1996-06-10 Public Hearing Regular Meeting

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e e Minutes Public Hearing and Regular Meeting La Porte City Council June 10, 1996, Page 5 the mini-warehouses, and I moved in June of 1969. The man that constructed these homes over there was thinking of building more houses in that same area. One day I looked out of the window, and there was some construction going on and that was for those mini-warehouse. I was under the impression this was construction for more homes. When I found out it was mini-warehouses I went to the City Hall, and I asked to speak to someone who was in charge and had the knowledge why these mini-warehouses were being built. None of us in that area had been informed of it. The man said there were letters sent, and you should have gotten one." Mr. Vann reported to Council that he asked other residents in his area about the letters, and they had not receive any letters. Mr. Vann indicated he is one that uses the mini- warehouses, but he stated, "If I had known and the truth had been exposed at the time before they were built, and we had been recognized we would probably be up here right now protesting it. We need the property for homes. " Councilperson Gay stated that some here tonight felt that he would speak for them. Mr. Gay said, "I have been around the area and talked to them, and 1 feel that what I am saying is for the constituents of the area and myself. They are in opposition." Mr. Gay brought attention to those in the audience tonight and said if they were not opposed they would not be here tonight. Mr. Gay indicated that Mr. Lewis wants to speak tonight. Mr. Johnny Lewis, 318 North 5th Street, La Porte, Texas, spoke stating, "I was born and raised in La Porte, and I am presently living with my mother in La Porte. 1 heard one gentleman say there is not much you can do with eight lots, but if you look at the houses on the Northside you will see that you can get a lot of families in a small space. Eight lots eventually could end up into five homes with seven people in each one of them, and each one of them working and paying taxes. So, it doesn't matter whether it is two lots or eight lots. It determines the future of the Northside and whether there will be future home owners on the Northside. If it is a long range plan to build homes then purchase this land, build a home, and give someone a decent place to live." Mr. Lewis indicated some people who have lived in La Porte and graduated from La Porte have to live in others towns because the apartment rental is cheaper. Mr. Lewis said, "If we had low-income housing in La Porte people wouldn't have to move from La Porte, and it doesn't take a lot of space to do something good in La Porte. We have to preserve the Northside even if it is one foot." Mr. Lewis told Council all of the pictures they saw looked real pretty and were of facilities in Houston. He remarked, "That project would look good in Houston. " Ms. Rachel Carter, 710 South 4th Street, La Porte, Texas, spoke stating she grew up on the Northside. Ms. Carter said, "My concern is the survival of the Northside, also. 1 see all over the community, on the Northside, the older generation is being closed in, in too many areas. 1 look up on 8th Street where 1 grew up and see where Mr. Heron's home used to be. 1 see the new people have tractors in that area next to that nice home." Ms. Carter cited other areas where elderly residents live and are being closed in by the mini-warehouses. Ms. Carter said, "I am in agreement with Brother Lewis about getting decent housing here for the black people in La Porte. There is a lot of black young couples here that would love to have a decent home to live in but nobody ever considered that. You just take the Northside and continue to close it in with warehouses and those things that come from Sealand. It doesn't make any sense. As Mr. Lewis said we all are not bad, there is a lot of us that work, we are honest, want to have decent places to live, but nobody considered that." Ms. Carter indicated those who grew up on the Northside of Town would love to have somewhere to live there, but there were no home developers wanting to build. Ms. Carter said, "I would have loved to have bought something on the Northside, but there was nothing for me to buy. 1 did not have the money to go out and start from scratch and built my own, so 1 had to find something that was in the bounds of reason I could afford that was already built. 1 would like to see the Northside redeveloped for residents wherever it is possible." Ms. Carter indicated she has a young