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One point made by a user on another forum is that he wanted the community to give the residents of the Third Ward the opportunity to become homeowners.
There are charitable projects like Corinthian Pointe, where houses were sold at below market values to low income individuals. Perhaps more such projects in the empty parcels of land in the Madison HS zone, the Worthing HS zone, the Sterling HS zone, and/or the North Forest ISD zone (soon to become HISD territory) could help residents of the northern Third Ward.
One point made by a user on another forum is that he wanted the community to give the residents of the Third Ward the opportunity to become homeowners.
There are charitable projects like Corinthian Pointe, where houses were sold at below market values to low income individuals. Perhaps more such projects in the empty parcels of land in the Madison HS zone, the Worthing HS zone, the Sterling HS zone, and/or the North Forest ISD zone (soon to become HISD territory) could help residents of the northern Third Ward.
Problem is, same with the 4th ward, is that the residents often dont have a stable income to afford purchasing their home, let alone the property tax. Many are on some type of government assistance, and there is little left to go around. This leads to lack of repair on said home. Leading to run down neighborhoods.
Hiram Clarke has a Fiesta at the Power Center. North Forest has several small business grocery stores (I forget the names, but it has two). Unfortunately Sunnyside does not yet have a full fledged grocery store.
It's a matter of having more land, which allows for more spacious homes and the construction of facilities geared towards children. Also major corporate commercial interests are not nearby, so there is no demand for the land from them - it's suited for building bedroom communities. The land is cheaper, so it's easier to build houses and/or multifamily complexes there. One could get more "bang" for his or her buck.
For Pearland - I understand that the city is zoned. Is there capacity in Pearland's apartment complexes to house people from the northern Third Ward?
On what grounds would TSU claim first right to the property? Does it own the land? Is there a state law which would force HHA to sell it to TSU?
Quote:
Originally Posted by hbcu
why ship them there? Are there more grocery stores, resources available they don't have now?
All they will do is go right down the street to Pearland which creates more white flight...
Cuney Homes isn't going anywhere....TSU would get first right if that happened
I wonder if anybody's done a report on Corinthian Pointe to see how well it's aged. It would be a way of seeing whether neglect has happened...
For residents who don't have enough to get a home even at below market rates, a new apartment complex and/or getting a unit at new public housing could help.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oildog
Problem is, same with the 4th ward, is that the residents often dont have a stable income to afford purchasing their home, let alone the property tax. Many are on some type of government assistance, and there is little left to go around. This leads to lack of repair on said home. Leading to run down neighborhoods.
but why put them in areas where the cycle isn't working? Why not put a nicer apartment complex / homes in 4th ward, 3rd ward, etc. to promote ownership and diversity...you mentioned all the grocery stores on 1 hand when Montrose is getting 7 or so in a 3 mile radius....
TSU has eyed land by the school for years but getting the Cuney Homes or that YMCA to move involves plenty of red tape...
Firstly, which "cycle" are you referring to? The word doesn't appear in any of the previous postings.
Secondly, the new Third Ward could have a limited number of low income housing (maybe some of the preserved shotgun shacks, or a mixed income apartment complex or two). The Fourth Ward seems to have some remaining (not just through Allen Parkway village, but also through some of the preserved shotgun shacks). One could also see if he/she could redevelop some areas south of the Brays Bayou, in the Cullen Middle School zone if there are pockets of vacant land left. Priority should be given to people who work in Downtown Houston and other areas in the central city.
But there is an abundance of vacant land in the North Forest, Hiram Clarke, and Sunnyside areas., and for most people in absentee housing (especially if they do not work in Downtown or central Houston), they should be encouraged to move to those neighborhoods.
Thirdly, many the grocery stores in the Montrose area are out of the price range for a low income resident. There is a Kroger in Montrose, but the other ones (Whole Foods, future Trader Joe's) are very expensive. Grocery stores that would do a better job catering to lower income residents include Fiesta, El Ahorro, Foodarama, Sellers Bros., etc. as goods are generally less expensive. I do believe that in addition to existing chains and stores, when the population increases, one should encourage more discount grocery stores. Kroger did have a shop in Gulfton, but they closed the store.
Anyway, here are the addresses of existing stores in the areas.
