Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Outline with Content

"At our move-in appointment, we were told to treat this place as home. Well, this is my home. And after this plan hits the neighborhood, they won’t be ashamed of where they live. They will want their friends and family to come visit them to see how it has changed over the years."

Delores Ford, Cuney Homes Resident

PREFACE

Art mural in the Third Ward

Source: WrT

This is our opportunity to rise for our future.

The purpose of the Outline with Content is to provide an outline of the neighborhood plan document that will result from the Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Planning process. This document also includes some of the content that will be included in the final plan.

At this point in the planning process, a comprehensive survey of Cuney Homes residents has just been completed. Conversations and visioning sessions with Cuney Homes residents, planning partners, and the larger community are just getting underway to explore the findings and begin to identify priorities for the Choice neighborhood plan.

This document includes an overview of the planning team and the process, a thorough analysis of existing conditions, and a summary of recent plans that this planning process will build on.

In addition, it highlights some key findings from the Cuney Homes Resident Needs Assessment and from the recent Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, conducted by Rice University and Sankofa Research Institute in 2019, which will serve as a foundation for the plan goals and strategies.

Special thanks to the c uney Homes residents and many community members who have participated so far...

CORE TEAM

City of Houston

Cuney Homes Resident Council

Houston Housing Authority

Sankofa Research Institute

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)

PLANNING COORDINATOR

WRT, LLC

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS

Ebony Amos

David Butler

Millicent Brown

Veronica Deboest

Delores Ford

Verdell Ingram

Irenda Jefferson

Jahtera King

Krista Madzimoyo

Dazjah Smith

Laura Welch

EARLY ACTION ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

Members TBD

HOUSING TASK FORCE

CCPPI

Change Happens CDC

City of Houston HCD

Cuney Homes Resident Council

Cuney Homes Residents

Greater Third Ward Residents

The Guess Group

Harris County Community Services Department

Harris County Precinct One Commissioner

Housing Collaborative

Houston Housing Authority

Houston Community Land Trust

Houston Housing Finance Corporation

The Kinder Institute

Office of Houston City Council Member EvansShabazz

Orchard Communities

Project Row Houses

TIRZ 7/Third Ward Community Cloth

Cooperative

Trinity East/United Methodist Church

Womack Development

NEIGHBORHOOD TASK FORCE

Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Associates

Complete Communities

Cuney Homes Residents

Emancipation Park Conservancy

Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood #67

Harris County Precint 1

Houston Parks Board

HPD

Northern Third Ward Implementation Project

OST Community Partnership

Project Row Houses

Residents of Greater Third Ward

S.H.A.P.E. Community Center

Texas Southern University Earl Carl Institute

TIRZ 7

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

William A. Lawson Institute for Peace & Prosperity

PEOPLE TASK FORCE

Boynton Chapel United Methodist Church

Center for Justice Research, Texas Southern University

Community Health Worker Initiative, University of Houston

C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc.

Cuney Homes Residents

Emancipation Economic Development Council

Greater Third Ward Residents

Houston Community College

Layers DM

Project Row Houses

Row House CDC

Sankofa Research Institute

SHAPE Community Center

Third Ward Community Ambassadors

Third Ward Community Cloth

Trinity East United Methodist Church

University of Houston, College of Medicine

We Are The Ones Cooperative Incubator and Accelerator

Workshop Houston

Yates High School Alumni Association

o ur list of partners continues to grow.

Glossary of terms

Affordable Housing – Housing is considered affordable if a family pays no more than 30% of its household income on housingrelated costs.

Anchor Institutions – Anchor institutions are businesses and organizations firmly established within a neighborhood. They have regional significance and serve as economic and cultural drivers, generating jobs, creating local business opportunities, and contributing in significant ways to the development of human, social, and cultural capital.

Area Median Income (AMI) - Area Median Income is the midpoint of a region’s income distribution — half of families earn more than the median and half earn less than the median. The median household income for the City of Houston is $52,450.

CDBG – HUD’s flexible Community Development Block Grant program provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.

CN – Choice Neighborhoods. Sponsored by HUD, Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans that focus on three core goals: Housing, People, and Neighborhoods. To achieve these goals, communities must develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy or “Transformation Plan.”

CNI – Choice Neighborhoods Initiative.

Early Action Activities – Up to $150,000 of CN Planning Grant funds can be used for limited physical neighborhood improvements during the two-year planning process.

Evidence-based Practice – This term refers to the use of the best available conclusions or findings from research and studies as a basis for determining the best practices and predictions of outcomes in a field.

Extremely Low Income – Households with an income under 30% of AMI.

FQHC – Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. They must meet a stringent set of requirements, including providing care on a sliding fee scale based on the ability to pay.

FMR – Fair Market Rent is the rent amount, including utilities (except telephone), to rent privately-owned, decent, safe and sanitary rental housing of a modest (non-luxury) nature.

HCHFC - Harris County Housing Finance Agency supports affordable single-family home mortgages or interests and provides financing for multi-family housing projects for low and moderate-income owners.

HCV – Housing Choice Voucher is commonly known as a Section 8 voucher. With a HCV, the participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

Low Income – Households with income between 30% and 60% of AMI.

HUD – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (a green building and neighborhood certification program).

LIHTC – The Low Income Housing Tax Credit provides a tax incentive to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for low-income families. LIHTC subsidizes the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income tenants.

9% Credits – The 9% credit is a competitive tax credit allocation for the construction of affordable rental housing. It typically covers most of the cost of new construction. Tax credit units have set rents and prospective tenants must meet income limit requirements.

4% Credits – The 4% tax credit is not competitive, and does not cover the total cost of new construction. As a result it is typically claimed for rehabilitated affordable housing and new construction affordable units that are financed with tax-exempt bonds or other subsidies.

Market-Rate Housing – Housing units unrestricted by income.

Non-Replacement Housing – New housing proposed by the Choice Plan that is not intended to replace Cuney Homes units.

Part I Violent Crimes – Aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery are classified as Part I Violent Crimes.

Public Housing – Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Rent is 30% of income. All existing units at Cuney Homes are public housing.

PBV – Project-Based Voucher units are part of the Housing Choice Voucher program, also known as Section 8. PBVs are tied to a unit.

Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) – This HUD program allows Public Housing Agencies to convert public housing to project-based Section 8 housing.

QAP – A Qualified Allocation Plan describes the process of distributing LIHTC.

Renewable Energy/Low-Impact Design – Energy from natural resources such as sunlight and geothermal heat that is naturally replenished.

Replacement Housing – This refers to rental housing (section 8 housing and PBV housing) that will replace any Cuney Homes units that are demolished, disposed of, or reduced.

School Readiness – This refers to a set of expectations, guidelines or developmental milestones that describe what all children need to know before entering kindergarten.

TDC – Total development costs.

Tenant-Based Vouchers (TBVs) - Tenant-based vouchers are portable, increasing the ability of families to choose and lease safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental housing. The tenant pays 30% of income for rent and the voucher makes up the difference up to FMR.

TDHCA - The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is the state agency responsible for administering affordable housing, among other programs. TDHCA runs a Homeowner Assistance Fund, a home weatherization fund, the Texas Housing Trust Fund, and the Competitive (9%) Housing Tax Credit and Non-Competitive (4%) Housing Tax Credit programs for the development of affordable multifamily properties.

Section 8 Housing - Section 8 is a common name for the Housing Choice Voucher Program that allows private landlords to rent apartments and homes at fair market rates to qualified low-income tenants. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies with funds from HUD.

Transformation Plan – Communities that receive a CN Planning Grant from HUD must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy that addresses the three core goals of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (Housing, People, Neighborhood). The Transformation Plan becomes the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/ or assisted housing units while at the same time, directing transformation of the neighborhood and creating positive outcomes for families.

Workforce Housing – Rental or homeownership housing that is affordable to households earning between 60 and 120 percent of area median income.

Executive Summary

Welcome to this enduring story of community resilience as it marks a significant shift in its re-birth.

History of the Third Ward

Celebrate the rich African-American heritage and culture that defines the Third Ward.

Planning Process

Learn more about our planning partners and key milestones in the planning process.

PAGE 34

04. Building on Recent Plans

Read about the many neighborhood plans that are informing the development of our plan.

PAGE 52

Existing Conditions

Understanding current conditions in the neighborhood helps to establish a baseline for improvement.

PAGE 64

Plan

This chapter outlines a vision for Cuney Homes and increased access to safe, affordable housing with opportunities for wealth building.

Plan

The People Plan explores strategies to help residents of all ages thrive with regard to income and employment, health, and education.

This chapter shapes a vision for a safe, vibrant, and inclusive community that celebrates and preserves its rich history and culture.

Implementation

This chapter translates our vision and goals into actions with clear metrics to measure our progress.

IN THIS SECTION:

+ IT IS TIME

+ THIRD WARD: OUR HISTORY AND WHY IT MATTERS

+ THIRD WARD CHALLENGES

+ [RE-]CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHOICE

+ CREATING A COHESIVE NEIGHBORHOOD

VISION THAT HONORS THE LEGACY OF THIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Executive Summary

The time is now. To leverage existing local efforts and future investment to lay out an equitable and inclusive framework for the next 50 years of history that has yet to be written—one where all community members can afford to remain in their neighborhood of choice and benefit from economic and quality-of-life investments.

It is time

Cities across our country are changing rapidly. Growth is not even, investments are not always equitable, and communities rarely treated equally.

The City of Houston is booming. Propelled by an economy rooted in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, healthcare, transportation, and research, it is one of the largest and most diverse cities in the country.

But what about those who have lived in the city for generations? In a neighborhood with a rich AfricanAmerican heritage that has battled for decades to thrive despite overwhelming obstacles—not the least of which were redlining, Jim Crow Laws, and disinvestment.

It is time.

It is time for residents of the historic Third Ward, of Cuney Homes, of communities of color all across the country to be given hope.

We need to be able to sleep at night without the sound of gun shots. We need to be able to afford

safe housing and nutritious food so we may harness educational resources and apply our insights, knowledge, and perspectives to help solve realworld challenges and make a sustainable living. Our children need to be given a chance to live alongside others just like them, who are enriching the world with their talents.

This didn’t happen for George Floyd, who grew up at Cuney Homes with his family. His death in May 2020 ignited a national social justice movement, opening the door a little into the need for substantial change.

The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Plan aims to push that door open. Third Ward has a deep tradition of civic pride and community engagement. There are dozens of organizations working together in the community to re-write this narrative.

The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Plan strives to stitch these efforts together with the aspirations of Cuney Homes residents to nurture the seeds of re-birth that have been planted so that the generations that follow may write the narrative they want to achieve.

WE RISE FOR OUR FUTURE: CUNEY & 3RD WARD!

Source: WASHINGToN PoST

All Cuney Homes children should have the oportunity to live life to

"Our children; our future" mural in the Third Ward

Source: WrT

George Floyd mural by local artist Jonah Jackson, who grew up in the Third Ward. It was designed to bring the community together

Source: HTTPS://WWW. uTSA.eDu/ToDAY/2020/06/ STorY/rrYSK-JAcKSoNJoNAH.HTML

It is time... to stitch together recent planning efforts with the aspirations of Cuney Homes residents to nurture the seeds of re-birth that have been planted so that the generations that follow may write the narrative they want to achieve

THIRD WARD: OUR HISTORY AND WHY IT MATTERS

Former slaves in Texas learned of their freedom two and a half years following President Lincoln’s Emancipation proclamation.

In 1872, community leaders purchased 10 acres of land in order to have a place to commemorate the anniversary of their emancipation (Juneteenth). Emancipation Park became a community hub, hosting the first De-Ro-Loc No-tsu-oh carnival in 1909, a weeklong event where businesses were displayed, along with a series of agricultural and industrial exhibitions.

As freed persons, Blacks were forced to live in physical and economic isolation. The racism residents faced along with their needs for services and amenities created an economic opportunity that Blacks met with hard work and creative pooling of resources to build homes, churches, schools, and establish a variety of thriving businesses and self-sufficient communities. Between 1910 and 1930, the Black population exploded, jumping from 22,929 to 66,357 and the Third Ward became the epicenter of Black life, filled with a thriving community of skilled tradespeople, teachers, doctors, and community leaders. And for generations that followed, the Third Ward was the political, economic, and cultural center of Houston’s African-American community.

The Third Ward’s rich cultural history includes the City’s oldest black church and Texas Southern University, one of the nation’s largest historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), serving over 9,500 students. The neighborhood is also home to Houston’s first and longest-standing public housing community, Cuney Homes, built in 1939 and named after Norris Wright Cuney, a prominent African-American leader who used his resources in politics to fund schools and colleges for African Americans and opposed segregation in public schools.

From 1939, when it was built, until the early 1970s, the Eldorado Ballroom on Elgin Street across from Emancipation Park was the place to be. Owned by African-American businesswoman and philanthropist, Anna Dupree, it was a fashionable and dignified venue for dancing and blues and jazz performances featuring national legends and local talent.

At last, celebrating Juneteenth at Emancipation Park

Source: eMANcIPATIoN PArK coNSerVANcY

1960 sit-in at Weingarten's by students of Texas Southern University

Source: HouSToN cHroNIcLe

In addition to being the cultural and historical center, most of the social activism of Houston’s African-American Community can be credited to the Third Ward and a number of the prominent figures and events that took root here. Inspired by the students who organized the country’s first sit-in at a Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 4, 1960, a group of Texas Southern University students led a lunch counter sit-in at the “whites only” lunch counter that played an important role in the desegregation of Houston’s public establishments, as more sit-ins around the city followed this one held at Weingarten’s grocery store on Almeda.

The history of Houston’s Third Ward mirrors that of many other African-American communities in cities around the nation. Segregation and the enforcement of Jim Crow laws forced African Americans to live in

concentrated areas with streets and other physical boundaries demarcating the areas where they were allowed to live, work, and worship. Using the limited resources at hand they built self-sufficient communities, as they did in the Third Ward.

Like other African-American neighborhoods, promised investment touted by urban renewal efforts cleared large tracts of land for new development. Most often, this resulted in highways built right through the heart of communities just like the construction of I-45 and I-69 in the Third Ward. Between 1960 and the 1970s, the Third Ward lost significant numbers of residents due to a number of factors including traffic and the reduction of property values from the freeway and racial integration that allowed families to relocate to racially-integrated neighborhoods in the suburbs. The Third Ward eventually succumbed to the powerful forces of government-sponsored policies

of disinvestment and urban renewal that further decimated the community, resulting in a pattern of neglect and decline.

To this day, residents continue to fight for hope, for a chance to have equal opportunities to support themselves, to live life with dignity, and to thrive

THIRD WARD CHALLENGES

Today the Third Ward is experiencing very different pressures and challenges. As the City of Houston and adjacent downtown experience periods of economic growth, disparities in the Third Ward remain.

The Choice neighborhood, which encompasses most but not all of the Third Ward, had an estimated population of 13,888 and 5,686 households in 2020 with modest growth expected through 2025. Of the current residents, 81.7% are African American compared with 23.1% in the City. There is a growing Hispanic population of 13.3%. The median age is 36.6 compared to 33 years for the City. While the neighborhood has a mix of incomes, there is a high proportion of low-income households—29.4% that earn under $15,000. The median household income for the neighborhood is $28,174 compared to the City at $53,450. Over three quarters or approximately 4,274 are rental properties. The high rate of vacancy at 24.7% adds another layer of vulnerability as do rapidly increasing housing values. In 2020, the median housing value for a home in the neighborhood was $240,881 versus $195,800 for the City at large.

