Urbannizer Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 https://theleadernews.com/owner-nearby-residents-remain-at-odds-over-fate-of-heights-property/ A deal was in place that would have given the Frank family $3.6 million for its property in the Heights. It was thwarted in part by a group of homeowners that want the land – which includes a vacant commercial building and adjoining vacant lots – to be used for other single-family houses instead of an apartment complex. The latter use was the plan by Chicago-based Brinshore Development, which entered into a contract for the land last December and earmarked it for at least 60 affordable housing units. That deal fell through, partly because Brinshore failed in its bid to receive federal housing tax credits through the state of Texas and also because nearby homeowners succeeded in securing an ordinance from the City of Houston that requires undeveloped land in the area to be used for single-family residences. Mike Frank, whose family estate owns the land at the northeast corner of 4th Street and Columbia Street, still can sell the majority of the 46,000 square foot property to a developer that wants to build a multi-family residence. And that’s his intention. “They busted the Brinshore deal up,” Frank said of homeowners in the area. “I’ve still got 33,000 square feet of lots that’s commercial that I hope to use as a high rise that I want to put right in front of their face.” Heights homeowner Donna Bennett said it’s “unfortunate” that Frank is taking such a stance. She and Rebecca Abel were co-applicants for a Special Minimum Lot Size Area (SMLSA), which garnered adequate support of property owners between 4th Street and White Oak Drive and, from east to west, between Oxford Street and Harvard Street. The SMLSA, which serves as a zoning tool in a city without zoning laws, was subsequently approved by the Houston Planning Commission and enacted as an ordinance by the Houston City Council in early September. Bennett said she and other nearby homeowners knew all along that the Frank family’s southernmost lot, where it operated its Houston Carpet Service business from the 1970s until two years ago, would be exempt from the SMLSA. The homeowners hoped the rest of the property would be required to be used for single-family residences, but the Frank family came to an agreement with the city that half of the lot immediately to the north also would be exempt because it had been used as parking for the business. Among the seven contiguous lots owned by the Frank family, two must be used for single-family residences and the other five are now considered unrestricted reserves, which can be used for commercial purposes or multi-family residences. “At the end of the day, it was the best compromise we were going to get,” Bennett said. “We wanted to protect as much residential as we could.” The Frank family recently made a variance request to have all of its property – valued at $3.02 million by the Harris County Appraisal District – exempt from the SMLSA. The planning commission recommended denying the variance at its Oct. 31 meeting and deferred the item until Nov. 14, when the request was withdrawn. Mike Frank said Nov. 15 that the SMLSA ordinance has resulted in offers from prospective buyers that are lower than they were before, by about $400,000. He said he had offers on the table but nothing under contract. “We’ve discussed selling the commercial stuff to a high-rise builder. We may put a couple double-wide trailers on the other two lots,” Frank said. “I don’t have to sell the property. … They want single-family there. They may get a couple double-wides for rent.” 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Quote “They busted the Brinshore deal up,” Frank said of homeowners in the area. “I’ve still got 33,000 square feet of lots that’s commercial that I hope to use as a high rise that I want to put right in front of their face.” That's needlessly hostile, especially to the news press, to what will presumably be that guys future neighbors of his property. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Purdueenginerd said: That's needlessly hostile, especially to the news press, to what will presumably be that guys future neighbors of his property. I can understand this guy's anger, but at the end of the day, the neighbors want to preserve the residential feel to their area. I find myself often on their side... wanting to keep things residential and lower density. It will be interesting to see what happens (in neighborhoods). Edited December 23, 2019 by Avossos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post iah77 Posted December 23, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2019 27 minutes ago, Avossos said: I can understand this guy's anger, but at the end of the day, the neighbors want to preserve the residential feel to their area. I find myself often on their side... wanting to keep things residential and lower density. It will be interesting to see what happens (in neighborhoods). Most of the residences on that street are less than 4 years old and many actually replaced a warehouse by the corner so it's funny now they are trying to block a process that allowed them to live there. Typical of people to try to exclude new people from an area they themselves just came to. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenOlenska Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 I lived at the apartments on Oxford. And would (have) welcome a highrise (with that elusive beast, GFR) but wow this dude isn't politic. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJxvi Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Uh oh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3mh Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Beware of the Terry Fisher karma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 1 hour ago, iah77 said: Most of the residences on that street are less than 4 years old and many actually replaced a warehouse by the corner so it's funny now they are trying to block a process that allowed them to live there. Typical of people to try to exclude new people from an area they themselves just came to. Maybe I'm just younger, and grew up in apartments, but why do people hate high-end apartments? I could see why someone in a nice area would be upset at "affordable" housing, but the apartments in such an area would be higher end so...whats the issue? Is it just as simple as the bolded? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJxvi Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 (edited) Pretty sure this actually did start as primarily a crusade against "affordable" housing. Edited December 23, 2019 by JJxvi 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted January 2, 2020 Share Posted January 2, 2020 On 12/23/2019 at 6:26 PM, X.R. said: Maybe I'm just younger, and grew up in apartments, but why do people hate high-end apartments? I could see why someone in a nice area would be upset at "affordable" housing, but the apartments in such an area would be higher end so...whats the issue? Is it just as simple as the bolded? I'm generally against single family zoning in cities. And the closer to the city center, the less defensible it is. As a relief valve against city-wide zoning, I suppose the minimum lot size ordinance is useful, but, yes, it's difficult to see it as anything other than exclusionary. In this case, and in the case of the MLS area application intended to block development of the Fitzgerald's site, it's been deployed as a way to block development of sites already sold or on the market. This should be a lessen to property owners: get your re-plats done as quietly as possible and BEFORE you put the property up for sale. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 The whole lot has been cleared. Haven't ridden by this in a long time so I don't know how long ago they cleared it. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 COH sign says it needs mowing, looks already mowed but I did find several surveyor stakes. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springcityparts Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 Perfect spot for another hotel here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 Something is going to be built, permits for "WATER/WASTE WATER APPLICATION" and a permit for "NEW, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 After doing a little digging the company builds decent looking townhomes, Tomo Development Llc is Tomo Homes and an upcoming project in the Heights. https://tomohomes.godaddysites.com 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 First foundation being prepared. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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