- Home
- Editorial and Opinion
- Publisher's News Analysis: Trading History for Dollars in Freedmen’s Town
Publisher's News Analysis: Trading History for Dollars in Freedmen’s Town
- By Roy Douglas Malonson
- Published 09/21/2009
- Editorial and Opinion
- Unrated
Roy Douglas Malonson
Roy D. Malonson is publisher of the African-American News&Issues.
View all articles by Roy Douglas Malonson
Right across from a graveyard in Fourth Ward, Texas, affectionately called Freedmen’s Town, is a symbol of what is happening in that historical section of town. A row of three-story townhouses sit in the shadows, all with “for sale” signs in front of them as they wait for affluent buyers who are willing to plunk down $300,000 plus to live on the fringe of downtown Houston. Perhaps that’s a great deal for those who work in the downtown area or for those yuppies or buppies who want to experience the night life.
Developers all around this city struck gold when they were able to chase the majority of the low-income renters out of the area by throwing big dollars at the owners of the properties. They then were able to sell the redeveloped properties several times over—Standard Operating Procedure for cities all over America. No one wants to live in the ghetto (or to be politically correct, inner-city), until the poor people who live there can be effectively eradicated.
And for the most part, no one cares what happens to the ones who were kicked out, with the exception of a few brave souls like Elmo Johnson, the pastor of Rose of Sharon Baptist Church. Johnson, who does not oversee a mega-church, which in itself is a small miracle, and his small congregation have been purchasing and renovating blocks of their Fourth Ward neighborhood. It started in 1995 when they bought 18 houses which were being used for prostitution and as drug havens.
After rehabing them, Johnson rented them out to the elderly and disabled for $150.00 per month. Meanwhile, one block over, they built 30 homes with an eye towards making them affordable for those who wanted to experience the essence of the historic area. The city even kicked in with down-payment assistance for the new Fourth Warders, most of whom never dreamed of living in Freedmen’s Town.
Meanwhile, the Houston Independent School Disrict (HISD), using eminent domain, was able to grab some of the homes and properties in order to build the new Gregory-Lincoln Educational Center, 1101 Taft St. and the High School for Performance and Visual Arts HSPVA. A grave site dispute delayed the project, although the new Gregory-Lincoln Educational Center was finally constructed. However, HSPVA is yet to be to be built. According to Catherine Roberts of the Rutherford BH Yates Museum, “Originally, the dedicated educators at HSPVA were delighted with the location’s proximity to the Downtown Theater District and to the new African-American Library, the RBHYates Museum Houses, and the seven remaining historic churches. All of these historic resources would enhance the learning experiences of all of the students.” The vision included HSPVA students mentoring the elementary and middle school students, and the students would benefit from attending and giving concerts in the churches, volunteering at the Museum houses and the African American Library. The new African-American Library in the restored Gregory School building will benefit from the hundreds of students who will use the archives, volunteer in the library, assist with exhibit developement, and attend most of the programs.
Sounds like a good plan, especially since HISD already owns the land. But it’s not happening. Despite promises that go all the way back to former Superintendent Rod Paige in 1997, and a bond referendum which provided the needed funds, HISD’s Board of Trustees recently said “no.” There is a plan (which makes one go hmmm) on the table by the private sector to provide a site and funds in the Theater District.
For years Antioch Baptist Church, sandwiched between 1, 2 and 3 Allen Center has fought off history-be-damn developers, who throw offers worth tens of millions at the parishioners, and they are chopping at the bit to get their hand on this prime piece of property. Roberts continued, “developers must be salivating over that piece of land, but they should not have the right to purchase it. It was ‘taken for educational purposes,’ not to put (in) more high density, historically inappropriate, tin-box housing, clubs, or high rise condos.”
Developers all around this city struck gold when they were able to chase the majority of the low-income renters out of the area by throwing big dollars at the owners of the properties. They then were able to sell the redeveloped properties several times over—Standard Operating Procedure for cities all over America. No one wants to live in the ghetto (or to be politically correct, inner-city), until the poor people who live there can be effectively eradicated.
And for the most part, no one cares what happens to the ones who were kicked out, with the exception of a few brave souls like Elmo Johnson, the pastor of Rose of Sharon Baptist Church. Johnson, who does not oversee a mega-church, which in itself is a small miracle, and his small congregation have been purchasing and renovating blocks of their Fourth Ward neighborhood. It started in 1995 when they bought 18 houses which were being used for prostitution and as drug havens.
After rehabing them, Johnson rented them out to the elderly and disabled for $150.00 per month. Meanwhile, one block over, they built 30 homes with an eye towards making them affordable for those who wanted to experience the essence of the historic area. The city even kicked in with down-payment assistance for the new Fourth Warders, most of whom never dreamed of living in Freedmen’s Town.
Meanwhile, the Houston Independent School Disrict (HISD), using eminent domain, was able to grab some of the homes and properties in order to build the new Gregory-Lincoln Educational Center, 1101 Taft St. and the High School for Performance and Visual Arts HSPVA. A grave site dispute delayed the project, although the new Gregory-Lincoln Educational Center was finally constructed. However, HSPVA is yet to be to be built. According to Catherine Roberts of the Rutherford BH Yates Museum, “Originally, the dedicated educators at HSPVA were delighted with the location’s proximity to the Downtown Theater District and to the new African-American Library, the RBHYates Museum Houses, and the seven remaining historic churches. All of these historic resources would enhance the learning experiences of all of the students.” The vision included HSPVA students mentoring the elementary and middle school students, and the students would benefit from attending and giving concerts in the churches, volunteering at the Museum houses and the African American Library. The new African-American Library in the restored Gregory School building will benefit from the hundreds of students who will use the archives, volunteer in the library, assist with exhibit developement, and attend most of the programs.
Sounds like a good plan, especially since HISD already owns the land. But it’s not happening. Despite promises that go all the way back to former Superintendent Rod Paige in 1997, and a bond referendum which provided the needed funds, HISD’s Board of Trustees recently said “no.” There is a plan (which makes one go hmmm) on the table by the private sector to provide a site and funds in the Theater District.
For years Antioch Baptist Church, sandwiched between 1, 2 and 3 Allen Center has fought off history-be-damn developers, who throw offers worth tens of millions at the parishioners, and they are chopping at the bit to get their hand on this prime piece of property. Roberts continued, “developers must be salivating over that piece of land, but they should not have the right to purchase it. It was ‘taken for educational purposes,’ not to put (in) more high density, historically inappropriate, tin-box housing, clubs, or high rise condos.”