! Yes, we're talking about Christmas lights! While leaving our porch lights on or adding lights in the alley are in our control, the Centerpoint street lights—often blocked by foliage from our beautiful oak trees—are not in our control. Several years ago a sub-committee was formed for lighting as the CCA addressed serious security concerns in the neighborhood (pre-Constable). We continue to keep the conversation going about this in our CCA meetings as well as to look for solutions with Centerpoint and the City, including reporting burned out lights to 311. They have provided us with options to lower our light posts, but would require the entire neighborhood to be done at one time, and—shocker—we would have to pay for it. This is something we could raise money for over a period of years, perhaps asking for help from the Montrose TIRZ for our streets that fall within their borders. Lowering our street lights would provide a safer place to walk in the evening as well as an aesthetic upgrade from the generic metal pole. Similar lighting can be seen in the Heights, along Heights Boulevard and surrounding neighborhood, Southampton (along Sunset Boulevard and the surrounding neighborhood), West University, and many more Houston neighborhoods. Centerpoint and the City have agreed to replace one fixture (instead of the entire neighborhood) as an example fixture for us to see what kind of difference is made, again at our cost. If you have a street light near you that you think you or your close neighbors might want to sponsor as an example fixture, feel free to email us at info@cherryhurstcivic.org for more details. Happy Holidays!
​--Emily Covey

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