18 Houston homes could become a historic district. Some residents fear they're losing control.

A community meeting about a proposed historic district in Third Ward’s Riverside Terrace on Thursday night became an unwitting illustration of the importance of involving homeowners in city planning processes — and the perils of failing to do so. The ostensible issue under discussion was the proposal to bestow historic designation on 18 homes in the neighborhood, long a bastion of ethnic diversity. The designation, supported by the majority of homeowners within the proposed district and the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission, requires City Council approval to take effect. A vote is set for June. Proponents of the historic district — including city planners — hope it will protect the neighborhood’s unique charm and cultural significance. Neighborhood opponents worry it will restrict their ability to alter or sell their homes and make routine repairs more costly. Neither side got a full hearing Thursday night. Instead, the meeting — held in a packed room at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church — turned into an outpouring of frustration from Riverside Terrace residents who fear their neighborhood is on the cusp of changing beyond recognition by forces beyond their control. Many felt the designation process had been hasty, secretive and exclusionary of longtime residents. Among them was Elizabeth Smith, who lives within the proposed historic district and said she does not support it. Smith, a longtime resident, voted against the designation — but she was in the minority when the district was redrawn to receive majority support. “An injustice,” Smith, who is Black, called the process Thursday evening. Thursday’s crowd of nearly 200 was so large the meeting was moved from a space with microphones to one without, meaning speakers had to shout to be heard among the rustle of papers and the rumble of disappointed residents. Those assembled sat in mismatched chairs and stood around the periphery for a discussion that grew so heated one resident banged on a piano to quiet the room. Some felt it was a missed opportunity. Giovanna Carroll, who lives adjacent to the proposed district, was disappointed city officials present did not explain the purpose of a historic designation or what it would entail. She wished a community meeting had been held earlier. “Give us the information and we will look at it from all sides,” said Carroll, who was born and raised in Riverside Terrace and continues to call it home. “It could be a good thing, but we have to be educated.” The historic district was first envisioned by Asif Mahmood, a homeowner with several properties within its boundaries who late last month formally applied for the designation. Mahmood and other supporters have said their goal is to safeguard the history of the neighborhood in the face of rapid gentrification close to downtown. Under city bylaws, applications for historic designations can be initiated by a small portion of owners in a given district. Once initiated, the city is required to hold a public meeting and notify property owners by mail, asking them to vote on the proposed district within 15 days. A historic district, defined in Houston as a concentration of buildings "united by historical, cultural and architectural significance," makes properties eligible for city tax benefits and limits development to a project that "fits in and enhances the character of the neighborhood," according to Preservation Houston. For exterior alterations, new construction, relocations or demolitions, homeowners within a historic district are required to obtain a "certificate of appropriateness" from the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. If two-thirds of homeowners vote in support, the district can be established with City Council approval. City laws allow homeowners to refigure the district until they achieve a "supermajority" in which 67% owners are in favor. In Riverside Terrace, the city narrowed the boundaries of the proposed district from 51 to 18 lots, where a supermajority prevailed. The term "gerrymandering" was a common refrain Thursday night, as were accusations of inadequate notice. Many objections hinged on the lack of transparency, as residents sought to understand how the process had progressed so far without their knowledge or support. Sharon Evans Brooks, of the Riverside Civic Association, stressed that many homeowners in the district and its environs were not properly notified — an oversight she and others believe should have negated the process. Brooks called it “unsettling” that some homeowners within the proposed district could face financial burdens they cannot afford as a result of a process they did not participate in. City officials have said residents were given ample warning. Roman McAllen, a historic preservation officer, said Thursday the city “followed the letter of the law” in notifying residents. Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who represents the neighborhood, said she hoped another educational meeting could be held in June before City Council votes on the designation. Without a “fair and transparent process,” the council member said she would not be inclined to vote in favor of the district. The final decision must “respect the spirit of the community,” Evans-Shabazz said, and will be based on fact, “not misinformation.” nora.mishanec@chron.com

18 Houston homes could become a historic district. Some residents fear they're losing control.

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