Mary Nan Huffman

DRAINAGE PROBLEM AT “SIX AT MEMORIAL”

email to James Rains, Chief of Staff to Mary Nan Huffman, District G Concil Member:

Monday, August 7th, 2023

To: James C. Rains, MPA – Chief of Staff – Office of Council Member Mary Nan Huffman – Houston City Council, District G

Hello James, Could you provide an update on progress on the Addicks-Howell drainage system between your office, COH and TXDOT. Thank You,

Read On….

DANGEROUS INTERSECTION PLANNING

August 3rd, 2022

Mary Nan,

I presume from your email that you have seen this petition content, but to avoid errors and omissions, below is the full text which will eventually come to you with signatories:

“The undersigned residents of Fleetwood, Memorial Thicket, Barkers Landing, Briar Hills, Marywood and Thornwood sub-divisions in West Houston are extremely concerned that THREE high-density housing units (“Memorial at Six” in the 800 Block of Addicks-Howell, “Caroline at Memorial” on the former Kickerillo property; and the Westlake 4 conversion to apartments) are being or have been permitted for construction, all of which will add to our already strained infrastructure:

Read On….

Newsletter from Mary Nan – August 12th, 2022
I wanted to take a moment to apprise you of a situation of particular concern to our neighbors on the west side of District G. While the immediate concern is theirs, this issue is one that affects our whole district – and our whole city.It was brought to my attention that there are two large developments slated for construction in a portion of our district that was hit particularly hard by Hurricane Harvey. These developments, at 15635 Memorial Drive and at 816-850 Addicks-Howell Road, are less than a mile from one another on lots that are currently vacant. Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods are understandably concerned about how these projects will affect traffic, infrastructure, and particularly drainage in the area.The two proposed developments will be known as Memorial at Six (816-850 Addicks-Howell) and Caroline at Memorial (15635 Memorial). Both will be large developments which could add substantial impermeable surface and traffic congestion to an area already distressed by an abundance of both.

Neither of these developments are applying for the competitive (9%) or non-competitive (4%) Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) low-income tax credits which normally come before council – so I was not alerted in advance to these projects. Thankfully, several vigilant residents quickly brought this issue to my attention.
As a nearby resident whose home suffered substantial flooding, I absolutely share these concerns. This is personal for me and for the past few weeks it has been the top priority of my office.
Photo source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
When I began to examine these developments more closely, I discovered that they are being guided by the Houston Housing Authority (HHA). The Houston Housing Authority, despite its name, is not a city department and is not accountable to City Council. Appointments to its Board of Commissioners are made by the mayor and are not presented to City Council for confirmation, as is the case for most other boards and commissions. This exclusive power to make appointments to a municipal housing authority is given to the mayor by Sec. 392.031(a) of the Texas Local Government Code which states: “… The presiding officer of the governing body of a municipality shall appoint five, seven, nine, or 11 persons to serve as commissioners of the authority.” Similarly, Sec. 392.041(a) also gives the mayor the authority to remove a commissioner.

The Houston Housing Authority’s website states their mission is “[t]o improve lives by providing quality, affordable housing options and promoting education and economic self-sufficiency.” This is a laudable goal and something that few reasonable people would ever oppose. Housing authorities just like the HHA have been established across the country to connect residents and developers with federal resources to increase the supply of affordable housing across the country. Despite their intentions, I have concerns about the administration of this agency that I want to share with you.

Both projects are being assisted by an entity created and controlled by the Houston Housing Authority known as Lakeside Place, PFC. The commissioners of the Houston Housing Authority also serve as board of directors to this PFC – a Public Facility Corporation. The agreement between these developments and Lakeside Place, PFC will provide both with an exemption from sales and property tax. Yes, you read that correctly. Neither development will be financially contributing to the infrastructure improvements which will be eventually needed as a result of the increased strain they will cause.