For residents of Cuney Homes, these challenges are compounded further. Nearly 90% of the population is African American and the median household income is $9,528. The rate of unemployment is double that of the Choice neighborhood as is the number of singleparent households.

Displacement and Gentrification Pressures

Houston added over 1.1 million residents in the last decade. With the Third Ward in such close proximity to downtown and a number of anchor institutions, the neighborhood is facing displacement pressures from more people who are attracted to living in the areas surrounding downtown. With lowered property values, the Third Ward has become attractive to developers, fueling private-sector investors who see a market for new market-rate housing.

Source: HTTPS://WWW.3WccB.coM/ WHAT-We-Do; WrT

The existing historic fabric is rapidly being replaced by new development

With increasing concerns of gentrification and displacement also comes the threat to the area's rich African-American culture

New units are being developed well beyond the price points of existing residents, fueling fears that the African-American history and culture of the Third Ward will be lost. While long-time residents would like to see investment and new services such as grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities, they would also like to be able to maintain the community character and affordability and have a place in the neighborhood’s resurgence. With over 80% of the residents being renters and 50% of the residents earning less than $10,000/year, the fear of displacement is a genuine threat for the Third Ward’s African American community and along with it, the loss of African-American culture as noted in the Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, 2019.

Along with these threats are many other pressing, inter-related issues, which have been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

y Housing inadequacy

y Physical and mental health and wellness

y Healthy food access and food insecurity

y Meaningful, self-sustaining employment

y Safety

[RE-]CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHOICE

With the help of a generous grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Houston Housing Authority and the City of Houston embarked on a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) planning process in December 2020. The process will lead to a neighborhood plan centered around the redevelopment of Cuney Homes.

The CNI launched during the Obama administration and focuses on three core goals:

Housing

Improving distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

People

Enhancing the quality of life for residents with regard to employment and income, health, and children’s education.

Neighborhood

Improving conditions through public and private reinvestment regarding safety, economic development and commercial activity, connectivity and mobility, and parks and open space.

All of these elements impact people’s decisions about where they choose to live.

Planning Process

The Choice neighborhood planning process is working to ensure that future development is inclusive and that the current residents have a place in the rebirth of Cuney Homes and Third Ward.

There is not much question that residents generally wish to stay in the neighborhood. According to our survey of Cuney Homes residents, should the site be redeveloped, 79% of residents would like to return and another 7.4% would like to live elsewhere in the Third Ward Choice neighborhood.

This planning process is also building on the local planning efforts completed in recent years.

Neighborhood residents and stakeholders involved with those plans have been invited to serve on Task Forces and participate in community meetings and special events to identify relevant goals and strategies that can be implemented through the CNI framework. These building blocks include:

y Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan (July 2018)

y Resilient Houston (May 2019)

y Emancipation Park Neighborhood – Strategies for Community-Led Regeneration in the Third Ward (June 2016)

y Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment Report (October 2019)

y Northern Third Ward Neighborhood Planning project (2017)

y Historic Third Ward Strategic Implementation Framework (2019)

1. Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan Middle School

2. Blackshear Elementary School

3. Yellowstone Academy

4. Yates High School

5 Historic Eldorado Ballroom

6. Project Row Houses

7. Trinity United Methodist Church

8. Riverside Hospital

9. S.H.A.P.E. Community Center

10. Riverside Hospital

11. Blue Triangle Community Center

12. Change Happens CDC

13. Moses Leroy Park

14. Malone Park

ENSURING A COHESIVE NEIGHBORHOOD VISION THAT HONORS THE LEGACY OF THIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

[ Note: Because the Cuney Homes Resident Needs Assessment was just completed, engagement sessions are just getting started to shape a vision and goals for the Choice Neighborhood Plan. This section will summarize the overarching vision for transformation.]

When Cuney Homes residents were asked, What do you think are your neighborhood’s greatest strengths, the number 1 answer was “History and Culture of the Third Ward.”

And when residents of Third Ward were asked if they worried about African American culture loss within the past 12 months, a majority—63.52% of residents— stated that they were “extremely” worried. Another 15.23% said they were “very” worried. (Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, 2019)

As Cuney Homes and community residents begin to explore a vision together, it is clear that honoring the neighborhood’s significance is a priority, while creating an innovative and forward-looking vision that integrates: varied housing opportunities, inclusive economic growth, resiliency for people and the community.

Repositioning Cuney Homes as a centerpiece of building Black wealth and economic prosperity will provide a critical path forward for achieving racial equity and addressing historic inequities in this community.

This CNI will also collect and retell the lesser known stories of this neighborhood—of vibrant cultures and music, entrepreneurship, and innovation and return this neighborhood to its rightful place in the community as a mixed-use hub of activity where all residents, businesses, workers and their families, students, and makers from all walks of life coexist and celebrate their shared achievements.

While much of the physical remnants of this history have disappeared, the collective consciousness of this community lives on in its residents and institutions. This Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood plan will harness the opportunity to leverage ongoing local efforts and future investment to lay out an equitable and inclusive framework for the next 50 years of history that has yet to be written—one where all community members can afford to remain in their neighborhood of choice and benefit from economic and quality-of-life investments.

SUMMARY OF PLAN GOALS

[Note: This will include a summary of the plan goals, which have not yet been developed.]

As we lay out an equitable and inclusive framework for the next 50 years, we will envision a future where all community members can afford to remain in their neighborhood of choice and benefit from economic and qualityof-life investments

Art mural in the Third Ward Source: WrT

IN THIS SECTION:

+ THE ORIGINS OF THE THIRD WARD

+ A THRIVING THIRD WARD COMMUNITY + WORKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE

History of the Third Ward

For many generations, the Third Ward was the political, economic, social, and cultural center of Houston's African-American community.

THE ORIGINS OF THE THIRD WARD

1840s-1880s

Houston was settled in 1836 on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou, inland from Galveston Bay. The original four Wards were established in 1839, with the intersection of the four in the heart of modern-day Downtown Houston.

As of 1848, 22.4% of Harris County's African-American population was still enslaved. Those who had already gained their freedom were beginning to settle in the Third Ward, southeast of Downtown. The first African-American congregation in Texas, Trinity United Methodist Church, was founded in 1848.

Juneteenth

In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but many enslaved African-Americans did not gain their freedom until June 19th, 1865, when word of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Houston. In 1872, a group of formerly enslaved Third Ward residents purchased a tract of land that become Emancipation Park to commemorate Juneteenth. This celebration of AfricanAmerican freedom is now a federal holiday.

Jack Yates and Antioch Missionary Church

Source: TSHA oNLINe; eAST TeXAS HISTorY

Shotgun houses in the Third Ward in 1930s and after renovation by Project Row Houses

Source: HuD uSer; ruDY BruNNer AWArD For urBAN eXceLLeNce

1840s

1836 Houston is established along the west bank of Buffalo Bayou

1840

The Ward system is established

PRE-CIVIL WAR

1850s

1848

A small mission for the slave membership of Houston Methodist Church was formed, one of the first AfricanAmerican congregations in Houston

1840-1890

The Third Ward is a thriving neighborhood

Source: (LeFT To rIGHT) GreATer HouSToN PArTNerSHIP; TSHA oNLINe,; HouSToN HISTorY MAGAZINe; HouSToN SouTHeAST; TeXAS ANNuAL coNFereNce; eMANcIPATIoN PArK coNSerVANcY.

Jack Yates

The "Father of Black Houston," Jack Yates was born a slave in Virginia. He went on to found the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, the first Black Baptist Church in Houston, and later started the first school for Blacks in Houston. He played a key role on the purchase of the land that would later become Emancipation Park.

Shotgun houses, a Third Ward staple

Many shotgun houses still remain in the Third Ward, notably the ones preserved by Project Row Houses. This house form was spread widely through house catalogs, and was designed to be built quickly as the neighborhood developed, with narrow frontages and cross-ventilating windows. By the 1880s, 25% of Black households in the Third Ward were homeowners.

1880S

About 25% of Black households in the Third Ward are owner-occupied

1860s

1860S

African Americans arrive to the Third Ward and settle

CIVIL WA R & EMANCIPATION

1870s

1870 Segregation is codified in Texas

1880s

1880S

The emergence of house catalogs brings regional housing styles. The shotgun house is commonly found in Houston’s Black communities

1872

Former slaves purchase city land that becomes Emancipation Park

Emancipation Park: the spiritual, communal, and historic heart of the Third Ward

Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, it was not until June 19, 1865 that federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people were freed. And less than 10 years later in 1872, a group of community members, all former slaves, purchased 10 acres of land in Houston for $1,000 to create a place for the community to celebrate “Juneteenth.”

Emancipation Park was Houston’s first park, and the only public park and swimming pool open to African Americans in Houston until the 1950s. It is now protected as a state historic landmark (2009).

Writing the next chapter

In 2006, Third Ward natives Carol Pratt Blue and Bill Milligan, formed “Friends of Emancipation Park” to revitalize the facilities. Beginning in 2010, Emancipation Park underwent a significant renovation designed by Mr. Phil Freelon, an internationally recognized African-American architect whose firm designed the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.

The $33.5 million renovation preserves the park as a living monument designed to enhance the health and well-being of the community with a cultural center, outdoor blessings theater,

aquatics center, picnic pavilions, a commemorative monument, an indoor gym, a playground, tennis courts and a baseball field, and a lawn for community gatherings.

Source: MArK HerBoTH PHoToGrAPHY (eXcePT ToP rIGHT BY AYALA VArGAS PHoToGrAPHY)

This enduring symbol of civic pride and resilience, established by the founders 150 years ago, rippled around the world and is now anchoring the community’s revitalization at the heart of the Third Ward along Emancipation Avenue

A thriving Third Ward community

1890 S -1960 S

The Third Ward was already growing rapidly by the turn of the 20th century, and this growth only accelerated during the Great Migration of the 1910s-1930s, with waves of African-American families from the rural Deep South resettling in the Third Ward. It was during this era that many of the neighborhood's institutions and anchors were founded.

As Houston continued growing into the postwar 1950s, the city identified a need for highways bypassing congested urban neighborhoods for the growing suburbs. Like most other American cities, Houston's African-American neighborhoods were targeted for clearance to construct these highways: much of the western section of the Third Ward was demolished in the 1950s for Interstate 45. Texas State Highway 288 followed in the 1960s, further dividing the neighborhood from Downtown and Midtown Houston.

1893

The Texas Freeman, a newspaper for African Americans launches

1920s

Source: TSHA oNLINe

KCOH 1430 advertisements at Club Matinee in Houston

Source: BeNNY JoSePH

Reverend Ray Martin and Progressive Boxing and Community Center

Source: HeAr our HouSToN

1910s

1927

(left to right)

C.F. Richardson and cover of the Houston Informer

C.F. Richardson

In 1930, C.F. Richardson started the Houston Defender, a black-owned newspaper that took a position of community advocacy.

Robert Meeker

Robert Meeker bought radio station KCOH-1430 in 1953, making it the first Black-owned station in Texas. Its programming was centered around public service for the community.

Reverend Ray Martin

Reverend Ray Martin founded the Progressive Amateur Boxing Association in 1968. It was dedicated to introducing Third Ward youth to the sport with the goal of keeping them off the streets by serving as a counseling, resource, and educational center.

OWTH OF THE AFRICAN - A M ERICAN COMMUNITY

1930s 1940s

1939 Cuney Homes is built

1926 Jack Yates Colored High School opens

1936 Eldorado Ballroom opens

1940-1960 Second Wave of the Great Migration

Working towards the future

1970 S -2020 S

The last 50 years in the Third Ward have been marked by strong involvement in civil rights, the founding and growth of grassroots community movements and organizations, and an evolving movement for racial justice and police reform through Black Lives Matter.

Foundations for the Future

In response to emerging development speculation in recent years, a range of neighborhood and city plans have continued to build a foundation to ensure the preservation of the Third Ward community. The recent renovation and expansion of Emancipation Park and community center have become the face of this commitment to celebrating the vibrance and resilience of the Third Ward. This collective celebration of the neighborhood's deep heritage, history, and culture is a crucial cornerstone of any community planning efforts moving forward.

Source:

Pat Parker, civil rights activist

Source: WIKIPeDIA

1989 Change Happens opens to support families

1960

A sit-in by TSU students inspires others nationally to address racial inequality

CIVIL RIGHTS ER A

1970s

1969 S.H.A.P.E. Community Center is founded to improve the quality of life of people of African descent

1979 Community Music Center opens

1993 Project Row Houses is launched

(left to right) Members of Community Music Center performing

coMMuNITY MuSIc ceNTer

Nicknamed "The Tre," Third Ward is the epicenter of Houston's rich Black history and culture

Community Music Center

In 1979, Patricia Johnson and Ron Scales founded the Community Music Center, seeing that the legacy of "American Negro Slave Music" was being lost. The organization aims to preserve this musical tradition through education and performance.

Pat

Pat Parker was a poet who wrote frequently between 1960 and 1990 of the challenges she faced growing up in Third Ward. She was also involved in wideranging activism, and formed the Women's Press Collective.

2017

million

2000S-2010S

The Third Ward fabric remains unchanged due to deed restrictions

2020

George Floyd is killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, igniting historic protests. The Black Lives Matter movement aims to address racial inequities

2001 Yellowstone Academy opens to educate low-income students in 3W

2003 Workshop Houston is created

$33.5

renovation of Emancipation Park

Parker

IN THIS SECTION:

+ OUR TEAM

+ OUR PARTNERS

+ HOW ARE WE ORGANIZED

+ THE PLANNING PROCESS

The Planning Process

Shaping a path for the future redevelopment of Cuney Homes and the Third Ward involves an inclusive planning process to ensure current residents have a place in Third Ward’s rebirth. It is centered around the Third Ward’s deep tradition of civic activism.

Our Team

The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Plan falls within a continuum of several recent neighborhood planning efforts focused on revitalizing the historic African-American Third Ward community. While some residents of Cuney Homes have been active in these efforts, it is critical that the planning process put Cuney Homes residents at the forefront and help bring their insights and aspirations into the collective vision for the neighborhood. It is also important that the planning process bring together area residents and partners who have been working tirelessly to preserve and restore the Third Ward.

CORE TEAM MEMBERS

Houston Housing Authority | Lead Applicant, Co-Chair of Housing Task Force and Neighborhood Task Force

Cuney Homes is the first housing development completed by the Houston Housing Authority (HHA) in 1939. HHA provides affordable homes and supportive services to more than 58,000 low-income Houstonians, including over 17,000 families taking part in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and another 5,700 families living in 25 public housing and tax credit developments around the city. In addition to providing safe, affordable homes, HHA offers programs for residents to enhance their education, improve their health, and meet their economic goals.

City of Houston | Co-Applicant, Co-Chair of Housing Task Force and Neighborhood Task Force

The City of Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. It is also one of the most diverse and fastest growing cities in the country. The Housing & Community Development Department (HCDD) strives to create opportunities for all Houstonians to have access to safe, affordable homes in communities where they can thrive. HCDD administers federal grants such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Housing

Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA), and Emergency Solution Grants (ESG). HCDD is the co-chair of the Housing Task Force with HHA.

The City’s Planning and Development Department is also playing an integral role in the Third Ward Choice planning process as a Co-Chair of the Neighborhood Task Force. The Planning Department focuses on city-wide planning initiatives that aim to grow and preserve Houston’s diverse communities to create a resilient city.

