Alert for Sugar Land residents (Mission, Spring: rental, high crime, mortgage)

[crbcrbrgv]

I don't think that's actually in Sugar Land proper. It seems to me that's unincorporated Fort Bend county. That will make it much harder for you to shoot this down. This area is zoned to Austin high. I'm sorry, but I think some of you are living in an alternate universe when you buy these places out in the burbs thinking nobody will ever build low income housing. This is the Houston area. It's everywhere. I understand your concern though. I remember the outrage when they zoned Milan Apartments on Bellfort to Meadows Elementary. And that's not even a low income apartment complex.

[equalityofman]

If it is zoned to good schools these kids will have a better opportunity to get a good education and pull themselves out of their situation. We should be encouraging this not trying to keep them low income for another generation. Whats wrong with people these days??

[lacyandian]

Originally Posted by equalityofman

If it is zoned to good schools these kids will have a better opportunity to get a good education and pull themselves out of their situation. We should be encouraging this not trying to keep them low income for another generation. Whats wrong with people these days??

I agree entirely!

[jfre81]

You know, what I don't get is how people insist on being miles away from any "poor" people but don't pay any mind to who's flipping their burgers or checking out their stuff at the grocery store, or for that matter who's going up and down the streets with guns and badges to protect their ignorant elitist asses while they complain about property taxes that pay those people.

Where's this at again? When's the groundbreaking? I'll help build this thing. I'll even sign a waiver saying I won't rob anyone or break into any cars.

[AK123]

I understand some of your concerns. My father was a immigrant from Europe who could not speak English when he arrived here. His dad worked as a grave digger. That was his job. My dad grew up in apartments.

Today, my parents (mom does not work) live in an upper-class area. This was 100% because of my dad's hard work to get where he is; he had zero help from the government (other than them graciously letting him in the country).

I think some of you are over-simplifying the situation. I just don't agree that some people should be given special benefits at the forced expense of others. Sorry. And you can't say it's because I'm from "old money" or because I don't know what I'm talking about. Because I do.

I understand the point made about these developments needing to be spaced out. I completely agree. I've seen what's happened to Sharpstown and Bammel (I think it's called) where clusters of these developments have happened, and the surrounding areas (and schools) have suffered.

The thing is, like another poster mentioned, this isn't really Sugar Land proper. This is actually an unincorporated area close to Mission Bend. Mission Bend already has several of these kinds of developments. There are three low-income complexes just within the 77083 zip, with about 80 vacancies. Nearby 77099 zip has three complexes, with 106 vacancies. Why build more down the street when there are all of these other vacancies?
Vacancy Clearinghouse Property Search
Seems to me the developer just wants to make a buck. He's already tried building this in other locations. It's for his profit, now at the taxpayer's expensive (the project would not be possible if not for Fort Bend County being declared a "disaster area" after hurricane Ike.) He's the one you should be attacking, not me or other concerned parents. He lives in a million-dollar home in Sweetwater, completely removed from any of this. Business as usual...


Oh, and if you guys are going to keep making simple-minded comments about this when it doesn't even directly affect you, I'm going to just take the whole post down. The intent was to inform other area residents who might be affected (as is their right, considering there's a huge notification sign with all the info on the property), not start some debate on political correctness and societal problems.

[fitzy24]

Originally Posted by equalityofman

If it is zoned to good schools these kids will have a better opportunity to get a good education and pull themselves out of their situation. We should be encouraging this not trying to keep them low income for another generation. Whats wrong with people these days??

The problem is, right now the school is considered a good school with good education but once all the low income kids attend, the school will eventually become a "ghetto" as lots of folks around here like to say.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by txstate

You have to accommodate Low income folks too. No one wants to live in the city anymore, come on Sugar Land, Richmond area, and your not shutting down this one either, please show me the negative impact because most people who stay are working, college students, new people to the area, I have friends over there.

It's not that they don't want to. It's just that they can't afford to.

[AK123]

The developer has attempted to build the Goldshire Townhomes in at least two other areas of Houston previously, and the residents of those areas have been just as upset.

www.glenshire.org/Newsletters/2007-05.pdf

No one here should be surprised or offended that Sugar Land residents would feel the exact same way.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by equalityofman

If it is zoned to good schools these kids will have a better opportunity to get a good education and pull themselves out of their situation. We should be encouraging this not trying to keep them low income for another generation. Whats wrong with people these days??

This has already been tried up on the FM 1960 area in Spring ISD. I think there was a recent thread about it.

It failed. Miserably. The once great schools are now terrible (case in point: Westfield High), the low-income kids are no better off than before, and middle class families looking for good schools have sprawled out further to places like the Woodlands and Cypress.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by lacyandian

So, the fact that me and my fiance can't find a job right now makes us criminals? We are low income, we get government benefits, for our child, he is the one that gets the benefits, so he can have food and diapers. Are we white trash? If you saw us out and about I bet you would not think so.

I understand that a lot of crime happens in low income neighborhoods, don't get me wrong, i lived close to Memphis, Tn and my fiance lived in Cincinnati for a while and we know the kind of stuff that happens.

But, the fact that it is being built in Sugar Land will most likely make it better and less likely crime based. The economy is in such bad shape right now and a lot of people that would not normally be considered low income, are right now. So you never know, it could very likely be the same people that live around there now, but can't afford their place anymore and have to go into a low income apt.

Don't judge on the amount of money somebody makes, it's just not nice.

Judgments aren't the problem here. Statistics are the problem. Unfortunately for you and your fiance, you fall into those statistics. It isn't personal--it is what it is. Low-income housing breeds crime and low property values. You may be the nicest, un-white trash people in the world, but it doesn't change the numbers.

And, apparently, doesn't change the sense of entitlement. Why can't you or your fiance get a job?