Hiram Clarke:
* Fiesta Mart, store #22 - 12355 Main (Power Center area)
North Forest:
* Big City Supermarket, 11330 Homestead Rd
* Super Value Foods, 9550 Homestead
Sunnyside area:
* Fiesta Mart, store #51, 9420 Cullen
Minnetex area:
* None known yet
While this is not a grocery store, there's also:
Almeda, TX area:
* Pyburns Farm Fresh Foods - 13824 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77053
Comments on Yelp say that they sell vegetables and meat (such as boudin)
Many of the areas have fewer grocery stores since the population density is still fairly low. Parts of the Sunnyside area and North Forest feel like rural areas. If/when more people come, I would imagine more grocery stores catering to low income families will open.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hbcu
but why put them in areas where the cycle isn't working? Why not put a nicer apartment complex / homes in 4th ward, 3rd ward, etc. to promote ownership and diversity...you mentioned all the grocery stores on 1 hand when Montrose is getting 7 or so in a 3 mile radius....
TSU has eyed land by the school for years but getting the Cuney Homes or that YMCA to move involves plenty of red tape...
The north part of 3rd ward is already long gone. Most of Midtown was the north part of the original 3rd ward.
most of what you consider 3rd ward was not 3rd ward at all.
Thirdward Northern Boundary was close to Pierce, the Southern Boundary was near Alabama, The western boundary was passed 28 near main street and the eastern boundary was near Cullen. The area on the South west of TSU is Washinghton Terrace, the are south of that is Riverside Terrace, the Area imediately south of UH is University Terrace and the area south of Brays is called Riverside.
as you see here, 3rd ward was very near what is now Downtown:
By "Third Ward" I didn't mean the old, former 3rd ward but the modern day Third Ward (as in what is called the Third Ward in 2011).
Quote:
Originally Posted by HtownLove
The north part of 3rd ward is already long gone. Most of Midtown was the north part of the original 3rd ward.
most of what you consider 3rd ward was not 3rd ward at all.
Thirdward Northern Boundary was close to Pierce, the Southern Boundary was near Alabama, The western boundary was passed 28 near main street and the eastern boundary was near Cullen. The area on the South west of TSU is Washinghton Terrace, the are south of that is Riverside Terrace, the Area imediately south of UH is University Terrace and the area south of Brays is called Riverside.
as you see here, 3rd ward was very near what is now Downtown:
Firstly, which "cycle" are you referring to? The word doesn't appear in any of the previous postings.
Secondly, the new Third Ward could have a limited number of low income housing (maybe some of the preserved shotgun shacks, or a mixed income apartment complex or two). The Fourth Ward seems to have some remaining (not just through Allen Parkway village, but also through some of the preserved shotgun shacks). One could also see if he/she could redevelop some areas south of the Brays Bayou, in the Cullen Middle School zone if there are pockets of vacant land left. Priority should be given to people who work in Downtown Houston and other areas in the central city.
But there is an abundance of vacant land in the North Forest, Hiram Clarke, and Sunnyside areas., and for most people in absentee housing (especially if they do not work in Downtown or central Houston), they should be encouraged to move to those neighborhoods.
Thirdly, many the grocery stores in the Montrose area are out of the price range for a low income resident. There is a Kroger in Montrose, but the other ones (Whole Foods, future Trader Joe's) are very expensive. Grocery stores that would do a better job catering to lower income residents include Fiesta, El Ahorro, Foodarama, Sellers Bros., etc. as goods are generally less expensive. I do believe that in addition to existing chains and stores, when the population increases, one should encourage more discount grocery stores. Kroger did have a shop in Gulfton, but they closed the store.
Anyway, here are the addresses of existing stores in the areas.
Hiram Clarke:
* Fiesta Mart, store #22 - 12355 Main (Power Center area)
North Forest:
* Big City Supermarket, 11330 Homestead Rd
* Super Value Foods, 9550 Homestead
Sunnyside area:
* Fiesta Mart, store #51, 9420 Cullen
Minnetex area:
* None known yet
While this is not a grocery store, there's also:
Almeda, TX area:
* Pyburns Farm Fresh Foods - 13824 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77053
Comments on Yelp say that they sell vegetables and meat (such as boudin)
Many of the areas have fewer grocery stores since the population density is still fairly low. Parts of the Sunnyside area and North Forest feel like rural areas. If/when more people come, I would imagine more grocery stores catering to low income families will open.