The department recently partnered with the Mayor’s Office on the Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan to uplift this historically under-resourced neighborhood. Current initiatives include: Livable Places Houston, Houston Bike Plan Walkable Places, and an Accessory Dwelling Units Design Book.

Sankofa Resarch Institute Director speaking at Cuney Homes

Source: WrT

Cuney Homes Resident Council leaders

Source: HHA

Houston Housing Authority Senior Vice President and Revitalization Planning Program Manager join a member of the Cuney Homes Resident Council on a tour of the Choice neighborhood

Source: WrT

Sankofa Research Institute | Chair of People Task Force & Local Engagement Partner

Based in Third Ward, the Sankofa Research Institute is playing a pivotal role in the Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood planning process as Co-Chair of the People Task Force and the local engagement partner. Sankofa was founded by a passionate community activist, Assata Richards, who grew up with her family in Cuney Homes and has deep roots in the Third Ward.

Ms. Richards understands the importance of data and community. The Sankofa Institute engages with individuals in research that creates knowledge for identifying, developing, and advancing innovative strategies to build effective communities so that all residents may live more meaningful lives with dignity. Drawing upon its specialized expertise, Sankofa administered the Cuney Homes Resident Needs Assessment and analyzed the findings.

Steven Dow, former Executive Director of Houston LISC, is working with Sankofa Research Institute to Co-Lead the People Task Force, drawing upon the Needs Assessment data and secondary data, to assist in shaping the plan.

AMBASSADORS

Our Community Ambassadors hard at work during a meeting at Cuney Homes

Source: WrT

Our Ambassadors

Ebony Amos

David Butler

Millicent Brown

Veronica Deboest

Delores Ford

Verdell Ingram

Irenda Jefferson

Jahtera King

Krista Madzimoyo

Dazjah Smith

Laura Welch

Note: On the following pages, we invite you meet some of our ambassadors although profiles have not yet been developed for everyone.

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS

In keeping with the tradition of civic engagement, 10 Cuney Homes residents and one neighborhood resident are serving as Community Ambassadors for the Third Ward-Cuney Homes Neighborhood planning process to build and reinforce transparency and trust. These very talented, articulate, and passionate ambassadors are keeping their friends and neighbors up to date on the Choice planning process, encouraging them to participate, and informing the planning team about what is needed, what is working, and what is not. In addition, these ambassadors are taking part in specialized training so that they may further their leadership skills, become effective stewards of the Choice plan, and hold local leaders accountable for the plan’s implementation.

Delores Ford

How long have you lived in the Choice Neighborhood?

I have lived in Cuney Homes for 23 years. I know that my outlook about Cuney Homes changed. At first, I was very apprehensive about living here. But I grew to learn that this is just like any other community when I started meeting my neighbors. Then my son started making friends. My daughter, an introvert, also became active with residents and they looked out for her. That’s why this is so important to me. Most of the time, people with disabilities aren’t included. But at Cuney Homes, my daughter was included in this community and people embraced her.

What do you think the impact of the plan could be on the neighborhood?

I think it would give a lot of the residents and sense of pride. At your move-in appointment, we were told to treat this place as home. Well, this is my home. And after this plan hits the neighborhood, they won’t be ashamed of where they live. They will want their friends and family to come visit them to see how it has changed over the years.

Debra Hill

What other sorts of activities are you involved with in the community?

I am on the Resident Council Board as the Assistant Chaplin. We work with the elderly residents as well as with the youth (teens) and young adults. We engage residents and connect them with services, resources, and community activities to improve their lives daily.

What do you think the impact of the plan could be on the neighborhood?

The impact of the Transformation Plan will be inspirational, educational, and very much needed. To me, this plan could mean better education for our youths, better quality of life, and a chance for people to be inspired to make a change in their lives. This plan will help connect residents with quality jobs and help us interact with the community as a whole.

Verdell Ingram

What most excites about you about the Choice planning effort?

This effort excites me because it allows me to connect with other residents who are more like friends and family rather than neighbors. This is our opportunity as residents to engage with HHA staff and have a seat at the table in order to negotiate for what we need. Most of the time the residents are not allowed to be a part of the negotiation process and many residents feel the decisions are made for us without our say. When residents do get limited opportunities to speak, many times their voice is not considered nor applied.

If we can achieve one thing with the CNI, what do you hope it will be?

I hope this effort leads to more entrepreneurship for the residents where the residents will receive funding for their services. The residents often walk away with nothing but bear the responsibility to see efforts through. I want them to utilize the Section 3 program through training and applicability. I want them to learn how to set up a business, purchase and maintain a new home.

Irenda Jefferson

What other sorts of activities are you involved with in the community?

I take ten Cuney Homes children back and forth to school each school day. Many kids were not going to school and were being targeted by predatory adults. So, I bought a truck and I make three trips every morning and afternoon. I knock on doors to make sure the kids get up on time to get ready to attend school. I also feed homeless people in the neighborhood and provide support by connecting them to resources.

What do you think the impact of the plan could be on the neighborhood?

The Transformation Plan could impact household income. I feel like people will be interested in participating if they know that change is coming. We are the crew that will help bring change. We are the change agents. I am committed to being a part of this change.

Folade Madzimoyo

What do you think the impact of the plan could be on the neighborhood?

I think the Transformation Plan will preserve the culture of Third Ward. I would like this plan to impact the beauty of this community, like physical beauty of plants, green grass, and no illegal dumping. This plan will help improve what is already good about Third Ward and make it better. It will focus on the strengths and improve the community for generations through better housing, a cohesive community, economic

development, safe and innovative community initiatives. I see this proving to be a strong foundation for our culture and economic development and safety for Cuney Homes and the Third Ward community.

If we can achieve one thing with the CNI, what do you hope it will be?

To provide a safe, heathy environment for the people of Third Ward and Cuney Homes to learn to grow and prosper.

Laura Welch

What most excites you about the Choice planning effort?

What excites me most about the Choice planning efforts is the focus on bringing different parts of the community together to meet the variety of needs of our diverse community. My favorite aspect of this planning effort is the focus on giving Cuney Homes residents a voice in the planning process to advocate for changes that will have the most powerful, positive, and sustainable impact on the residents’ daily lives.

If we can achieve one thing with the CNI, what do you hope it will be?

I believe the Transformation Plan could set a precedent for revitalization projects, by including the voices of previously disenfranchised members of the community and seeing their efforts realized and valued through the process. I also think this could be a great community building opportunity for the diverse members of 3rd Ward.

Our partners: building on a rich tradition of civic engagement

Residents of Cuney Homes and Third Ward

Residents of Cuney Homes and the Choice neighborhood are invited to play an active role in the planning process by serving on every Task Force to help directly shape the overarching vision, goals, and strategies for the plan. They are also invited to attend community meetings and special events, and remain up to date through regular updates.

Partners and Stakeholders

Stemming the Third Ward’s a rich tradition of civic activism, numerous community organizations are working to create positive change in the neighborhood today. As a result, the Choice planning process is not starting from scratch but building on these efforts by working with area residents and organizations to stitch together a shared vision for meaningful change. These partners and stakeholders are serving as members of each of the three Task Forces and also sit on the Steering Committee to ensure the goals of these plans are carefully aligned.

Source: WrT

Touring the site with our community ambassadors

Source: WrT

Community Ambassador, Ms. Verdell Ingram sharing her thoughts

Source: WrT

(top to bottom)

Mr. David Butler, a long-time Cuney Homes Resident Council member

How we are organized

Task Forces

The planning team comprises three Task Forces— Housing, People, and Neighborhood—which correspond to the three main objectives of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. The Task Forces bring together many voices from residents of Cuney Homes and larger Third Ward, to community-based organizations, city agencies, and service providers. The Task Forces meet regularly to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the neighborhood, and ways to build on previous efforts. The Task Forces will identify priorities and a vision for the plan, and are also charged with developing strategies to achieve the goals, identifying partners to implement the strategies, and outlining metrics to track progress.

Community Ambassadors

Our Community Ambassadors are an important part of the planning team’s make-up. Several ambassadors sit on the Task Forces but they also meet independently to provide an extra layer of focused review and feedback. The ambassadors plan to hold focus group discussions for Cuney Homes and neighborhood residents in the spring 2022 that are centered around specific elements of the plan They also serve as a two-way conduit, sharing information with their neighbors and gathering feedback for the planning team.

Early Action Activity Committee

A two-year planning process can feel like a very long time to get excited about the possibilities and not see any physical changes. Early Action Activities are designed to keep the momentum going by identifying some activities that can be implemented while the plan is being completed. A small portion of funding is included as part of the HUD grant for projects designed to jumpstart transformation of the neighborhood that are limited to physical improvement, community development, and economic development. Ideas for these activities will come directly from the Cuney Homes Needs Assessment findings and discussions with the Task Forces.

While specific ideas have not yet surfaced, some high-level thoughts include: tying into the community’s artistic tradition to create a community art installation/ beautification project; a storytelling initiative to tell positive stories of accomplishment of Third Ward residents; or perhaps a fresh food initiative such as a mobile pop-up farmers markets.

A Committee will be set up in April 2022, comprising Cuney Homes residents, Community Ambassadors, and members of the Task Forces to review ideas and select the preferred activities. In turn, detailed plans will be developed so that they can be realized.

Housing Task Force members convening during a virtual meeting in August 2021

Source: WrT

The planning process

Shaping a path for the future redevelopment of Cuney Homes and the Third Ward involves an inclusive planning process to ensure current residents have a place at the decision-making table an in Third Ward’s revitalization.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Bringing Cuney Homes residents into the visioning process and equipping them with the skills and level of comfort to share their opinions and aspirations is a fundamental part of the planning process. The engagement strategy continues to evolve to ensure the greatest participation. Key elements of the overall framework include the following.

Ongoing Communication

Our approach understands that people have varying amounts of time to participate and get their news in different ways. We are sharing information in a variety of ways.

Electronically: ThirdWardChoice.com is the main resource hub, with meeting dates, presentation materials, and reports. We are also reaching out on social media (Facebook and Twitter), along with emails and robotexts that tap into recent planning efforts such as the Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan and Super Neighborhood email lists.

On paper: Postcards and door hangers, fliers and posters are a just a few ways info is circulated.

Timeline for the Planning Process showing key milestones

THIRD WARDCUNEY HOMES CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD

JOIN US!

COME CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF NORRIS WRIGHT CUNEY AND THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE THIRD WARD-CUNEY HOMES CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN

BE INSPIRED BY MR. CUNEY

Mr. Cuney was an African-American politician, businessman, union leader, and civil rights advocate who fought fiercely to give blacks a voice during Reconstruction. Come learn more about his inspiring life along with exciting updates on the Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood plan.

STAY INVOLVED! ThirdWardChoice.com

CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD OF C H O I C E

MEETING DETAILS

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Cuney Homes Community Building 3260 Truxillo Street REFRESHMENTS & DOOR PRIZES

ANY QUESTIONS?

SASHA MARSHALL SMITH, MRCP, COS Revitalization Planning Program Manager Houston Housing Authority Email- SMarshallSmith@housingforhouston.com

Phone- (713) 260-0756 / (832) 581-9648

THIRDWARDCHOICE.COM

Cuney Homes Community Meeting Flyer (top to bottom) Our website — ThirdWardChoice.com

Children's coloring activity

Cuney Homes Needs Assessment outreach social media flyer in Spanish

Cuney Homes Needs Assessment door hanger

Community Meetings & Special Events

The planning process involves several large meetings at major milestones to reach a broad audience and gather community input.

The process began with a Cuney Homes Resident Kick-Off Meeting on June 21, 2021. On account of the COVID pandemic, residents were invited to assemble with masks and socially distanced, in the Community Center at Cuney Homes or to join virtually to learn about the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, the planning process, and how to get involved. The meeting also provided a preview of and invitation to the HUD Site Visit that took place the following week.

A two-day virtual HUD Site Visit was held on June 28-29, 2021, that brought together dozens of Cuney Homes residents, area partners, and HUD team members. The Site Visit led participants through an overview of the Third Ward’s rich history, a virtual tour of the Choice neighborhood ( ArcGIS Third Ward Cuney Homes StoryMap ), and an outline of the team’s approach to creating an aspirational yet achievable plan for transformation. June 21, 2021

June 28-29, 2021

Cuney Homes Resident Kick-Off Meeting

Source: WrT

Route of the Virtual Site Tour during the HUD Site Visit

A second Cuney Homes Community Meeting was held on February 23, 2022. In honor of Black History Month, this meeting celebrated the life of Norris Wright Cuney. Participants were introduced to the newly selected Community Ambassadors who unveiled new branding for the plan. The meeting concluded with small breakout sessions to discuss some preliminary findings from the Cuney Homes Needs Assessment. Forty-three residents participated.

On February 24, 2022, a Neighborhood KickOff Meeting took place in the recently completed Emancipation Center, showcasing a new tenant and welcome addition to the neighborhood, CenterWell Senior Primary Care. Over 40 people came together to learn about CNI and its potential to help reimagine the neighborhood as place where all residents are welcome and may thrive.

Additional community meetings will be held leading up to the Draft Plan and again leading up to the Final Plan. These will entail a combination of Open House presentations and interactive workshops.

A variety of special events are being planned as part of the planning process. A bus trip or virtual tour of a Choice neighborhood undergoing transformation is being considered, along with Focus Groups, a Youth planning activity, and pop-up events.

Feb. 23, 2022

Feb. 24, 2022

Neighborhood Resident KickOff Meeting

Task Force Meetings

Aug. 5, 2021

Feb. 10, 2022

Nov. 9, 2021

Nov. 16/17, 2021

Feb. 28, 2022

Aug. 30, 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

Feb. 15, 2022

Jan. 27, 2022

(top)

A warm welcome to the HUD Site Visit by Houston's Honorable Mayor Sylvester Turner

Source: WrT

(bottom)

Cuney Homes residents join the virtual HUD Site Visit on site but socially distanced

Source: WrT

Needs Assessment

The first significant touchpoint with Cuney Homes residents was the Needs Assessment, which was used not just to gather information but to talk to residents one on one to explain the CNI and what it might mean for them.

Community Researchers

Five local community researchers were recruited, hired, and trained by Sankofa Research Institute to conduct the surveys using the principles of CommunityBased Participatory Research. The researchers were selected because of their connections to Cuney Homes and Third Ward and their interest in making a positive difference. Three Community Researchers are residents of Third Ward, one currently works with Third Ward residents, and one is a member of a Third Ward faithbased organization.

Administering the Survey

Working with the Resident Council, Sankofa developed a data collection plan tailored to residents:, which included

y Attending events at Cuney Homes to pass out postcards announcing the launch of the survey.

y Going door-to-door to each household giving residents a postcard or placing a postcard on their door.

y Establishing a dedicated telephone line for residents to call and schedule appointments.

y Dedicating one community researcher to administer surveys to drop-in residents.

y Being present at the site initially five days per week, which included Saturdays.

y Providing residents the option of being surveyed at their apartment unit or in the Community Center.

y Initiating a late afternoon and early evening shift for working residents.

y Making at least six attempts to complete a survey with each household and use door hangers to communicate with residents.

y Employing Robocalls, SMS messaging, and posters to increase the effectiveness of the outreach.

do

"What age category best describes you?"

"Do you have children under 5 years of age?"

"What is your marital status?"

"What is the highest level of education for each adult in your household?"

