Flooding problems arose for Fleetwood during and after the storm of July 6th, 2023.  Residents measured rainfall varying from 1.76″ to 4″ during the short period of approximately an hour.  The photo galleries and videos below indicate the problems that have arisen resulting from the construction of the Hwy.6 at Memorial development by the Allied-Orion developers.

Prior to the development, drainage ditches were in place on both sides of Addicks-Howell (“Addicks”), south of Memorial.  There is no longer a drainage ditch on the West side, as a result of Allied Orion’s permitted construction plan.  Currently, the situation is further aggravated by the materials stored on the eastern edge of the site, creating yet another barrier. The water which collects in the drainage ditch (see first photo below) along Memorial between Starbucks and Addicks previously flowed mainly down the west side ditch of Addicks AND on to the open land.

That water from Memorial now directs itself to the east side drainage ditch and into Fleetwood.  

The only rainwater held in the detention pond is that falling directly into the pond, and presumably some of the rain falling on the now-concreted site.  None of the flow from Memorial is being collected by the previously open ground prior to the development. In addition (see photos below) runoff from the site is collecting in the area south of Allied Orion’s detention pond, further adding to the load on the Addicks culvert.

The Project Manager at Allied Orion scan be quoted as saying the additional flow to the eastern ditch, “is not my problem”. It surely then is TXDOT’s problem, as the additional water flow created by the additional concrete cover is not being handled by the exit culvert underneath Addicks at the south end.  Once the water does exit the area restricted by the culvert, it flows quickly to Buffalo Bayou (see video below).

Inadequate Planning and Permitting by both the City of Houston and TXDOT, together with the design created by Allied Orion permitted by both authorities, are combining to create a significant threat to Fleetwood in the next major storm.

• Allied Orion and City of Houston Public Works – We need a drainage ditch on the west side of Addick-Howell adjacent to the new development
• TXDOT – We need a larger culvert under the south end of Addicks-Howell

We strongly request:

• Allied Orion – Ricardo Rivas, Principal;
• Allied Orion – Gabe Lerner
• Allied Orion – Lonnie Houston – Project Manager
• TXDOT Houston District Engineer Eliza Paul;
• City of Houston Permitting Center – Ahmed Ghaly, Managing Engineer
• Our District G Council Member Mary Nan Huffman work to get Public Works involved;
• State Senator Joan Huffman and Representative Mano DeAyala work to get TXDOT involved and take this Minor Budget matter seriously.

We urge all of the above to come together to resolve this situation on behalf of the Fleetwood community, before another extended storm devastates a community still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.