musicman Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 The reek of urine slaps you in the face. Shabby men huddled beside bedrolls snap to attention, stare sullenly, then slump back into lethargy. A beetle-browed drinker hunkers over his 40-ounce malt liquor, silently challenging anyone to interfere. Welcome to Guadalupe Plaza, home to drunks, permanent down-and-outers and the righteous destitute who simply have nowhere else to go. It's a city park just a mile east of downtown's shimmering towers that hasn't so much fallen from grace as just given up. Until now, though, few people cared. Meet George Helber, the soft-spoken 60-year-old self-appointed park improver, tree planter and tireless tilter at bureaucratic windmills. Helber, who lives next door to the park, cares a lot. Since October, Helber has lobbed repeated e-mails at City Hall, demanding better park maintenance and policing. "OK," begins one, "they're back IN FORCE, drinking their beer and wine, littering bottles, cans, food wrappers, etc. ... The water in the beautiful old Spanish fountain is white with soap and one is uneasy getting close, as the mist from there can't be healthy." full article this is a little ironic. the city declares eminent domain for blvd place to build a pocket park yet there's a park people want to use and the city doesn't maintain it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church itself gives food to homeless as the norm. Has for decades. Guess developers forgot to tell all of these newly arrived inhabitants of the nearby townhomes. They made their own beds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Is that the park right there on at the start of Navigation?If so, I have always felt it had so much potential. Actually, I almost bought a townhouse right there, but something didn't feel right at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Is that the park right there on at the start of Navigation?If so, I have always felt it had so much potential. Actually, I almost bought a townhouse right there, but something didn't feel right at the time. Yes it is. The area always had a foul stench from nearby factory & bayou. Over 45 years that I know of. Still lingers on ocassion today. These are the things you wont see/hear of in those glossy brochures. I'll stop now. Just don't believe in "guilding the lily". Peace, love and all that jazz people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgs1419 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church itself gives food to homeless as the norm. Has for decades. Guess developers forgot to tell all of these newly arrived inhabitants of the nearby townhomes. They made their own beds... Our Lady of Guadalupe has a very successful hunger ministry but why is it unreasonable to expect that people come and go without trashing the street and park? Yea, this must be the developer's fault. Surely we can't blame the City - each one of those new residents is paying $5k to $6k a year in property taxes. The City is reaping a total windfall as the property pre-development had zero if not negative tax value. Now that there are residents, property value and a tax base, the City provides those citizens with crap schools, parks with no maintenance and a laissez fare attitude from the police ['why would we enforce the law, they'll just break it again and then where will we be?']. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I liked that it was 'affordable' (barely) and that it was so close to downtown, the new park, etc. ... but there were a lot of negatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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