That is a photo taken after Harvey, and many of our neighbors consider flooding the number one problem. Our neighborhood was built when all one could find around it were large plots of empty land. The neighborhood did not flood, but years of development without flood-mitigation measures soon changed its character from a creek running through the middle with large pecan and oak trees lining the properties all the way to where the creek was. Widening the bayou and lining it with concrete changed our neighborhood. Too often now, parts of our neighborhood look like the image on the left.
If I heard right, Houston, we have a problem. We have thousands of buildings that need to be torn down, but it seems the only pot of money available is the one we voted for to help fix the problem that plagues much of Houston: flooding. I listened to today’s council session and could only shake my head in disbelief at what I was listening to. So what the mayor is claiming is that dangerous buildings that need demolition are causing problems with the storm sewers and that debris dumped on the property is entering them; therefore, drainage funds may be used. The public works director even presented some images to support his point. Council Member Ramirez pointed out that those photos were not with the backup paperwork that they had received.
Dangerous buildings equal illegal dumping; therefore, we can use drainage funds. Somehow, the logic escapes me, but the city is out of money. Can’t the mayor waive that magic wand and make money appear, like when he quickly caved and gave the fire department all the money they wanted? Had no problem finding money for the police. I guess that magic wand quit working.
The Public Works director presented an image of a dangerous building that needed to be demolished. He indicated that it was located at Semmes and Noble. Well, I googled the address and couldn’t find the building there, since the actual address is 2023 Semmes.
That area of Houston seems to be ripe for illegal dumping. At the corner of Semmes and Noble, this property appears to invite illegal dumping. Click on the link that follows.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2VZhEKE93jmmJTVN8
The item got tagged, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it didn’t pass next week or whenever it comes up for a vote.
Some Council Members say it is okay because “Peck indicated she would support the measure because the city ultimately recoups the cost of each demolition from the owner of the blighted property.” Source: If the property is worth more than the lien, which is probably not the case, the owner would have done it themselves. If I read it correctly, the property is worth more than the $10,000 to $15,000 it would cost to demolish the building. The property has a market value of about $400,000. The property taxes seem to be up to date. I assume the address given at the council meeting is correct.
The Council meeting starts with a discussion of using Drain funds to demolish buildings.
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People agree with me that flooding is the number one problem, and it seems to be one of the main reasons they are moving out.
Below is KHOU’s take on the council meeting’s discussion of dangerous buildings. Again, I certainly agree with taking those buildings down, but the alarming part is that we have dug into a pot of money for other purposes. Houston Mayor Whitmire is breaking the bank. Then again, I stated that Whitmire would bankrupt the city.
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