*findings based on 445 people: heads of households + any adults living in household

Source: HHA

23, 2022

Source: HHA

Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment (2019)

A community needs assessment of 1,616 residents, including 202 Cuney Homes households, was recently conducted by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Sankofa Research Institute. Recognizing the thoroughness of this assessment and being sensitive to the planning fatigue expressed by residents, the survey findings are being used for as a basis for the neighborhood resident analysis. This will be supplemented and further explored through multiple touchpoints with community residents throughout the planning process.

Capacity Building

Although the Third Ward has a long tradition of community activism, not everyone has had an opportunity to share their opinions or develop the skills necessary to take part in civic discourse. The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Plan aims to provide opportunities for residents of all ages to refine their skills.

Community Ambassadors

23, 2022

Source: HHA

Our ambassadors are approachable and trusted neighbors, and many are already leaders in the community. As an CNI Community Ambassador, they will participate in 10 leadership training sessions designed to nurture accountable leaders, practice cooperative work, and develop the Black radical imagination. Participants will gain valuable active listening practice, utilize participatory leadership, and develop social analysis skills. The hope is that our ambassadors will blossom into stewards of the final plan and help monitor its progress to see it through fruition.

Neighborhood Leadership Series

The Neighborhood Leadership Series, planned to begin in May 2022, is a multi-part educational and inspirational series for residents of Cuney Homes and the larger Choice neighborhood. The sessions will be led by local practitioners involved with community planning, organizing, and development. Participants will enjoy dinner during each session followed by a presentation and interactive activities to refine their leadership skills.

Cuney Homes community meeting on February 23, 2022

Cuney Homes community meeting on February

Cuney Homes community meeting on February

(from top to bottom) Cuney Homes community meeting on February 23, 2022

Source: WrT

Neighborhood resident kick-off meeting on February 24, 2022

Source: WrT

Resident taking the Needs Assessment Survey at Cuney Homes

Source: HHA

Cuney Homes community meeting on February 23, 2022

Source: WrT

IN THIS SECTION:

+ BUILDING ON RECENT PLANS

+ COMMON THEMES

BUILDING ON RECENT PLANS

The Third Ward’s long history of civic engagement and grassroots activism has led to several neighborhood-level plans that identify pressing issues and outline very thoughtful, measurable strategies. These plans form a strong foundation for the Choice planning process. By partnering with the organizations who led these plans, the Choice planning process aims to identify synergies and advance progress toward shared goals.

Building on recent plans

The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Plan will build on the strong foundation of visioning and planning efforts for our historic community that go back well over 25 years ago. From the Greater Third Ward Community Plan, completed in 1995, to the more recent Emancipation Park Neighborhood Plan and Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan, this plan aims to integrate and expand on the tireless efforts of the neighborhood’s early champions, visionaries, and devoted advocates.

CITYWIDE PLANS

Plan Houston, 2015

Partners

Planning and Development Department

Summary

Plan Houston is the City's first General Plan,developed with the intent of creating a common platform with coordinated strategies for implementation to guide future development and investments. The plan represents the input of Houstonians across the city, resulting in a set of 32 goals and 12 core strategies to achieve the vision. The plan aims to celebrate Houston’s history, culture, and people as well as promoting healthy and resilient communities.

Key strategies

y Engaged and informed residents with equal access to opportunity and prosperity, and strong social ties supported by existing organizations.

y Affordable, high-quality supportive services for all residents.

y A diverse, welcoming culture that is celebrated and respected.

y Attractive, welcoming, vibrant open spaces, activity centers, and streetscapes that promote recreation experiences, respect the environment, connect people.

y A safe, secure community that respects history, and that enables healthy, active lifestyles.

y A thriving local arts and creative community.

y Quality learning opportunities; schools and communities that invest in each other; and a talented workforce.

y A thriving, resilient, diverse economy with entrepreneurial spirit, that supports innovation, and supports a good standard of living and financial stability.

y A city focused on the conservation of resources, accessible water, air, land, and food resources, and resilient natural systems that protect citizens and assets from disasters.

y An affordable, multi-modal transportation network that provides convenient access an mobility throughout the region.

y Attractive, walkable neighborhoods with quality, affordable, diverse housing and character.

y Sufficient quality, affordable housing options throughout the community.

Link to Plan

Plan Houston

City of Houston skyline

Source: NrG

Houston Active Living Plan, 2017

Partners

City of Houston, Houston Health Department, Go Healthy Houston.

Summary

Houston Active Living Plan is designed to make "active living" easy by creating places where physical activities such as walking, biking, and playing are integral parts of everyday life. The plan takes a “Health in All Policies” approach, recognizing that policy decisions and environmental changes across multiple sectors make an impact in public health. Collaborating with multiple stakeholders and organizations, the plan promotes healthy living through strategies focused on Social Determinants of Health that celebrate cultural diversity and advance health equity. Environmental strategies also align with healthy living and promote strong partnerships to maximize health impacts.

Key strategies

y Public Health: Promote widespread knowledge of the social determinants of health and the correlation between public health and decision making.

y Culture: Offer active living initiatives that respond to Houston’s diverse cultures.

A quick look at the Plans...

y Transportation: Promote the expansion of a multi-modal transportation network that offers safe and comfortable active transportation options with access to high-quality transit.

y Built Environment: Design and build communities that are safe, convenient, and attractive for people of all abilities to walk, bike and play.

y Parks & Recreation: Improve the accessibility of the parks and recreation spaces so that they are integrated into Houstonians’ everyday lives.

y Sports & Fitness: Improve access to facilities and promote available resources that allow the community to engage in sports and fitness activities.

Link to Plan

Houston Active Living Plan

(left to right: Plan Houston, 2015; Houston Active Living Plan, 2017; Resilient Houston, 2020; Houston Climate Action Plan, 2020)

Source: HouSToN AcTIVe LIVING PLAN

Resilient Houston: Resilient Assessment, 2019

Partners

100 Resilient Cities, Shell Corporation

Summary

Resilient Houston uses a framework centered around 12 drivers to develop a road map toward building the city's resilience to withstand a range of shocks and stresses. It identifies the top shocks and stresses, and establishes priorities and initiatives for implementation. The plan frames questions around five discovery areas designed to help evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies, and develop solutions.

Key strategies (areas of focus)

y Achieving equity and inclusion

y Building Forward

y Improving Health and Safey

y Integrating Housing and Mobility

y LIving With and Without Water

Link to Plan

Resilient Houston: Resilient Assessment

Houston Climate Action Plan, 2020

Partners Office of Sustainability

Summary

Houston’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP) focuses on a greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy to meet the Paris Climate Agreement Goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The CAP has four focus areas: Transportation, Energy Transition, Building Optimization, and Materials Management.

Key strategies

y Reducing energy consumption of the city’s building stock, for both new development and existing buildings.

y Developing more housing near multi-modal transit connections to reduce car travel; installing linear green infrastructure and tree plantings along wide urban corridors.

y Creating job opportunities and skills training for neighborhood residents who could benefit from a burgeoning “green tech” sector.

Link to Plan

Houston Climate Action Plan

A quick look at the Plans...

(left to right: City of Houston Arts & Cultural Plans, 2015; Houston Bike Plan, 2015; Northern Third Ward Neighborhood Planning Project, 2017; Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan, 2018)

City of Houston Arts & Cultural Plan, 2015

Partners

Office of Cultural Affairs

Summary

City of Houston Arts & Cultural Plan identifies longterm priorities so arts and culture in the City of Houston can benefit all residents and visitors. Through community engagement and stakeholder meetings, the plan stands on a vision that promotes change and highlights the evolving culture of Houston's communities while advocating for quality, equitable cultural programming, allocation of cultural investments, and stronger relationships with cultural institutions.

Key strategies

y Promote engagement in quality arts and cultural programming.

y Enhance the support system for the city’s deep cultural assets.

y Advance strategies to strengthen the local creative economy.

Link to Plan

City of Houston Arts & Cultural Plan

Houston Bike Plan, 2015

Partners

City of Houston, Bike Houston, Houston Parks Boards.

Summary

The Houston Bike Plan focuses on a long-term vision for a well-connected, city-wide bike plan that it is supported by policies and programs. The plan strives to create a safer, more comfortable environment for all people on bikes, while providing access to opportunities, and improving community health and wellness.

Key Strategies

y Increase safety and access.

y Grow ridership.

y Develop and maintain facilities.

Link to Plan Houston Bike Plan

Art blossoms across the Third Ward and the city, enlivening surfaces of all kinds

Source: WrT

Houston's bike-sharing program, BCycle, launched in 2012 and now has 82 stations across the city.

Source: WrT

Northern Third Ward Neighborhood Planning Project, 2017

Partners

Spackman Mossop & Michaels; Community Design Resource Center, University of Houston.

Summary

The Northern Third Ward Consortium was created in 2015 to lead a community-driven planning effort to address development pressures and critical issues of long-time Third Ward residents. Funded by the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, this study expands the study area of the Emancipation Park Neighborhood study to the entire northern tip of the Third Ward. The 10-month process identified several top priorities including empowering renters, saving historical components of the community, and seeding new worker or community-owned cooperatives.

Key strategies

y Preserve existing housing and develop new housing that meets current needs.

y Build political power through leadership capacity building and political engagement activities.

y Make neighborhood improvements, such as restoring historic sites, modernizing streets, and programming vacant lots.

y Improve access to support services and healthcare in the Third Ward.

Link to Plan

Northern Third Ward Neighborhood Planning Project

Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan, 2018

Partners

City of Houston Planning and Development Department.

Summary

Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Complete Communities initiative focuses on 10 historically under-resourced neighborhoods and strives to remove barriers so that all of Houston’s residents and business owners can have access to quality services, amenities, and opportunities. This plan for the Third Ward incorporates recommendations from several recent neighborhood-level plans and studies, and identifies new projects, actions, priorities, and partners. The highest priority identified for the community is affordable housing policies and projects, followed by education, and economic opportunities and jobs. Additional focus areas include civic engagement, health, safety, neighborhood character, parks and community amenities, and mobility and infrastructure.

Key strategies

y Build housing for all.

y Grow the local economy by seeding new businesses and supporting small businesses.

y Expand opportunities for youth by strengthening schools and institutions that support young people, including mentorship and leadership opportunities.

y Build community capacity and expand civic engagement.

y Improve neighborhood mobility and build great streets.

y Preserve the neighborhood’s history and character.

Link to Plan

Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan

Historic Third Ward Strategic Implementation Framework, 2019 Partners

ADP Urban Planning Management, Emancipation Community Development Partnership, Emancipation Economic Development Council, Houston Endowment, Kinder Foundation, Project Row Houses.

Summary

This document was developed to inform policy and program decision making at the neighborhood level to support equitable community redevelopment in the Third Ward. It functions as both a resource toolkit and recommendations guide to implementation for use by Third Ward residents, community developers and non-profits, private/public funders and investors, and public officials.

Synthesizing previous plans, the Framework establishes an overarching vision that focuses on celebrating and preserving history, culture, and people; creating innovative and sustainable economic development opportunities; developing appropriate housing; establishing a world class health and educational system; and minimizing displacement of existing residents.

A quick look at the Plans...

THIRD WARD

(left to right: Historic Third Ward Strategic Implementation Framework, 2019; Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, 2019; Emancipation Park Neighborhood Plan, 2016; Midtown Affordable Housing Plan, 2017)

Key strategies

y Create a Development Framework this will set design guidelines to make up for Houston’s lack of zoning (framework must set targets for affordability, address land-use compatibility, identify a review process and more).

y Consider a Land Bank to maintain affordability and to purchase blighted property.

y Create a rental registration to monitor and track “problem properties” that may benefit from funding support for rehabilitation or need legal defense for the tenants.

Link to Plan

Historic Third Ward Strategic Implementation Framework

Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, 2019

Partners

Sankofa Research Institute; Center for Health & Biosciences, Rice University; Houston Endowment.

Summary

This report summarizes the findings of a comprehensive neighborhood survey, completed by over 1600 Third Ward residents, including 202 Cuney Homes households. Data was collected in three phases between April 2017 – August 2018. The intent is to support the development of data-driven strategies, policies, and investments in the Third Ward.

Key findings

y There is a strong sense of community that can serve as the basis for positive neighborhood change. Collective efficacy, which measures individuals’ willingness to help one another in times of need, was notably high across the Third Ward.

y Nearly 80% of respondents were somewhat or very satisfied with living in the Third Ward.

y Two-thirds of respondents were concerned by the loss of Black culture & presence in the neighborhood.

y There is a significant population of 23.5% of respondents living in severely inadequate housing (vs. the 2% national rate reported by HUD).

y There is concern by many that they will have to leave the neighborhood – 22.5% worried about having to move the following year.

y 68% report having access to health insurance while the national average in 91%.

Link to Plan

Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment

Emancipation Park Neighborhood Plan

Partners

Emancipation Economic Development Council; MIT CoLab & Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP).

Summary

In response to growing concerns over gentrification and displacement of long-time residents near the newly revitalized Emancipation Park, city planning students worked with Third Ward community leaders from the Emancipation Economic Development Council (EEDC) to develop a plan for the surrounding neighborhood. The plan is centered around the historical significance of this neighborhood to Black American history in Texas, and beyond. The planning process included organizing working groups with EEDC members to discuss political engagement, wealth building, community partnerships, and the development of new businesses and housing along the Dowling Street (now Emancipation Avenue) corridor.

Key strategies

y Establish a community land trust.

y Support “responsible” mixed-use development.

y Activate vacant lots for community use.

y Create “people-centered” green infrastructure.

Link to Plan

Emancipation Park Neighborhood Plan

Midtown Affordable Housing Plan, 2017

Partners

CCPPI (Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement); Roberta F. Burroughs & Associates; Midtown Redevelopment Authority.

Summary

The Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA), which administers Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2, has purchased hundreds of tracts of land in Southeast Houston for the purpose of leveraging the production

of affordable housing. This housing will be occupied by low-moderate income households of all ages, household sizes, abilities, and races/ethnicities.

Key strategies

y Maximize the number of units that could be placed on MRA-owned tracts in order to serve the maximum number of low-moderate income households, given the dire need that exists.

y Avoid proposing the construction of housing prototypes that are higher in density than surrounding development so as to preserve community character.

y Place high density developments near major transportation arteries and METRORail Purple Line transit stations whenever feasible.

Link to Plan

Midtown Affordable Housing Plan

(top) New 20-unit residential building recently completed by Midtown Redevelopment Authority

(bottom)

Affordable Housing Operations Center celebrates art and culture while preserving affordable housing

Source: HTTPS://WWW.ArcH-coN. coM/DIVISIoN/AFForDABLeHouSING-oPerATIoNS-ceNTer/

Common themes

Careful analysis of the plans outlined above reveals a number of common themes that are a priority for the Third Ward, including:

y Access to quality, affordable housing

y Preservation of neighborhood character and history

y Economic development and access to jobs

y Equity and inclusion

y Safety

y Mobility

y Environmental and community reslilency

y Civic engagement.

y Celebration of the arts

The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Planning process will incorporate these priorities and related strategies into the Task Force discussions and Focus Group meetings to explore synergies and potential for alignment.

