Turner withdraws plan for Riverside Terrace historic district, citing lack of neighborhood support

The city on Wednesday withdrew a contentious proposal to create a historic district in Riverside Terrace in Houston’s Third Ward. The proposal would have bestowed historic designation on 18 homes on two blocks in the neighborhood, long a bastion of Black life and ethnic diversity. While a vote had been planned for next week, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday his administration is “not moving forward on this matter,” citing a lack of support from neighborhood residents. Wednesday’s hearing, intended to allow council members to vet the proposal, was rendered moot but that did not stop 29 residents who stepped to the microphone to denounce the scuttled historic district or praise community efforts to rebuff it. On HoustonChronicle.com: Historic district fight roils Riverside Terrace The proposed district aroused fierce opposition from residents — many of them Black, with deep roots in Riverside Terrace — who criticized it as “a tool of gentrification,” “a land grab” and a “usurping of power.” Those who live within the proposed 18-home district had more practical concerns, namely that it would restrict their ability to alter or sell their homes and make routine repairs more costly. Turner encouraged residents to implement deed restrictions and other methods to prevent gentrification from changing the soul of the neighborhood, which many affluent Black families have called home since the 1960s and 1970s. We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. On HoustonChronicle.com: What to know about the proposed Riverside Terrace historic district “It is important for people in Third Ward to preserve the character, personality and integrity of their neighborhood,” Turner said. “We have to preserve as much as possible its identity.” The district was proposed last year by Asif Mahmood, a resident who moved into the neighborhood in 2018, and has converted several properties into rental units. Mahmood, who became embroiled in a bitter fight over the district he championed, was not present for Wednesday’s hearing and declined to speak to the Chronicle on the matter. Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who represents the neighborhood, was “glad for the outcome,” but acknowledged the months-long debate had fractured relationships and divided homeowners. Evans-Shabazz said she supported the preservation effort in theory but not in practice. “I respect what the applicants were trying to do, but I think it became too ambitious,” she said. - DOJ investigating city of Houston for alleged discrimination in response to illegal dumping 311 calls - Are indicted Hidalgo aides vital to county operations? District judge wants to know about their roles - When will the Texas heat wave end? Houston meteorologist Matt Lanza on what to know - What is monkeypox and how is it spread? Things to know about the arrival of the disease in Houston. - Feds want to build a massive wind farm larger than the City of San Antonio off the coast of Galveston The demographics of the Third Ward undoubtedly are shifting, Evans-Shabazz said. The large size of the original historic district proposal, which included 51 homes, added to the perception the measure was “a tool for gentrification” that would hasten the departure of African American families, she said. “Inflated property values and taxes are already a challenge,” the council member said. “There could be fees and fines affixed to a historic district that would further put people in a position where they can’t maintain their properties. That was a concern to me.” The proposed district under council review was whittled to 18 homes after a February vote, in which too few homeowners approved the designation. City officials said a majority of homeowners in that 18-home area supported the district, as is required by city bylaws for protections to take effect. Melanie Miles, an attorney for the Riverside Civic Association, however, disputed the city’s tally. The civic association alleged one vote was cast by a homeowner who died several months prior, while another rescinded his support after learning more about historic district restrictions. Miles cheered the withdrawal Wednesday, which she said came “in the face of blatant violations” on the part of the city. The attorney estimated she spent 40 hours combing through city records to “hold the city accountable” for following its own procedures. “We had to fight to be heard,” said Miles, who owns a home in Riverside Terrace. “We had to make a heck of a lot of noise for them to hear us.” Some homeowners who spoke in favor of the district at Wednesday’s hearing said the debate had inflated the risks and costs of historic preservation while downplaying its ability to protect the area’s architectural and cultural significance. Most, however, simply wanted to pay tribute to a way of life they say is fast disappearing. “Third Ward is not just a bunch of buildings,” said Addison Aitch, whose family has lived in the area since 1966. “It’s about football players from Yates after practice going to Wingstop. It’s about leaving Wheeler Avenue on a Sunday and getting the special at Frenchy’s. We are people. We are not buildings.” nora.mishanec@chron.com

Turner withdraws plan for Riverside Terrace historic district, citing lack of neighborhood support

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