A cyclist rides down Wilson Street in the Freedman's Town area of the Fourth Ward just west of downtown Houston, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. Freedman's Town has seen most of its original structures demolished during the previous decades and is one of the six pilot areas outlined in Houston's proposed conservation district program.
Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerMayor Sylvester Turner is seeking City Council support for a conservation district program he and city planners say could help lower-income neighborhoods preserve their character and fend off gentrification. Critics say it may actually make gentrification worse.
Marissa Luck and R.A. Schuetz speak with Yilun Cheng, City Council reporter at the Houston Chronicle, about what conservation districts would entail, why some neighborhood advocates have been requesting them and why others are nervous.
The ordinance, which could offer neighborhoods an easier path to preservation than a historic district, is up for discussion at City Council this Wednesday.
Stories mentioned in the podcast:
- Turner wants to fight Houston gentrification with conservation districts. Critics say it won't work.
- Acres Homes, Freedmen's Town among 6 areas Houston is considering for conservation districts
- Houston delays vote on conservation districts for 6 areas, including Freedmen's Town, Acres Homes
- Proposed Riverside Terrace historic district has longtime residents fighting for their neighborhood
- Turner withdraws plan for Riverside Terrace historic district, citing lack of neighborhood support