Citywide Plans

Plan Houston, 2015

Houston Active Living Plan, 2017

Resilient Houston: Resilient Assessment, 2019

Houston Climate Action Plan, 2020

City of Houston Arts & Cultural Plan, 2015

Houston Bike Plan, 2015

Neighborhood Plans

Northern Third Ward Neighborhood Planning Project, 2017

Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan, 2018

Historic Third Ward Strategic Implementation Framework, 2019

Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, 2019

Focus Area Plans

Emancipation Park Neighborhood Plan, 2016

Midtown Affordable Housing Plan, 2017

Housing,adequacy, affordability,& investment

Displacement&Neighborhoodgentrificationcharacter,history&cultureParks,openspace,recreation

Economicdevelopment &jobs

PublicsafetyMobility&connectivity

Resiliency&greeninfrastructureCivicengagementEducation

Health& wellness

IN THIS SECTION:

+ WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC THIRD WARD!

+ HOUSING

+ ASSETS TO BUILD ON

+ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

+ EDUCATION

+ MOBILITY & CONNECTIVITY

+ PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIME

+ HEALTH & WELLNESS

+ ARTS & CULTURE

+ PARKS & RECREATION

+ RESILIENCY

+ SOCIAL RESILIENCY

Existing Conditions

To create a meaningful plan for transformation, it is critical to understand the current state of conditions in the neighborhood. This analysis sets up a baseline against which goals for improvement will be established and metrics will be created to measure progess going forward.

Welcome to the Historic Third Ward!

Choice Neighborhood Boundary

The Third Ward-Cuney Homes Choice Neighborhood boundary comprises most but not all of the historic Third Ward, extending to the I-45 highway to the north; the Highway 288/I-69 (US-59) highways to the west; extending to Brays Bayou, Blodgett and Elgin streets to the south; and the Columbia TAP Rail Trail, Scott Street, and Cullen Boulevard to the east. Midtown Houston is located directly west, across I-69, and Downtown is located northwest, diagonally across both highway networks. The southern “tail” of the site boundary extends outside the historic Third Ward, running along the Brays Bayou Greenway.

Cuney Homes anchors the Third Ward with a 33-acre site located to the southwest of the neighborhood boundary, adjacent to Texas Southern University to the south and Scott Street to the west where it runs along the boundary of the University of Houston.

(top to bottom)

I love Third Ward mural on Project Row Houses shotgun-style house facade

Source: THe BuZZ MAGAZINe

Map of historic wards in Houston (Third Ward represented in orange) and overlay of the Choice Neighborhood bouncary and Cuney Homes site boundary

The Third Ward and the Choice neighborhood in the context of the City of Houston

Boundaries of the Third Ward

LAND USE

The Choice neighborhood is primarily residential in nature, with a scattered mix of uses. Because the City of Houston does not have a city-wide comprehensive zoning ordinance, it is not uncommon to see blocks with single family houses sprinkled with churches and corner stores. In many cities across the country, communities will create a Future Land Use map as part of their citywide comprehensive planning efforts to illustrate a shared vision of how the community would like to see the city develop. Typically, future land use maps tie together goals related to natural resource preservation, transportation and mobility, economic development, and housing, resulting in a visual guide that is used to direct city-wide investment and development activity.

It is more complicated to understand how the Choice neighborhood would like to evolve because the City of Houston does not address land use. In the absence of a future land use vision and zoning regulations, municipal codes and development requirements will guide future development but these are often site-specific and do not encompass a whole neighborhood. Current and proposed development in the Third Ward illustrates this absence of an overarching physical vision for the neighborhood, with no consistent form, density, setbacks, or use. In neighborhoods like the Third Ward with projected near-term growth, a lack of a dedicated future land use plan or development guidelines can leave a vision for development in the hands of those with the most capital.

This map shows how land in the Choice neighborhood is currently being used. Yellow is residential.

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

VACANCY

The vacancy rate of 24.5% (ESRI Community and Income Profile 2020) in the Choice neighborhood is more than double the city-wide rate of 11.2% (ACS 2019). North of Alabama Street, closer to downtown, vacancies are concentrated further— with nearly 30% of single-family residential lots currently vacant, largely due to disinvestment and subsequent demolition. In this same area, north of Alabama Street, much of the single-family housing stock is in poor repair. The combination of widespread vacancies, dilapidated buildings, and crumbling sidewalks detracts from the overall appearance of the neighborhood and disrupts the streetscape with gaps that can attract dumping, litter, and unsafe conditions. This blight of buildings and lots is a concern for residents. (It should be noted that south of Alabama Street, conditions improve dramatically with regard to vacancies and blighted conditions.)

While a high rate of vacancy can negatively impact the character of a neighborhood, it can also present an opportunity for redevelopment that can be done thoughtfully and inclusively. Alternatively, it can also open the door to predatory developers and outside investors, leading to displacement and gentrification.

Another challenge is “tangled titles,” impacting the ability for property to easily change hands. The most typical example of this legal issue is a resident who lives in a family home, believing themselves to be the owner, but later discovering the supposed inheritance was never formalized. While this can create confusion and high legal fees for lower-income residents to sort through, this can also slow down speculation, perhaps a blessing in disguise for a community facing rapid displacement. Still, the widespread legal complications of ownership and the costs of untangling these titles may further limit a larger cohesive vision for the neighborhood’s land use.

This map of vacancy in the Choice neighborhood shows a concentration in the northern portion.

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

Housing

ABOUT CUNEY HOMES

Cuney Homes was the first public housing built by the Houston Housing Authority. It was constructed between 1939 and 1941, with the express purpose to house Houston’s African-American population. The complex is comprised of 553 units, with 519 occupied at the time of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative application for a total population of 1124 in 2021. These units are spread across 80 buildings on 32.68 acres. The unit breakdown is as follows:

y 224 one-bedroom units 750SF

y 229 two-bedroom units 1,000SF

y 81 three-bedroom units 1,100 SF

y 19 four-bedroom units 1,200SF

The complex includes two-story concrete block buildings clad in brick, arranged with parking and surrounding lawn areas. A central basketball court, community center, and baseball diamond are included on-site as well.

The buildings are arranged in a traditional barracks-style configuration, creating a great deal of open lawn area but no true community gathering spaces. The units lack air conditioning, particularly burdensome in Houston’s subtropical climate, and do not meet modern standards for size. The concrete block construction makes any significant retrofit or reconfiguration prohibitively expensive. New development is an opportunity to reconfigure the property and better connect Cuney Homes residents with the surrounding Third Ward neighborhood, and to provide a more comprehensive mix of housing types, incomes, and demographics for a wider range of Houstonians.

(top to bottom)

Cuney Homes site plan

Cuney Homes signage on place

Source: HHA

Cuney Homes housing and kid's playground

Source: WSJ

One thing that is echoed repeatedly by residents is the very strong sense of community at Cuney Homes.

7% would like to live somewhere else in the Third Ward

Homes is redeveloped, would you like to return to the site when it is completed?"

79% YES!

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

(top to bottom) Cuney Homes housing and open space areas

Source: WrT

Art Mural during the February 2022 site visit

Source: WrT

“What do you like the most about Cuney Homes?”

The people, the neighbors, the sense of community #1

Being able to live in the Third Ward #2

Reporting changes in my income to allow my rent to go down #3

Being close to my family/friends, work, doctors, and church #4

Being able to attend onsite programs, events, and services #5

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

"If Cuney

HOUSING CONTEXT & CHARACTER

Historic housing stock

Cuney Homes sits along Alabama Street, which serves as an almost invisible dividing line between the character of housing that once distinguished the northern part of the Third Ward from the larger brick houses found in the southern end.

North of Alabama Street, the lots tend to be smaller and were traditionally populated by modest pre-World War II, single-story, wood frame houses arranged in a row. Built for working class households, many of these homes have welcoming front porches that reflect a strong sense of community. Yet, their light wood-framed construction requires upkeep and maintenance, which can be expensive for those on limited budgets. Many of these houses are deteriorating past the point of reasonable repair, placing the neighborhood’s historic housing stock at risk . With demand for housing in Houston skyrocketing and the location of the Third Ward so close to downtown, more than 500 homes in the Northern Third Ward have been demolished since 2010.

Demolishing these original houses to increase density and modernize construction may make financial sense, but the original texture and character of the neighborhood requires consideration. Preserving and repairing historic homes is a recommendation repeated in multiple recent plans, as is keeping the homes at affordable rates to avoid displacement.

Existing housing types

In addition to the single-story shotgun-style house, other housing types represented in the neighborhood range from duplexes, triplex/fourplex apartment buildings, and townhomes, to larger-density multifamily complexes. Most houses are either slabon-grade or elevated several feet on piers with crawlspaces below. Construction is either wood frame or brick, with lower-slope gable and hip roofs. Front setbacks are deep, and porches remain important.

New construction is scattered across the neighborhood. Although meeting the need for more modern housing stock, it tends to be at a height and density that does not relate to adjacent properties and overshadows the existing fabric.

IN THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE

It is important to understand the existing context and typologies given the connotation these building types and material selections may have for a rapidly redeveloping neighborhood. Relatively new housing types like townhomes can represent outside speculation, as do modern cladding, color, and material choices. These new housing types can be symbolic of outsiders and displacement and may be skeptically received by a community working to remain rooted.

Redevelopment will require sensitivity and contextualization, of both aesthetics and density.

Residents would love the neighborhood to be known as a thriving center of AfricanAmerican culture — a place you can expect to find performances, markets, and social events that celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of Black Houstonians

Source: THIrD WArD coMPreHeNSIVe NeeDS ASSeSSMeNT, 2019.

In the last few years, new infill housing is popping up across the neighborhood at much greater heights and densities with little regard for the existing context

Source: WrT

Many of the older homes in the northern part of Third Ward are smaller, wood framed "shotgun" style homes

Source: WrT

In contrast, south of Alabama Street, larger brick and masonry homes on larger lots are more typical

Source: WrT

There are some efforts to preserve the existing housing stock

Source: WrT

Row House CDC, a sister organization of Project Row Houses has partnered with Rice (University) Building Workshop to develop affordable contextsensitive duplexes

Source: WrT

(left to right)

(from left to right)

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

Houston housing crisis: affordability gap

Housing affordability and accessible homeownership have become pressing concerns across the entire city: the gap between what Houston residents should pay for housing and their actual housing cost is growing.

The City of Houston has more renters (57%) than homeowners; of those renter households, nearly half paid more than 30% of their income towards housing in 2018, a statistic defined as being “housing cost burdened.” Renters who are housing cost burdened are more susceptible to displacement than homeowners, with increasing difficulty to purchase a home without significant subsidy.

Households making the median household income in Harris County have seen median sales prices grow above what they can sustainably afford. Homeownership is commonly seen as a path towards wealth-building, so the increasing difficulty of closing this affordability gap is a concern for growing longterm wealth of city residents—a particular concern in communities of color, historically denied opportunities for wealth-building.

Houston homeownership rates in 2010 & 2018

White Asian Hispanic or Latino 50%

Houston homeownership rates in 2010 & 2018. Black/African-American communities were the most affected by the increase in housing costs in the City of Houston, dropping homeownership between those years by 6%.

Source: "THe 2020 STATe oF HouSING IN HArrIS couNTY AND HouSToN" rePorT. KINDer INSTITuTe For urBAN reSeArcH, rIce uNIVerSITY.

Housing affordaility and cost-burdened households in the City of Houston

Source: ceNSuS.GoV, AcS eSTIMATeS 2019

Affordability in the Third Ward

Like its larger city, the Third Ward is facing housing cost challenges as well, for both homeowners and renters. Eighty-five percent of Third Ward renters who make less than $20,000 spend more than 30% of their income on housing, while 67% of homeowners at the same income range spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Across all income ranges, 50% of all Third Ward renters and 25% of owners are considered housing cost burdened.

Finding ways to create long-term affordable rentals and pathways to homeownership are high priorities for residents, and particularly important in a neighborhood facing development pressure: with so many residents already paying more than 30% of their income, rapid rises in housing prices could lead to displacement.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND

Cost-burdened renters + more than 50% of all the renters in the City of Houston spend more than 30% of their income on housingrelated costs.

Median sales price and affordable housing price for median household income + between 2011 and 2018, median sales price rose from $139,000 to $220,000 + At the same time, the affordable housing price rose from $163,121 in 2011 to $186,256 in 2018

What is affordable housing?

What is the Area Median Income (AMI)?

The AMI serves to classify how affordable the housing stock is. The AMI represents the point at which half of households earn more and half earn less.

What do the percentages represent?

• <80% AMI, low-income households.

• <50% AMI, very low-income households.

• <30% AMI, extremely low-income households.

Area Median Income for the City of Houston is $52,450

• 30% AMI - $15,735

• 50% AMI - $26,225

• 80% AMI - $41,960

• 120% AMI - $62,940

What is housing affordability?

Housing affordability means that housing costs are within the means of the household. HUD sets a threshold for housing affordability: households that spend more than 30% of the income in housing costs including rent, utilities, and taxes, are considered to be housing cost burdened.

So, what does the infographic represent?

The housing ladder infographic tells us how many households within the AMI threshold are housing cost burdened, based on Houston's Metropolitan Statistical Area.

• Of those households renting, and below 30% AMI, 94.5% spend more than 30% of their income in housing costs, same as those households that earn between 30-50% AMI.

• Of those households renting and between 50-80% AMI, more than half are housing cost burdened.

• More than half of the homeowners below 30% AMI and between 30-50% AMI spend more than 30% of their income in housing costs.

Source: "THe 2020 STATe oF HouSING IN HArrIS couNTY AND HouSToN" rePorT. KINDer INSTITuTe For urBAN reSeArcH, rIce uNIVerSITY.

This map shows that renter-occupied housing is widespread in the Choice neighborhood boundary

Source: cITY oF

HouSToN; uS ceNSuS 2019

AcS 5-YeAr eSTIMATeS

OWNERSHIP AND VACANCY

Renter-occupied housing

Only 18.7% of residents own their homes in the Choice neighborhood, half the rate of Houston at large (37.6%) . Seventy-three percent of Third Ward residents are renters, in sharp contrast to Houston as a whole (53%). These rates are not atypical for neighborhoods with lower household incomes, but high rates of renter-occupied housing creates several challenges with regard to stability as homeowners tend to protect their investment by maintaining their homes and it can contribute to the persistence of generational poverty.

Homeownership does not necessarily fully address affordability concerns: much of the historic housing stock in the Choice neighborhood was constructed

before 1940 and is in poor repair, and the cost of maintenance can be prohibitive for residents on low or fixed incomes. Additionally, as new development continues and housing costs rise, property taxes often rise as well, further burdening lower-income homeowners.

Anecdotally, many rental properties in the neighborhood are changing ownership from individual or small-scale property owners to larger management companies and LLCs; this consolidation of ownership can create additional challenges for the longer-term accessibility of ownership for local residents, and for small-scale real estate developers, such as a resident buying their next-door property to as a rental investment.

Part of the Choice Neighborhood is very susceptible to gentrification in the City of Houston along with other areas shown in darker blue

Source: rIce KINDer INSTITuTe For urBAN reSeArcH

Displacement & gentrification

Given the Third Ward’s proximity to Downtown Houston, its rich history, and formerly low housing costs, the neighborhood has attracted significant development attention in the past decade. In an assessment of susceptibility to gentrification, two of Houston’s most vulnerable census blocks lie within the Choice neighborhood boundary. As rents rise and median home prices increase beyond what lower-income residents might reasonably afford, anxiety about potential displacement is also rising throughout the neighborhood. Sixty-nine percent of Third Ward residents list high rents as a concern to their ability to stay in the neighborhood and 64% of residents reporting “extreme concern” about the potential loss of African-American culture in their neighborhoods.

