Meetings, surveys begin for 7 Houston historic districts

The City of Houston Planning and Development Department has scheduled public meetings for five of the seven city historic districts being considered for repeal. The owners of at least 10 percent of the tracts in each of these districts signed petitions to begin the process that could result in the loss of all preservation protections for every homeowner in each of the affected districts.

GHPA received notice on Friday (December 3) that the meeting for property owners in the Avondale West and Boulevard Oaks historic districts will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, December 7, at Montrose Counseling Center, 401 Branard Street.

The meeting for property owners in the Heights East, West and South historic districts will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 8, at Reagan High School, 413 East 13th Street.

The meetings for property owners in the First Montrose Commons and Norhill historic districts have not been scheduled.

It is very important for property owners in each of the affected historic districts to watch their mail in the next several days. The City of Houston will be sending property owners letters regarding their districts’ repeal surveys. Property owners who complete and return the letters will be voting to dissolve their historic districts and remove all preservation protections for themselves and their neighbors.

If you live in one of the affected historic districts, please do not complete and return these letters. If you know property owners in the affected districts, please forward this information to them.

For more information, contact the City of Houston Planning & Development Department at (713) 837-7701 or historicpreservation@houstontx.gov.

Photo: Heights East Historic District (photo by David Bush)