Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson stood tall with residents of Houston's historic 5th Ward community to call the Houston Independent School District to the carpet for disrespectfully seeking to enforce imminent domain laws on elderly homeowners near Dogan Elementary School. Residents recieved certified letters giving them 14 days to respond to substandard offers to purchase their properties. One homeowner says that an appraiser showed up to appraise the property with the police in tow. Johnson questioned if this type of approach would be taken if it were in a wealthy area like River Oaks.
This elderly sister was sent a letter by HISD demanding that she respond to an offer to purchase 3 properties she owns in the area in 14 days. The district has offered to purchase her home for a price tens of thousands of dollars below the county appraised value. She said that here home is filled with memories. Her son spent his last days there before he died last year.
A neighborhood resident of 65 years speaks out about HISD's plan to use Imminent Domain laws to take over 11 properties. He was born in the house across the street from where the press conference was held and believes that 5th Ward is in the beginning stages of being taken over by the rich. Fifth Ward is only minutes from downtown Houston.
No comments:
Post a Comment