IN THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE

69% of Third Ward residents surveyed said high rents are a concern to their ability to stay in the neighborhood

Source: THIrD WArD coMPreHeNSIVe NeeDS ASSeSSMeNT, 2019.

Subsidized housing throughout the Third Ward

Subsidized & affordable housing

Cuney Homes is the only Houston Housing Authority property within the Choice neighborhood boundary, but there are three other LIHTC properties to the northwest of the neighborhood: 2222 Cleburne; Homewood at Zion; and Zion Gardens. Meanwhile, Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) properties can be found throughout the neighborhood.

Housing adequacy & investment

The real demand for affordable housing in the Choice neighborhood is much greater due to the blighted conditions of the existing housing stock. According to the 2019 Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, almost one quarter (23.5%) of Third Ward households live in severely inadequate housing. That rate is significantly higher than the under 2% nationwide figure reported by HUD.

“Inadequate housing” is a category that can refer to many different problems, but Third Ward households rank the following as their most common issues in their homes:

y Presence of rats in the home (41%)

y Open cracks wider than a dime (30%)

y Inside water leaks (25%)

L ong-term lack of repair and maintenance on the single-family housing stock leads to untenable living conditions over time, but residents may not feel they have much of a choice to relocate elsewhere to sturdier homes.

Source: cITY oF HouSToN; HuD; HouSToN HouSING AuTHorITY

The proportion of pink properties indicates that the majority of houses were built before 1939

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

As the Third Ward Needs Assessment notes, lowerincome renters tend to be more vulnerable to evictions and therefore are often unwilling to report these severely inadequate conditions to a city official or their landlord. More stringent code enforcement or home repair programs may help bring up the quality of the Third Ward’s housing stock, but landlords may need real incentives – or fines – to be held accountable for improving the quality of their structures for their tenants.

Assets to build on

A quick look at a map of the Choice neighborhood shows that while it has ready access to regional highways, those same routes—state highway 288 and interstate highways 69 (US-59) and 45—isolate the historic neighborhood from the rest of the city. The construction of these highways considerably impacted the Third Ward community by demolishing homes and preventing growth in the neighborhood.

Despite this challenge, the Choice neighborhood has several important assets that can act as seeds to build upon. Anchors like Texas Southern University and the University of Houston bring Houstonians from the entire region to the neighborhood. The presence of community organizations like the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, Project Row Houses, Change Happens! and the Third Ward Multi-Service Center, along with recent improvements at the community hub of Emancipation Park, support residents and their participation in civic life. Existing multi-modal transit connections are being expanded in the near future, connecting residents with the larger city.

These assets and connections can serve to grow opportunities for residents and create essential infrastructure for more activity within the neighborhood.

Finally, in addition to these physical assets, residents’ strong sense of community, collective efficacy and desire to stay in neighborhood create intangible strengths: 78% of Third Ward residents describe being either “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” living in the Third Ward. This satisfaction and pride of place can be a strong driver for the future of the neighborhood, as long as current residents are provided opportunities to stay.

Assets to build on in the Choice neighborhood

+ Nodes and arteries

There are two primary commercial arteries in the Choice neighborhood running along the northsouth streets of Emancipation Avenue to the west of the neighborhood, and Scott Street to the east. In addition, there are also pockets of commercial activity on some of the east-west streets, especially McGowen, Elgin, Alabama, Blodgett, and Southmore streets. Intersections where these cross-streets meet Emancipation Avenue and Scott Street have seen some recent higher-density mixed-use development, creating small emerging “nodes” of activity in the neighborhood.

Emancipation Park is physical, historical, and spiritual heart of the community. It underwent a $33.5 million renovation in 2017

Source: AYALA VArGA PHoToGrAPHY

According to the Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, residents do report shopping within the neighborhood for their groceries, primarily at major stores like HEB or Fiesta – only 15% reported shopping for groceries outside of the neighborhood. This may be partially due to mobility limitations, but also may indicate a preference for supporting local businesses: 92% of residents responding to that survey requested additional retail opportunities in the neighborhood, including clothing, home goods, book, and other retail stores. Meanwhile, commercial activity on the other side of Highway 288, in Midtown, creates strong commercial competition for these businesses, with more mobile Third Ward residents crossing over into the neighborhood to the west.

Source:

+ Emancipation Avenue

In 1950, there were 175 businesses on Emancipation Avenue, historically a major center for AfricanAmerican commerce in Houston; as of 2018, there were 20 (Complete Communities Third Ward Action Plan, 2018). The Emancipation Avenue Main Street Program, an initiative of the Emancipation Economic Development Council and the Texas Historical Commission, is designed to create and support equitable economic development along this important corridor by revitalizing commerce, celebrating African American culture, and promoting creativity. Emancipation Avenue has also been chosen as a pilot in the City’s Walkable Places program. The recent $33.5 million redevelopment of Emancipation Park and its community/recretion center has increased public visibility of this corridor as a central hub for Houston’s African-American community.

(middle and bottom)

A peek inside Crumbville, a new small business in the Emancipation Avenue corridor

Source: WrT

Doshi House is another example of the entrepreneurial spirit bubbling up in the Third Ward is also the informal community gathering space

Source: WrT

A view overlooking Emancipation Park towards downtown

365THINGSIN HouSToN.coM

(top

(bottom)

Across the street from Emancipation Park is the recently completed mixed-use Affordable Housing Operations Center, designed to harness synergies among organizations to lift up historically underserved individuals through affordable housing and supportive services.

The Center represents a symbol of re-birth for the community and includes a new 5-story, 58,000-SF mixed-use building and a multi-level parking garage with about 215 spaces next door.

The ground-floor provides a community room and houses CenterWell Senior Primary Care, providing much-needed medical services to those 65 and older. Just behind the garage is a new 3-story building with 20 residential units over parking at grade level.

y Street character: Emancipation Avenue today has scattered vacancy, and older businesses often have deep setbacks with front parking lots. New development around Emancipation Park is higher density mixed-use with minimal setbacks, indicating a shift towards rethinking this street as an urban and walkable corridor, but currently businesses are still spread far enough apart to limit a consistently walkable experience.

+ Scott Street Corridor

The other major commercial corridor in the Choice neighborhood is Scott Street on the eastern side of the neighborhood. Scott Street is a major transportation corridor, with the Purple Line light rail and several bus lines connecting residents and students from the University of Houston north. Scott Street is the only north-south street crossing Bray’s Bayou and I-45, making it a high-traffic corridor connecting inner-Loop neighborhoods.

The

with access to the universities has the potential to support more transitoriented development.

Source: HouSToN ArcHITecTure WeBPAGe

Scott Street corridor is primarily auto-oriented but new development is adding density and creating more of a street edge.

Source: GooGLe MAPS

Most of the development along the corridor is autooriented, and the wide divided street and fast traffic can make crossing the street difficult for pedestrians. Businesses include fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations with deep setbacks and parking lots in front facing the street.

Some new development on Scott Street adheres to mixed-use transit-oriented development standards, with minimal setbacks and higher densities, especially at the Scott/Elgin intersection.

and middle)

METRORail

When asked, "What can help maintain and improve Emancipation Avenue?," residents said:

Safer, more visible crosswalks #1

Brighter lighting #2

Enhaced bus stop waiting environment #3

Accessibility for people of all abilities #4

More businesses in one concentrated area #5

When asked, "What improvements should be made to Scott Street to make it more inviting?," residents said:

Enhanced bus stops #1

Safe crosswalks #2

Accessibility for people of all abilities #3

Improved sidewalks #4

More trash and recycling receptacles #5

One Emancipation Center Affordable Housing Operations Center

The newly constructed One Emancipation Center is a beacon of hope and rebirth in the heart of the neighborhood. Located directly across the street from Emancipation Park, the 5-story, 58,000-SF building is home to the Affordable Housing Operations Center, designed to bring together organizations committed to preserving and expanding affordable housing in the Third Ward and Southeast Houston. Led by CCPPI, the Center strives to address displacement and help residents remain in their homes and in their neighborhoods.

Source: HTTPS://WWW.ArcH-coN.coM/DIVISIoN/ AFForDABLe-HouSING-oPerATIoNS-ceNTer/

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

Economic Development

As new development creates available commercial space, neighborhood organizations are spearheading programs to support small businesses and entrepreneurship in the community. The Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan emphasizes growing the local economy by testing community-owned cooperative models and popups, supporting local businesses, and local hiring, particularly with the two major universities in the neighborhood. Project Row Houses recently launched the Financial Opportunity Center with LISC for Third Ward job seekers, providing access to financial and career counseling along with entrepreneurship classes. Small businesses like Crumbville Bakery and Doshi House have launched on Emancipation Avenue with organizational support.

EMPLOYMENT

With major regional employment centers like Texas Southern University and the University of Houston, the Texas Medical Center, and Midtown and Downtown Houston all in close proximity to the Choice neighborhood, the Third Ward is well-located for workers. However, there is a mismatch between jobs in the neighborhood and jobs of residents: almost all employed neighborhood residents (99%) work outside of the neighborhood boundary. Meanwhile there are 2630 jobs within the neighborhood, but 97% of those are taken by workers from outside the neighborhood.

Within the neighborhood boundary major employers are scarce, with Texas Southern University the only large anchor. Workforce training and resources facilities are proposed for the neighborhood (Texas Workforce Solutions) in order to provide training and house job fairs, and local businesses are encouraged to hire local. (more about jobs, pipeline, training)

Houston’s citywide unemployment rate is 5.4%, but the rate for the CHOICE neighborhood is 14.3%. The Cuney Homes rate itself is twice as high as the surrounding neighborhood, at 31.8%. The Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment found that only one-fourth of neighborhood residents reported working full-time. 1 out of 5 of those without employment reported an inability to work due to health.

A majority (62%) of unemployed Cuney Homes residents reported being out of work for over a year. The biggest barriers for employment included overcoming criminal history and background checks, with 73% of residents listing this as a barrier keeping them from employment; the next highest responses were lacking skills for available jobs (56%) and finding quality of affordable childcare (54%).

Poverty is twice as high in the Cuney Homes households as it is citywide: the Houston poverty rate is 20.1% and the Cuney Homes rate is 39%.

Training for residents to hold positions in the CN is needed

Source: HouSToN.orG

"What

"If

"What do you feel are some reasons that people in the neighborhood struggle to get a job or keep a job?"

Overcoming criminal history and background checks

Lacking the skills needed for available jobs

Mental health challenges such as PTSD/trauma/ depression, anxiety

Not enough transportation options to get to jobs

Not enough education for available jobs

"If you are unemployed, how long have you been unemployed?"

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

Many tools are available to attract more investment in the Third Ward

Source: cITY oF HouSToN; HuD

INVESTMENT TOOLS Opportunity Zones & TIRZs

The entire Choice neighborhood lies within an Opportunity Zone, allowing for capital gains tax breaks for investments in projects within the zone. Some of the area is also within a Texas Enterprise Zone, whereby companies are nominated by communities to receive tax refunds based on the planned job creation and capital improvements. These incentives do not always influence the market enough to truly impact economically distressed communities, but may help finance eventual housing development within the Choice neighborhood.

A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone crosses into the Choice boundary: the Old Spanish Trail / Almeda Corridors TIRZ provides financing to stimulate commercial, industrial, and residential development in key corridors, especially streets and parks in the northwest of the Third Ward. Current projects funded through the TIRZ include streetscape and parks projects: the Emancipation Avenue Reconstruction Project, Emancipation Park and Community Center, Live Oak Street Improvements, Historic Holman Street Reconstruction, and the Greater Third Ward Neighborhood Project, among others.

New commercial areas in the ground floor of CCPPI

Source:

Renovation of Eldorado Ballroom, underway

Source:

TIRZ map

Source: cITY oF HouSToN WrT WrT

Educational attainment impacts the quality of life in many ways from earning potential, self-sufficiency and confidence to mental health. According to the Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, 80.9% of Third Ward residents have a high school diploma or GED while only 18% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Of the adult population at Cuney Homes, 76.5% have a high school diploma or GED and only 1.45% have a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the Houston Housing Authority.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The path to educational achievement begins at a very young age. Early childhood education helps children develop the emotional, social, and cognitive skills at a critical time of development (ages 0-5), when the brain will achieve 90% of its growth, which is necessary for a positive long-term effect.

Of the respondents who took the Cuney Homes survey, 21% have children under the age of 5, and of those 58% are enrolled in a licensed Pre-K or early childhood learning. The top reason that children of survey respondents are not enrolled is cost. The is was followed by difficulty finding a safe, quality pre-school program, and a lack of openings.

The Choice neighborhood has several licensed early childhood education facilities that include:

y Pre-K programs for 4-5 year-olds at the two public elementary schools: Blackshear Elementary and Lockhart Elementary School

y Pilgrim Day Care Center at Texas Southern University, which offers 140 slots for infants, toddlers, and pre-K students.

y SEARCH’s House of Tiny Treasures at the University of Houston, which is a nationally accredited preschool for children aged 2-5 who have or are experiencing homelessness.

y Generation One Academy at Cuney Homes: For over 15 years, this living laboratory for education research and development has provided a therapeutic environment geared toward building resiliency in families. The year-round program is for children aged 2-5 with after school and summer programs.

Kids also attended the meeting and took part

Source: WrT

Cuney Homes community meeting on February 23, 2022

K-12 SCHOOLS

There are four public schools operated by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) in the Choice neighborhood: Blackshear and Lockhart Elementary Schools, Yates High School, and a magnet program at Baylor College of Medicine at Ryan Middle School. In addition, Cullen Middle School serves Third Ward students from outside of the neighborhood.

There also several charter schools in the neighborhood, including Yellowstone Academy, Texas Southern University Charter School, and University of Houston Charter School.

Based on data from the Houston Housing Authority and the Cuney Homes resident survey, it is apparent that children living at Cuney Homes attend a wide range of schools, many outside of the Choice neighborhood.

Taking a closer look at the performance of the area public schools. The only school achieving a B or better for performance was in 2018-2019 was Baylor College of Medicine.

"Do you have children under 5 years of age?"

"Are the children under 5 in your household enrolled in a licensed pre-K or early childhood program?"

"Why are some reasons your children do not participate in a Pre-K or early childhood program?"

Cost, I cannot find an affordable program that meets my needs #1

Quality - I cannot find a safe, quality pre-school program #2

Openings - none of the programs I tried had spaces available #3

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

21%

21% YES! YES! My children attend one of these facilitliies

Source: WrT

Source:

+ Blackshear Elementary School

Source:

y Serves approximately 422 students in grades PreK to 5

y Special recognition: Blackshear was a certified Family Friendly School by HISD at the Platinum level for 20202021

y Texas Education Agency (TEA) Score/Accountability rating (based on student achievement, school progress, closing the gaps): C

y The percentage of students in Grade 5 meeting the standard for reading in 2019 was 74% (compared to 80% district-wide and 86% state-wide), and in math was 82% (versus 85% district-wide and 90% state-wide).

Serves approximately 577 students in grades PreK to 5

Special recognition: Lockhart was a certified Family Friendly School by HISD at the Platinum level for 20202021

Texas Education Agency (TEA) Score/Accountability rating (based on student achievement, school progress, closing the gaps): C

The percentage of students in Grade 5 meeting the standard for reading in 2019 was 82% (compared to 80% district-wide and 86% state-wide), and in math was 85% (versus 85% district-wide and 90% statewide).