'
You forget 3rd Ward is home to Two universities. I don't think we need a Traders Joe or Wholes Food, but a newer and improved HEB would suffice. Not to mention more retail options. 3rd Ward is a relatively poor area, but it also is home to plenty people with money and located near the core of the city.
The area has continued to die because nothing has been done to improve the area. No jobs, recreation centers, better education centers, etc
There are much better ways of fixing the problem than simple coming in and tearing up and destroying all the history and culture.
The modern Third Ward has UH and TSU, with HCC Central in adjacent Midtown.
But I already knew that, and that gives a better impetus for redevelopment since UH wants to go residential, and putting in private residential towers would help with that. Having redevelopment means a possible nightclub scene, or Pita Pits, Pho noodle houses, H-E-Bs, etc. that cater to college students and international students.
HCBU was talking about how Montrose had "Trader Joe" and "Whole Foods" as examples of the Fourth Ward having more grocery stores than the areas I proposed (Sunnyside, Hiram Clarke, North Forest), so he says the Fourth Ward is a better location than either of the three - But the glut of stores in Montrose don't serve low income individuals. IMO it's easier moving low income individuals to Hiram Clarke, Sunnyside, and North Forest and encouraging El Ahorros, Fiestas, etc. to open there. There are already grocery stores serving those areas, which have lower population densities than central Houston.
"3rd Ward is a relatively poor area, but it also is home to plenty people with money and located near the core of the city. " - But the people with money don't live north of Truxillo (the area I proposed for redevelopment). I advocate for the preservation of the stately houses south of Truxillo. The people with money live in the south. While some places are neglected, the properties in the south are self-owned, so AFAIK they are in far better condition than the shotgun shacks to the north.
"There are much better ways of fixing the problem than simple coming in and tearing up and destroying all the history and culture." In Post #1 I stated clearly that all of the historical landmarks need to be kept. The schools, churches, etc. Also a select number of the shotgun shacks (i.e. the ones in the best condition) need to be kept, while the others should go. If the best shotgun shacks are in one area, keep those. If they are scattered, have them moved so they are in the same area. However I understand that the poor community (which is already dwindling, since Douglass Elementary closed several years ago, and is now instead a private school) will not be intact. I understand that Garnet Coleman is against having the poor community dissolve, with its members moving to the suburbs, but it's already happening, and I think it is misguided to try to salvage it. The poor communities of Hells Kitchen and the East Side of Manhattan are gone for a reason.
The problem that I am trying to fix isn't poverty per se, but inefficiencies brought on by the severe poverty and crime being in an area that, according to real estate markets, should have university-oriented businesses and housing and businesses and housing for DINKS/Yuppies. It's the same issue the business community had with the Fourth Ward. But we could try to solve poverty too by promoting home ownership (Like Corinthian Pointes II) and/or extending METRO bus routes to the outerlying areas so it is easier to reach the Ship Channel (for North Forest), or the Medical Center area (Hiram Clarke), or other major job markets for low wage and blue collar workers. Now, for people working in Downtown, the northern third ward should continue to have a limited number of low income housing (could be a mixed income complex, or a group of shotgun shacks)
As for jobs for people in the community, I don't see job opportunities for unskilled labor moving in the area. The Ship Channel area may have some unskilled job opportunity positions; North Forest ISD (due to join HISD next year) is fairly close to the ship channel.
North Forest should be joining HISD next year, so it will give people more of a reason to move into that area (right now the schools bled population, because NFISD is so poorly run)
Quote:
Originally Posted by blkgiraffe
'
You forget 3rd Ward is home to Two universities. I don't think we need a Traders Joe or Wholes Food, but a newer and improved HEB would suffice. Not to mention more retail options. 3rd Ward is a relatively poor area, but it also is home to plenty people with money and located near the core of the city.
The area has continued to die because nothing has been done to improve the area. No jobs, recreation centers, better education centers, etc
There are much better ways of fixing the problem than simple coming in and tearing up and destroying all the history and culture.
Last edited by Vicman; 10-21-2011 at 06:08 PM..
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