The City of Houston Planning and Development Department, requests City Council approval of an ordinance authorizing the Director of the Planning and Development Department to accept a grant award from the Texas Historic Commission (THC) for the Freedmen’s Town Preservation Incentive Plan (the “CLG Grant”). The project period is from July1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.
The grant will be used to create Freedmen’s Town Preservation Incentive Plan aimed to establish incentives for historic preservation and economic development in Freedmen’s Town through a partnership with the Freedmen’s Town Conservancy. The project will serve as a model for how to help low-to-moderate income and long-term residents preserve their history and architectural fabric. The funds are needed to hire a preservation planning/economic development consultant to create a strategic and holistic plan for preservation in Freedmen’s Town, administer public engagement events, and draft documents to help support the process. The grant award amount is $20,000.00 and requires a $20,000.00 local cash match which will be met by the City’s Historic Preservation Fund. The anticipated total project cost is $40,000.00.
The proposed project will take less than 14 months to complete, and include strategies, outreach, and a comprehensive document that provides pathways to preserve based on community input, engagement, and expert recommendations. Houston has an opportunity to work with partners to transform and lift vulnerable neighborhoods while encouraging economic development and preservation that will result in thriving Houston neighborhoods.
Fiscal Note: Funding for this item is included in the FY2022 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
_______________________________
Margaret Wallace Brown, AICP, CNU-A
Director
Planning and Development Department