May 8, 2023

Midtown Redevelopment Authority

410 Pierce Street, Suite 355 | Houston, Tx | 77002

Dear Mr. Odom,

Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA) owns approximately 300 vacant properties within our Super Neighborhood.  Some of these properties have been vacant for decades. One can imagine how detrimental these vacant lots can be to a neighborhood, contributing to decay and nuisance, and denying families the opportunity to live in our neighborhood. Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood urges Midtown Redevelopment Authority to perform the following actions:  

1. No additional funding earmarked for affordable housing should be spent on office space, parking garages, murals, or non-housing construction and associated infrastructure until the remaining lots have been conveyed.
2. The MRA Housing Plan should be updated, including the timeline for property conveyance and development. All lots that are approximately 5,000 sqft should be targeted for single-family houses owned by fee simple homeowners.
3. Remaining properties should either be conveyed to developers in the next 5 years or be transferred to the Houston Land Bank, Houston Land Trust, Houston Housing Authority, or qualified CDCs.
4. MRA should give due notice to the Super Neighborhood of additional property acquisitions, sales, or conveyances.
5. Properties adjacent to parks or trails, such as the Columbia Tap, should be developed in a way that orients the homes and enhances connectivity to these public spaces.
6. Properties along Emancipation Avenue should be developed in consultation with the Emancipation Economic Development Council (EEDC).

Should MRA fail to respond to our requests in a timely and satisfactory manner we are prepared to advocate with the governing authorities for conveyance to the Houston Land Bank and/or Houston Housing Authority, via their eminent domain power if necessary.

Respectfully submitted,

Ken Rodgers

President, Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood #67