The West Lakes Partnership community development initiative was created by resident leaders to help ensure the preservation of West Lakes’ cultural heritage and the vision of a thriving community where its residents can live, work, learn and play. The operations are funded privately, through a combination of private donations, board giving, and development fees. Led by a 15 member board (10 of which are residents of the West Lakes neighborhoods), WLP’s approach is geared toward housing rehabilitation and spurring further investment in pockets of disinvestment within our neighborhoods.
Andre Smart, Past Chairman of West Lakes Partnership, has been a resident of the Clear Lake: Bunche Manor/ Hollando community for 60 years. He served as Chair for one year and on the Board of Directors for three years. On today’s blog, Andre talks about the future of West Lakes Partnership and the vision the initiative has for the future of West Lakes from his perspective.
What do you think of the Partnership's efforts to increase homeownership in the neighborhood by rehabbing vacant housing?
Rehabbing homes in the community is great and very much needed. Homeownership is the most important foundational step for preserving the history of the neighborhood.
Where do you see West Lakes in the future?
I think that in the future West Lakes will be much more diverse racially, culturally ... hopefully, this will increase business opportunities in the neighborhood. These opportunities will hopefully give us healthier food options.
What excites you most about all the development in West Lakes?
The Early Learning Center, Boys & Girls Club, and the new Pendana apartments. These developments coupled with West Lakes Partnership’s efforts to knit together the five communities is bringing new life into the neighborhood.
Andre says that the biggest achievement of West Lakes Partnership since he has been a member has been the housing rehabilitation project. The “Reclaiming the Dream” Housing Rehabilitation Program was an idea birthed under his board leadership. Also, Andre single-handedly rallied community members to purchase over 100 bicycles for children within West Lakes. Andre has been quite a force within the community.