+

Serves approximately 366 students in grades 6 to 8

Texas Education Agency (TEA) Score/Accountability rating (based on student achievement, school progress, closing the gaps): D

The percentage of students in Grade 8 meeting the standard for reading in 2019 was 62% (compared to 79% district-wide and 85% state-wide), and in math was 59% (versus 80% district-wide and 88% statewide).

+ Lockhart Elementary School

Cullen Middle School

Blackshear Elementary

PINTereST Lockhart Elementary School

TurNer coNSTrucTIoN

About education

65%

agreed that their child receives a high-quality education at school

“Are there additional services that would help your child do well in school?”

Summer programs #1

Individual tutoring #2

agreed that their child is engaged, motivated, and/ or inspired at school

71%

74% agreed that school staff understand and respect the values and traditions that are important to their family

agreed that school staff respects their child

Additional after school programming #3

Assistance with college #4

Homework club on-site at Cuney Homes Behavioral counseling #5

“If you have high school-aged children, what path do they hope to take after school?”

76%

agreed that their child is safe on the way to and from school

college

60%

agreed that their child has access to quality trauma-informed mental and behavioral health

“Do you feel your children’s current schooling is preparing him/her to achieve their after high school plans?”

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

Where do Cuney Homes children go to school?

Source: HouSToN HouSING AuTHorITY; cITY oF HouSToN

Baylor College of Medicine at Ryan Middle School

Source: HouSToN cHroNIcLe

Jack Yates High School recently underwent a major renovation

Source: MooDY NoLAN

+ Baylor College of Medicine at Ryan Middle School (Magnet School)

Serves approximately 418 students in grades 6 to 8

Texas Education Agency (TEA) Score/Accountability rating (based on student achievement, school progress, closing the gaps): B

The percentage of students in Grade 5 meeting the standard for reading in 2019 was 87% (compared to 80% district-wide), and in math was 84% (versus 85% district-wide).

The percentage of students in Grade 8 meeting the standard for reading in 2019 was 91% compared to 79% district-wide.

+ Jack Yates High School

Serves approximately 808 students in grades 9 to 12

Texas Education Agency (TEA) Score/Accountability rating (based on student achievement, school progress, closing the gaps): D

The 4-year graduation rate in 2019 was 73.3% compared to 79.2% at the district level and 90% at the state level.

The percentage of college, career, and military ready graduates in 2019 was 54% compared to 71% at the district level, and 73% at the state level.

Mobility & Connectivity

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Despite being divided from Downtown Houston by highway infrastructure, the Choice neighborhood is relatively well served by public transit, primarily via buses but also a light rail line, with plans to expand significantly in the near future. The Purple Line light rail, running north-south along Scott Street, has several stops on the east side of the Choice neighborhood, adjacent to the University of Houston. A stop is located less than half a mile or less than 10 minutes from Cuney Homes. Multiple bus lines connect east-west through the neighborhood with stops at Cuney Homes.

A Bus Rapid Transit line, the METRORapid, is also planned to connect east-west along Wheeler, Alabama, and Elgin Streets, running directly through the Cuney Homes property. This BRT would help create more direct connections from the CHOICE neighborhood to Midtown and north to the Fifth Ward, including direct connections to the Red Line and Purple Line light rail.

Houston

METRONext Moving Forward Plan

Houston’s METRONext Plan aims to ease the city’s traffic congestion and transform the transit network through 500 miles of travel improvements in the Houston region. These improvements include 75 miles of Bus Rapid Transit, the METRORapid, and improvements to high-ridership bus routes, designated as BOOST routes. The Choice neighborhood’s Route 54 bus line is slated to receive some of the first improvements in the city, including sidewalk and crosswalk improvements near the stops, bus shelters with lighting, and signal improvements. The 54 connects directly to the Downtown Transit Center along McGowen and Scott streets.

"What type of transportation do you use more often?"

"If employed, how do you typically get to work?"

Public transportation on the Third Ward

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

Bike infrastructure in the Third Ward

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE

Limited bike infrastructure exists in the Choice neighborhood currently, but additional lanes are planned to create a larger network for cyclists connecting to the city. On the west side of the study area, Hutchins Street has dedicated on-street infrastructure; to the east, the Columbia TAP Rail Trail runs directly through the Choice neighborhood and connects south to the Brays Bayou greenway. Transit trends predict an increase of bike boardings on METRO and bike share checkouts, and Houston BCycle stations, which offer bike shares,exist at several key sites within the Choice neighborhood, primarily around Texas Southern University.

Houston’s “Build 50 Challenge,” currently underway, is projected to bring 50 miles of on- and off-street bikeways to Houston, traditionally a city where cyclists

often drive to bike trailheads. This planned bike network is projected to help connect Houstonians to where they need to go via cycling to create a real alternative to car commuting. Though most of the improvements are slated for Precinct 1, some improvements are also planned for the Third Ward. The Bike Plan Network shows additional proposed east-west connections along Southmore, Alabama and McGowen Streets, and north-south connections like Emancipation Avenue and Live Oak Street, in order to connect Third Ward residents to safe infrastructure to the neighborhoods beyond. In the meantime, though, wide arteries with fast traffic and little shade from street trees can make cycling in Houston’s subtropical climate unpleasant and inconvenient.

WALKABILITY

The Greater Third Ward has a Walk Score of 64, defined as “Somewhat Walkable,” which is higher than the overall Houston Walk Score of 48 (“CarDependent”) . Walk Score® is a popular tool used by analysts and researchers in the fields of real estate, urban planning, government, public health, and finance. It “analyzes hundreds of walking routes to nearby amenities” and assigns a rating from 1 (car dependent) to 100 (walker’s paradise), taking into account features such as block length, number of intersections, and pedestrian safety. A Walk Score of 64 categorizes the Third Ward as a neighborhood where only some errands can be completed on foot, indicating additional room for improvement. Only slightly more than half of Third Ward residents (56%) have access to a car currently, well under the Houston average of 92%. In fact, almost half of Third Ward residents with household incomes of less than $10,000 lack access to a car, bike, or motorcycle, meaning that reliable public transit access and walkable streets become even more crucial for residents. Many residents reported sidewalks missing or in disrepair, and busy streets and wide blocks that prioritize curb cuts also limit a safe walking environment. The biggest transportation concern cited by Cuney Homes residents in the Needs Assessment is road conditions/potholes and flooding when it rains.

"Do any of the following issues present a challenge in your daily

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

Public Safety & Crime

According to the Third Ward Comprehensive Needs Assessment, a high percentage of current Third Ward residents have strong public safety concerns for their neighborhood, particularly at night, when only 31% of residents report feeling safe. Similarly, only half of Cuney Homes residents feel safe on-site, and only 27% feel it is safe to walk in the neighborhood at night.

More than 85% of residents reported hearing gunfire, and drug dealing/use and gangs were also reported as being widespread. These feelings are echoed by Cuney Homes residents whose top safety concerns are: gun violence and gang activity, followed by domestic abuse, abandoned buildings and lots and child abuse/neglect. Only 33% of Cuney Homes residents feel safe allowing their children to walk and play outside.

Increased police presence is not necessarily a solution to these safety concerns, either: in a neighborhood where George Floyd lived, more than half (60%) of Third Ward residents feel neutral to distrustful about the police, compared to only 40% who trust the police. Yet it is notable that 78% of Cuney Homes residents surveyed disagree that there are too many police in the neighborhood and 66% want to be involved in making the neighborhood safer.

Public safety and crime impact not only Houston’s adults, but also its youth. As of 2021, 98% of those in Harris County juvenile detention were Black or Latinx (Redefining Youth Justice Coalition). Harris County is currently undertaking a $4 million Youth Justice Community Investment Fund for community-based, community-designed programs in neighborhoods like the Third Ward with kids most at risk.

Almost 75% of women in the neighborhood reported feeling like crime limited their movements in the neighborhood. No matter how well-located and well-connected the neighborhood may be, public safety concerns are keeping Third Ward residents from feeling comfortable moving around their neighborhood freely.

Source: THIrD WArD coMPreHeNSIVe NeeDS ASSeSSMeNT, 2019.

Only 40% of Third Ward residents trust the police

"What are the top three safety concerns in your neighborhood for you and your family?"

About safety in the neighborhood:

agreed that they feel safe at Cuney Homes

agreed that they feel safe letting their children walk or play outside

agreed that they trust the Houston Police and can count on them when they need help

Do you want to be involved in making your neighborhood safer?

66%

agreed that there is enough police presence in the neighborhood

"Less trash and illegal dumping" "Better lighting along streets" 100%

"Better emergency response" 50%

"Better communication from Houston Police" 0%

"More visible security cameras"

Health & Wellness

Health is a strong concern for Third Ward residents. When asked about their most-desired service, store, or business for their neighborhood, almost 93% of residents responded that they wanted a hospital or health provider in their neighborhood, above other amenities like retail stores, restaurants, laundromats, or even childcare facilities. When asked how best to improve access to healthcare, Cuney Homes residents most requested more healthcare facilities in the neighborhood (73%)

In early 2022 the CenterWell Senior Primary Care facility opened in the Housing Operations Center on Emancipation Ave, providing primary healthcare for neighborhood residents aged 65 and older or adults with a disability, to help address the most pressing gaps in care. However, the Third Ward lacks a dedicated healthcare facility for all ages, making primary care physicians and preventive care less accessible by other residents especially those without access to cars.

Even for those who can leave the neighborhood, only 68% of Third Ward residents, 67% of Cuney Homes adults and 46% of Cuney Homes children have health insurance, much lower than the national average

of 91%. Whereas Third Ward residents reported much higher percentages of routine checkups than individuals in Houston, Harris County, Texas, and the US, only 8.5% of Cuney Homes residents have an annual check-up and only 24% have at least one dental cleaning. Free health screenings are wellused by Cuney Homes residents, though, with 33% of residents reporting taking part in a health screening across the past year.

Local access and mobility to healthcare services are crucial, but even more important to residents is the affordability of that care: the biggest barrier to medical care for residents currently in the Choice neighborhood is the cost of healthcare, with 38% of Third Ward residents surveyed and 67% of Cuney Homes residents listing cost as a barrier. This percentage is even higher for barriers to mental health or substance abuse care, often not covered as consistently as physical health needs by insurers, with 71% of residents listing the cost of these services as a barrier. More local healthcare providers, access to mental health and substance abuse care providers, and access to affordable health resources are all of critical importance for residents.

Opening ceremonies of the Houston Negro Hospital in 1926, which was one of the first non-profit hospitals to serve African Americans. Later known as Riverside Hospital, it also provided the opportunity for Black physicians and nurses to practice and train. It closed in 2014, leaving the area without a hospital or primary care facility.

Source: uNIVerSITY oF HouSToN SPecIAL coLLecTIoNS LIBrArY

The study also found that residents living in inadequate housing conditions were somewhat more likely to report having health concerns, such as asthma. More significant than the physical health correlation was mental health: residents reporting a mental illness or emotional or behavioral disorder in their households were much more likely to live in inadequate housing (16% of respondents in this category) than those in adequate housing (8%).

Health also has correlations for residents’ employment: approximately one-fifth of residents without employment reported an inability to work due to health concerns. Diabetes, vision problems, and high blood pressure are also significantly higher among Third Ward residents than the rest of the city, with more than 20% of residents reporting vision problems and 14% reporting diabetes.

Top health conditions cited by Cuney Homes residents

High blood pressure

Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress

Asthma/breathing

"How could your access to quality healthcare be improved?"

Locating more healthcare facilities in the neighborhood

Employing staff who are culturally competent and sensitive to my circumstances/ history/understand me

"Do

"Do

"Do all children in your household have health insurance?"

"Have

"Have at least one dental cleaning?"

"Take part in a free health screening?"

Life expectancy in the City of Houston varies widely with life expectancy in the Choice neighborhood on the lower end.

Source: uT

SouTHWeSTerN MeDIcAL ceNTer

LIFE EXPECTANCY

Across the City of Houston there is a more than 20 year disparity in life expectancy. The census tracts with the lowest life expectancies correlate strongly with those of higher African-American and Hispanic populations.

Life expectancy in the Third Ward is in the range of 74.4-78.5 years. Though this is not the lowest range for the city, it is still lower than the 2021 national average of 79 years, and far lower than census tracts in the city with a range of 86.5 years or more.

Residents of Cuney Homes and the Third Ward experience a number of challenges to their health and overall well-being. The fact that that many of these are inter-related simply exacerbates the challenges further.

FOOD ACCESS

The USDA has designated portions of the Choice neighborhood as a “food desert,” where affordable and nutritious food is not easily available. More than half (51.4%) of Third Ward residents are designated as food insecure, compared to 11.8% nationally

That percentage is even higher at lower incomes: over 60% of Third Ward households with incomes of less than $10,000 screened as food insecure. Thirty-one percent of Cuney Homes residents report not having enough food to eat in their households about once or twice a week. The Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan estimates that approximately 3600 Third Ward residents struggle to access fresh food in their neighborhood. More than three-quarters of Cuney Homes residents report receiving SNAP/WIC benefits.

Food resources in the Choice neighborhood are very limited.

Source: uT

SouTHWeSTerN MeDIcAL ceNTer

In 2020, H-E-B (MacGregor Market) opened the first full-service grocery store in the area in 20 years. The challenge is that it is at the far south end of the Choice neighborhood, and not easily accessible by residents without cars. According to the USDA, twenty-five percent of Third Ward households do not own a car and live more than half a mile from a grocery store (Third Ward Complete Communities Action Plan / USDA Food Desert Map).

Despite the arrival of H-E-B, Cuney Homes residents listed a full-service grocery store as their mostrequested amenity in the neighborhood (72%).

Community garden efforts like the Blodgett Urban Farms and EcoTone are important civic hubs for the community and help to address the need for fresh produce. Further expanding and adding community

gardens throughout the neighborhood can build local resilience and protect against shocks to larger food supply chains, as revealed in the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be one of several food security strategies.

Arts & Culture

The Third Ward has an extraordinarily rich culture of artistic expression rooted in its African-American heritage that is immediately evident in colorful murals across the neighborhood.

Many recall the pinnacle of black culture in Houston— the Eldorado Ballroom located across the street from Emancipation Park on Dowling Avenue (now Emancipation Avenue). Built in 1939 and owned by African-American businesswoman Anna Dupree, the “home of happy feet” was a fashionable venue for dancing that for three decades was also a premier showcase for local and national African-American musicians. Historic greats like Count Bassie, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Bill Doggett, Etta James, Jimmy Reed, Big Joe Turner, and T-Bone Walker brought blues, jazz, R&B and occasionally pop and zydeco to this Third Ward landmark. In the 1970s, desegregation, a lack of parking, and changes tastes in music shifted attention away from the Eldorado. More recently, the building was donated to Project Row Houses, which is restoring the Eldorado to its former glory.

Project Row Houses is at the epi-center of the arts and culture in the Third Ward, through which it is fostering social engagement, community enrichment, and neighborhood development (see spread on pages 108-109). By celebrating, protecting, and elevating Black art, culture, and community, Project Row Houses is honoring the past while helping the community build a dynamic future.

In 2020, the Texas Commission for the Arts established the Third Ward Cultural Arts District to “activate spaces of healing and create a have for artists most in need of a place to feel safe to create and thrive.” The district also creates opportunities for visitors to participate in the work and connect with the community. Project Row Houses is the management entity for the Cultural District.

