Low Income Housing Proposed Close to Grand Harbor

Dear friends in Grand Harbor and Falcon Point,

First, Becky and I cannot express how great it was for our two neighborhoods to come together last year, and overwhelmingly crush the proposed low-income apartment complex that was slated to be built directly in our neighborhood's front yard.

Unfortunately, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awards tax credits every year, and as long as we live in a part of the city with undeveloped land, we're going to be vulnerable to this.

This year, we have another problem. A similar application has been filed for tax credits to build a proposed low income multi-family dwelling at 21077 Kingsland, just west of Westgreen. (77450 zip code). While this project isn't directly adjacent to our neighborhood like the last time, this is still within five miles of our homes. Close enough to affect property values, the crime rate, increase traffic, and even further crowd our already overburdened KISD schools.

This is a big deal. Apartment complexes that receive these tax credits are required to rent more than one half of their units to individuals or families that earn less than 60% of the median income for Harris County, at an incredibly reduced rate, allowing those who could not normally afford housing in the area to do so, subsidized by your tax dollars.

Nottingham Country, the neighborhood directly adjacent to the proposed site for these apartments, has already begun opposing the project. They have all of the information on their HOA website. http://www.nottinghamcountry.org/SpecialDocs/LowIncomeHousing.html

The Katy Times has also run an article on this issue. http://www.katytimes.com/articles/2010/10/20/news/doc4cbde07e98487214948536.txt

The more letters our state senators and representatives receive, and the more letters we send to the TDHCA, the better the odds of this application being rejected. Just like we came together last year, we each need to do the following:

1. Send a letter to state senator Joan Huffman, and another to state representative Bill Calligeri, referencing the application for project #10601 (by Cornerbrook Development Company), and urging them to send a formal letter of opposition against this project. The Nottingham Country website provides their addresses, e-mail, and phone numbers, but I'll copy and paste the information below as well. It doesn't hurt to call and e-mail in addition to sending a letter.

2. Send a letter to the TDHCA, referencing the project by number and indicating our opposition to the project. Note that the TDHCA will give greater weight to public concerns such as traffic, overcrowded schools, lack of public transportation routes and employment in the area, and the like. They will disregard concerns relating to crime and property value as discriminatory.

3. Also, only a small handful of us are on this e-mail list, so please, tell everyone on your street and call everyone you know in the neighborhood and have them do the same. Print or forward this e-mail and have all of your neighbors contact Senator Huffman, Representative Calligeri, and the TDHCA at the addresses below.

4. Once we know when the TDHCA hearing for this year will be scheduled, we'll pass along that information as well. Those of us who are able can attend the hearing and express opposition to the project in person.

If any of you have questions or need help getting the word out, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail.

Best Regards,

Jacob Mattis
713-248-7415

Below are the addresses and phone numbers to assist you in sending letters and/or email to voice your support for or against the below proposed, project to be built in our area.

When dealing with the State of Texas, reference the application for Project #10601

October 21, 2010

INFORMATION ON 252 UNIT APARTMENT PROJECT AT 21077 KINGSLAND
DEVELOPER: CORNERBROOK DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Ð MR. GEORGE KALEH
1025 DULLES AVENUE, STE. 815
STAFFORD, TX 77477
Phone: 281-261-90090

COMMENTS, E-MAILS, LETTERS TO THE FOLLOWING:

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Reference: PROJECT #10601
Phone: 512-475-3340
E-Mail: Teresa.Morales@tdhca.state.tx.us or Misael.Arroyo@tdhca.state.tx.us


Texas House of Representatives, District 132
Hon. Mr. Bill Callegari
1550 Foxlake Drive, Ste. 120
Houston, TX 77084
Phone: 281-578-8484
Fax: 281-578-1674

Austin Address:
Room E-2 806 Capitol Extension
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-463-0528
Fax: 512-463-7820

E-Mail: Search for name at this web address: http://www.house.state.tx.us


Texas State Senator District 17
Sen. Joan Huffman
P. O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: 512-463-0117

District Office:
6217 Edloe
Houston, TX 77005
Phone: 713-662-3821
E-Mail: Search for name at this web address: http://www.senate. state.tx.us/75F/senate .


252 Unit Project on Kingsland

Cornerbrook Development Company is proposing to build a low- to moderate-income, multifamily residential rental community in the 21077 block of Kingsland Boulevard.

The Gardens on Kingsland will be a 252-unit apartment complex on approximately 9.621 acres near Provincial Boulevard between Westgreen and Mason.

George Kaleh, owner and president of Cornerbrook, said an application for housing tax credit will be submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affair this week.

Cornerbook is also hosting a developer informational meeting for the community next Tuesday, October 26 at 7 pm in the Taylor High School cafeteria.one