A 4.25-acre land deal brewing in the central part of Houston would decrease land values, create flooding problems and be a bad deal for taxpayers, a nearby landowner charged during a Houston City Council meeting on Monday.
Darrell Vandivort, a retired city supervisor, said the Forbes property land deal isn’t the proper place for an assisted living facility, if that is the intended use. The city owns the property.
The Houston Planning and Zoning Commission said it met earlier, but didn’t have enough information to offer any opinion. Its chair, Steve Hutcheson, vowed to find suitable land for such a development during a public comments portion of a council meeting on Aug. 6.
Vandivort said based on the prices being discussed in the community, several would be interested in constructing good housing there. Vandivort said the council needed to get an appraisal of the property, which was purchased in 2013.
“If the city is that hard up for money, they need to close the doors if they have to sell it for that price — if that is the case,” Vandivort said.
“We need to take care of the city’s business in the proper way,” Vandivort said, saying some on the council are friends with the buyer.
Councilman Jeremy St. John asked what price he had heard? $60,000 and later $50,000, Vandivort said. St. John said the property discussions had been in a closed session. “Am I wrong?” Vandivort asked. There was no verification from the council.
“I don’t think anyone here would want that type of housing at their front door,” Vandivort said.
The city said earlier the transaction was in a title search and survey stage.