In addition to PRH, a handful of dynamic organizations in the Choice neighborhood are nurturing the arts. These include Workshop Houston, which offers culturally-specific, near peer-led arts education programs for youth involving music, fashion, dance, and media. The Community Music Center of Houston is a music and performing arts and education organization founded in 1979, to preserve, appreciate and perform music that reflects Black music traditions. The SHAPE Center offers cultural, recreational, life skills, and academic enrichment activities for children and young adults to regain control of their lives and return their communities to their original greatness.

It is no surprise that the Third Ward has been home to many renowned artists. In addition to those mentioned above, Dr. John Biggers taught at Texas Southern University in the 1950s where he nurtured artists of color and many through Project Row Houses. The recent work of Third Ward resident Marc Newsome (aka Marc Furi) draws inspiration from his neighborhood, tracing the rapid gentrification through his I (heart) 3W project at Project Row Houses and his documentary I LOVE 3RD WARD series. In addition to Marc Newsome, Israel McCloud and Maya Imani Watson who also grew up in Third Ward were commissioned to take part in the Mini Murals Houston project that goes beyond beautification by paying homage to influential figures in the community.

The Eldorado Ballroom was the place to be

Source: NPr

Mini-murals in the neighborhood celebrate local artists and their heritage

Source: HouSToN cHroNIcLe

Source: coMMuNITY

MuSIc ceNTer oF HouSToN

Workshop Houston

Source: WorKSHoP HouSToN

Since 1993, Project Row Houses has empowered and enriched the community through engagement, art, and action

Source: creATIVe TIMe rePorTS

(left to right)

(left to right) Community Music Center of Houston

Project Row Houses: an international model for art and social engagement, community enrichment, and neighborhood development

In 1993, seven visionary AfricanAmerican artists—James Bettison, Bert Long, Jr., Jesse Lott, Rick Lowe, Floyd Newsum, Bert Samples, and George Smith—saw the potential of a series of run-down row houses at Holman and Live Oak streets in the historic Third Ward as a canvas to ignite social transformation.

Art and Social Engagement

Seven of the row houses are open twice a year to visiting artists to display works that address a topic, question, or challenge facing the community.

But that is just the beginning. Today, PRH spans five city blocks with 39

structures that touch the lives of artists along with under-resourced neighbors, young single mothers, small enterprises, and the entire community through:

Community Enrichment

Ever-evolving initiatives include the Third Ward Financial, Artistic, Career & Empowerment Center (FACE) to support community wealth building through financial literacy and career coaching. PRH’s Incubation Program provides space, time, and/ or mentorship for entrepreneurs like Crumbville Bakery, Gulf Coast Cosmos Comicbook Company, Kindred Stories, and 3rd Ward Tours,

bringing much needed retail to the neighborhood while lifting up local residents.

Neighborhood Development

In addition to efforts such as managing the Third Ward Cultural District and restoring the Eldorado Ballroom, PRH is working with organizations to provide affordable housing that preserves the character of the neighborhood and maintains a vibrant, diverse community. PRH also helped form the Emancipation Community Development Partnership that led to the Emancipation Economic Development Council.

Symbolism of the row houses and Influence of Dr. John Biggers & Joseph Beuys

Originated in West Africa, the “shotgun” house was widely adopted in Black neighborhoods across the south. Although simple in form, row houses like those in Third Ward are thoughtfully designed to respond to the local climate—letting cross breezes cool the interior—and foster community with front porches and shared outdoor spaces in the rear.

Celebrated artist, educator, and Third Ward resident, Dr. John Biggers was “a teacher, friend, and mentor to many of PRH’s founders.” He frequently included shotgun houses in his work, and the history and significance of the row house were recognized by PRH’s founders. The work of German artist and activist Joseph Beuys also influenced the founders who embraced his idea of “social sculpture” and the potential of shared artmaking to transform society.

Source: (LeFT To rIGHT): ProJecT roW HouSeS; HTTPS://WWW.cHroN.coM/PoLITIcS/ArTIcLe/TeXASBooK-BAN-LAW-crITIcAL-rAce-THeorY-16594831.PHP; HTTPS://WWW.JILLBJArVIS.coM/WHere-IN-HouSToNProJecT-roW-HouSeS-2/; WrT

Parks & Recreation

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

The Third Ward’s parks are used for community programming and recreation, with more than 70% of residents reporting visiting a neighborhood park in the past 12 months. The Choice neighborhood is proud to contain several culturally and historically important parks, highlighted by Emancipation Park, an important community gathering space commemorating the state’s first Juneteenth celebration in 1872. The $33.5 million renovation in 2017 preserves and fortifies the park as a center for recreation and civic life with a welcome center, aquatics center, children’s playground, recreation center with classrooms, health center, basketball court, ball fields, picnic areas, outdoor courts, and renovated lawn. Another significant resource is Moses LeRoy Park, named after an important Third Ward civil rights and labor activist. Riverside Park and Brays Bayou offer green space and recreational amenities in the southern portion of the Choice neighborhood while smaller parks dot the rest of the neighborhood.

The Trust for Public Land is a national organization working to ensure that there is a park within a 10-minute walk of every person, in every neighborhood, in every city in the U.S. While Houston’s ParkScore® is 61%, slightly better than the national average of 55%, a closer look at the Third WardCuney Homes Choice Neighborhood shows that the neighborhood is fairly well served. There are primarily three areas of moderate to high need: 1 –between Scott Street and Cullen Boulevard north of Elgin Street; 2 – west of Scott Street around Alabama Street, including the area around Cuney Homes, and 3 - south of Blodgett Street around Ennis Street and Emancipation Avenue.

Another important asset is the Columbia Tap Rail Trail, a four-mile paved trail, whichruns alongside Cuney Homes and connects residents south to the larger Brays Bayou Greenway system and north to downtown just blocks from Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.

Source: TrAIL LINK

Source: AYALA VArGA PHoToGrAPHY

Columbia Tap Trail

Emancipation Park amenities

This map illustrates 10-minute walking access to the parks. A few edges of the neighborhood are in need of park space

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

When asked what amenities could improve the neighborhood some of the top responses related to parks & recreation were: 50% 46% 45%

and making neighborhood parks safer

spaces more inclusive/ accessible

and benches along Columbia Tap Rail

"Which of the following activities does your chil(ren) take part in?"

Casual playing in parks/ fields a few times a week 33% jogging, walking, riding a bike outside a few times a week

33% 18%

Exercising at home with apps/videos/home equipment a few times a week 24%

Organized sports leagues

Source: cuNeY HoMeS reSIDeNT SurVeY, 2022

Resiliency

CLIMATE RISKS

A Gulf Coast city with a subtropical climate, Houston is at risk for extreme climate events, particularly hurricanes and heat waves. Fortunately for the Choice neighborhood, flooding is not a broad concern here, other than the area directly abutting Brays Bayou to the south of the neighborhood boundary.

However, extreme heat is a health hazard for a neighborhood with poor building stock and lowerincome residents: houses are often very energy inefficient and poorly insulated, raising the costs of air conditioning and placing residents at higher susceptibility for mortality during heat waves. The heat index skews higher in nearby Midtown and

Downtown, where there is more impervious surface and dark roof coverage, but the Greater Third Ward neighborhood is still assessed as having a moderateto high degree of vulnerability to extreme heat and health impacts. This vulnerability is primarily due to the overlap between socioeconomic vulnerabilities (age, mobility) and environmental (low tree canopy, aging building stock).

With high-temperature projections rising in the 21st century, finding ways to mitigate extreme heat and protect vulnerable communities will become even more critical. Home energy retrofits, tree planting, and reducing impervious surface coverage are some of the ways neighborhoods like the Third Ward can help lower high surface temperatures in urban blocks.

This map show the threat of heat to many areas of the Choice neighborhood

Source: HeAT WATcH HouSToN AND HArrIS couNTY AFTerNooN TeMPerATure MoDeL

TREE CANOPY

Houston at large has approximately 33.3 million trees with a canopy covering 18.4% of the City. The city-wide canopy is particularly crucial to shield Houstonians from intense heat, mitigate urban heat islands, and help capture stormwater runoff, of particular importance in a hurricane-prone region with a projected increase of extreme storm events. The Houston-Galveston Area Council estimates that Houston’s tree canopy provides over $100 worth of environmental benefits per person per year, saves $90 per household in energy costs, and removes more than 60,000 tons of air pollution per year.

In the Greater Third Ward many residential blocks have existing tree canopy coverage, including some of the vacant lots in the northern half of the neighborhood, but there is further capacity for

Source: cITY oF HouSToN

expanding the canopy. The main commercial streets (Southmore Boulevard, Blodgett Street, Elgin Street, Emancipation Avenue, and Scott Street) and some of the blocks to the north and west of the neighborhood have been identified as opportunity sites to integrate additional tree plantings.

Increasing the tree canopy will help moderate heat

Social Resiliency

In addition to climate-reliated shocks, the city faces a number of chronic stresses including poverty/ inequity, poor transportation network and quality, poor education quality and access, and a lack of affordable housing to name a few. The ability to manage these shocks and stressors and protect the most vulnerable populations require innovative thinking and incorporation of resilient approaches.

Resilient Houston has identified 12 drivers within the frameworks of Health & Wellbeing; Economy & Society; Infrastructure & Environment; and Leadership & Strategy that collectively determine the city’s ability to withstand a wide range of shocks and stresses. As the Resilient Houston framework has acknowledged, "areas of concentrated social vulnerability, like the Third Ward, will need increased resources and attention in order to recover quickly from shocks and stresses."

Vulnerability to climate risks is both socioeconomic and environmental, and the same is true for resilience against risk. In that respect, the strong sense of community and social cohesion represented in Cuney Homes and throughout the Third Ward stands as a major strength against shocks and disaster.

Half of Cuney Homes residents list their community as one of the neighborhood’s greatest strengths. The Northern Third Ward Health Collaborative reports that 82% of Third Ward residents would watch a neighbor’s child; 87% would check on an elderly neighbor; and 73% would give a neighbor a ride. In crisis events this network of neighbors supporting neighbors is a crucial intangible to mitigating disaster risk, according to emerging social science research on disaster resilience.

The Third Ward’s long history of civic engagement and grassroots activism, in addition to its network of community and faith-based organizations, has created a strong sense of community efficacy and interreliance. This social cohesion provides a deep foundation of resilience for the Choice community to weather whatever environmental, economic, or political shocks may come.

The story of George Floyd ripples across the neighborhood

Source: WrT

IN THIS SECTION:

+ COMMUNITY VISION

+ GUIDING PRINCIPLES

+ UNDERSTANDING MARKET REALITIES

+ GOALS & STRATEGIES

+ HOUSING PROGRAM

+ PHASING AND FINANCIAL PLAN

+ CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Housing Plan

The Housing Plan will aim to enhance the availability of safe and affordable housing that continues to foster the strong sense of community and is sensitive to the surrounding context. The Plan will consider strategies to address gentrification and prevent displacement, and explore opportunities to create “nodes” of activity so that the neighborhood can enjoy some of the services it currently lacks.

COMMUNITY VISION

The community vision for the Housing Plan has not yet been developed.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

A set of principles to guide the Housing Plan has not yet been developed.

UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET REALITIES

A Market Study is underway. Summary of the findings will be included in this section.

GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies have not yet been developed.

HOUSING PROGRAM

The Housing Program has not yet been developed.

PHASING AND FINANCING PLAN

Phasing and financing for the housing program have not yet been developed.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

A conceptual vison articulated in an illustrative rendering(s) has not yet been developed.

IN THIS SECTION:

+ COMMUNITY VISION

+ EDUCATION GOALS & STRATEGIES

+ HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOALS & STRATEGIES

+ EMPLOYMENT GOALS & STRATEGIES

+ YOUTH GOALS & STRATEGIES

People Plan

Housing alone will not enable residents to be their best selves. The People Plan will help better connect residents with educational resources, career counseling and job training, and meaningful employment, along with inspiration, encouragement, and hope so that they may thrive.

COMMUNITY VISION

A community-led vision for the People Plan has not yet been developed.

EDUCATION GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies related to education have not yet been developed.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies related to health and wellness have not yet been developed.

EMPLOYMENT GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies related to employment have not yet been developed.

YOUTH GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies related to youth have not yet been developed.

IN THIS SECTION:

+ COMMUNITY VISION

+ NEIGHBORHOOD GOALS & STRATEGIES

+ PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS & STRATEGIES

Neighborhood Plan

The physical environment has tremendous potential to support or hinder happiness, well-being, and even achievement. While the neighborhood has some basic building blocks in place including a growing transit system and identified commercial corridors, it will benefit from a unified vision that aligns economic, mobility, and natural resource goals with the physical infrastructure.

COMMUNITY VISION

A vision for the neighborhood has not yet been developed.

NEIGHBORHOOD GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies related to the neighborhood have not yet been developed.

PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS & STRATEGIES

Goals and corresponding strategies related to public safety have not yet been developed.

Implementation

The planning process presents a unique opportunity to bring residents and partners together to shape a shared vision for the future. Planning is the first critical step toward meaningful change. Mapping out a path for implementation with clear milestones and responsibilities is the second critical step, necessary to turn the plan into reality.

As exciting as it is to dream of the possibilities, it is more exciting to see actual change. The Third WardCuney Homes Choice Neighborhood Planning process is committed to developing goals and strategies with clearly defined metrics, timeframes for completion, and partners identified to lead their implementation. The intent is not for this plan to remain idle.

EARLY ACTION ACTIVITIES

With so many recent neighborhood plans completed in the last few years, we don’t want to wait to set things in motion and we do want to respond to the excitement that is in the air. Fortunately, the grant from HUD includes some funds to start on some neighborhood improvement projects or “early action activities”.

What can Early Action Funds can support?

"Early Action Activities" are intended to provide innovative solutions to neighborhood challenges that can be completed within the two-year planning process. They must involve physical community development or economic development projects. Although these funds cannot be used for nonphysical uses (supportive services, administrative costs, marketing, basic infrastructure, etc.), they may be used for:

y Reclaiming and recycling vacant property

y Beautification, placemaking, community arts

y Facade improvement programs

y Neighborhood broadband/Wi-Fi infrastructure

y Fresh food initiatives

y Gap financing for economic development projects

Identifying and Planning Early Action Activities

It is important to conduct the Needs Assessment to get a sense of residents’ aspirations. Since the survey has just finished and the data will soon be shared, Cuney Homes residents and the Task Forces will start discussions about the findings and assembling a list of ideas for Early Action Activities. A Committee will be formed in April 2022 to review, select, and then plan the activities so that they may be completed before the end of the planning process.

Description of Early Action Activities

These activities have not yet been identified.

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Measuring progress is an effective way to track the plan’s goals and strategies and to ensure steps are being taken to realize the plan. This section will include a detailed matrix summarizing all of the plan’s goals, strategies, and Early Action Activities. It will include timeframes, responsible partners, and metrics to aid in monitoring progress.

HOUSING

GOAL 1: Strategies Metrics Lead Agency & Partners Timeframe (ST, MT, LT) Leverage Resources

1. Work with... No. new units HHA MT Existing Operating Funds

PEOPLE

GOAL 1: Strategies Metrics Lead Agency & Partners Timeframe (ST, MT, LT) Leverage Resources

1. Work with... Increase no. services Sankofa MT Existing Operating Funds

NEIGHBORHOOD

GOAL 1: Strategies Metrics Lead Agency & Partners Timeframe (ST, MT, LT) Leverage Resources

1. Work with... No. new businesses City MT Existing Operating Funds