Neighbors near a 4.25-acre tract the City of Houston is apparently selling for multi-family housing voiced concerns about the deal Monday before the Houston City Council.
The message was clear: If the six-member council authorizes the sale at the agreed upon price of $60,000, the city or the proposed buyer should ensure issues with traffic, sidewalks, streets and water runoff be addressed on the property commonly referred to as the “Forbes property.” If subdivided, the property and any plat would require approval of the Houston Planning and Zoning Commission before moving onto the council. At least one property owner has sought legal counsel on the matter.
The city council in 2013, under mostly different leadership, bought the property that is bounded by Hawthorn, King and Chestnut streets for $80,000 and spent another $25,000 to demolish two homes. Mayor Don Tottingham termed the latest transaction “a done deal,” but city attorney Brad Eidson said there was no contract. A “for sale” sign is still visible on the tract.
Ward I Councilman Kevin Stilley told those assembled that the council was making the best decision possible for the city, which would bring electrical sales, construction jobs and local purchases of building materials.
Jeremy St. John, Ward II alderman, said during his campaign constituents said more places for housing were needed and perhaps too much was originally paid for the property.
Controversy surfaced after the proposed buyer, Scott Lauderdale, had discussed assisted living for the property and later those talks have turned to multi-family housing, neighbors said. The planning and zoning group said it didn’t have enough information to make a decision, and in early August, the chairman and former mayor, Steve Hutcheson, said growth should be sought but in an area conducive to its use and pledged to help with that effort.
Neighbors have attended council meetings over several weeks, but Monday’s meeting brought the first public confirmation that the land deal was underway. City Administrator Tona Bowen said a land survey was completed Friday and a new deed between the Forbes family and the city was recorded after earlier work was incorrect. The city paid the cost.
A neighbor on Bryan Street, Dr. Tom Dunn, presented the six-member council with photographs of flooding from an April 2017 storm. He said without the city or developer tackling a solution with an engineering firm or hydrologist, his house will flood. He said he wasn’t trying to kill the deal but encouraged the council to seek solutions to problems with the water issues. He called on the city to support well-constructed, moderately spaced housing and address traffic issues. Without a detailed plan, Dunn predicted, “I will lose my house.” Dunn’s wife, Dee Dee, also spoke about the loss the city is taking on the property and the funneling of additional water on her property.
Another nearby resident, Betty Tarrants, said the project was concerning because flooding would escalate, it would create additional traffic issues in an area frequented by students from the nearby Houston Elementary School and duplexes would not match the character of the neighborhood, where she has lived for about 15 years. “It is a concern,” she said.
Stilley said problems would have occurred whether the school district purchased it or single-family housing was proposed for the property.
Another longtime retired city official, Gene Gentry, who served as the chair of the planning and zoning commission and a dozen years on the council, expressed the concerns of his former colleague, Hutcheson. He said he was surprised the property hadn’t gone through a public bidding process with an appraisal, was sold too cheap and said multi-family use in the area should not be allowed. “I’m asking that the city not allow multi-family housing in that area. I think it is wrong,” he said.
All the comments came during a period where anyone can sign a card and speak before the council. The matter wasn’t an agenda item. Another planning and zoning commissioner, Angie Gettys, and nearby property owner, also had questions. She ticked off a list of inquiries — from confirmation of the sale, the sale price and whether there was a contract in place, as well as planned parking.
“We sat here to make a decision that we felt was the best for the city. And maybe we should have had a public forum, but we felt like when we voted on that night…we were doing something good for the city,” Stilley said.