Push to turn Heights area wet gains steam
Petition drive to partially lift ban on beer and wine sales in part of neighborhood says it has 1,700 signatures
A petition to lift a ban on beer and wine sales for off-premise consumption in part of the Heights has earned enough signatures and is awaiting certification from the city secretary’s office.
Apetition favored by grocery giant H-E-B to partially lift a 104-year-old ban on beer and wine sales in a dry part of the Heights could be headed for a vote this fall.
The Houston Heights Beverage Coalition, which was formed to push the effort to allow sales for off-premise consumption, reported it gathered more than 1,700 signatures in 21 days. By law, the coalition had 60 days to collect a minimum of 1,511 signatures. The measure now is awaiting certification by the city secretary’s office.
H-E-B, which has expressed strong interest in establishing a store in the area, gave proponents a boost by working with Austin-based political consulting firm Texas Petition Strategies for the signature drive.
“H-E-B looks forward to the possibility of expanding our offerings to the Heights and Garden Oaks neighborhoods and are hopeful the registered voters will support us in November,” Cyndy Garza, public affairs director for H-E-B’s Houston region, said in a statement.
Garza added the company is “encouraged with all the positive, eager
and rapid responses.”
Proponents say allowing retail beer and wine sales makes it viable for more grocery stores to operate in the area. Reaction to the effort has not been completely positive, judging from a spirited online neighborhood forum and letters to the editor.
Opponents say the ban — put in place shortly before Prohibition — has kept the neighborhood family-friendly and helps guard against unwanted development. A change could alter future development, local resident and real estate agent Bill Baldwin warned.
“It opens the door for waves of other commercial development that undermines the character of this historic neighborhood, when the reality is we could simply drive one extra mile to get out of the dry area, get what we need, and still be able to enjoy the amenities and quality of life that I and my neighbors love,” Baldwin said in an email. “I myself am willing to go that extra mile.”
The Houston Heights Association has not taken a position on the ban, he added.
Once certified and approved by the City Council, the measure will go on the November ballot for voters in the area bounded on the north and south by Loop 610 and Interstate 10, respectively, North Durham Drive to the west and Oxford Street to the east.
The area once was the separate city of Houston Heights. The sales ban went into effect in 1912 and continued when the area was incorporated into Houston in 1918.
If the measure is repealed, residents will be able to buy alcohol at sites such as grocery and convenience stores. Repeal will not allow bars and chain restaurants to come into the area but will ensure the neighborhood can attract stores offering the full line of products that stores outside the dry area offer, coalition chairman Steven Reilley said.
One such location is 2300 N. Shepherd, where a Fiesta Mart closed earlier this year after four decades. That building was recently demolished.
“In the sense that it’ll be a change, it’ll be an upgrade,” Reilley said. “There have been grocery stores at the same location for a long time.”
There is a Kroger in the dry area at West 20th and Yale. By contrast, the Kroger on North Shepherd at 11th Street is in a wet area. It recently opened an instore bar that sells draft beer and wine. Kroger is not participating in the petition effort.
Baldwin said such nearby access makes repeal unnecessary. He said the movement comes from people with commercial interests in a change.
Ryan Pera, chef and co-owner of Agricole Hospitality restaurant group, which includes Revival Market, Coltivare and Eight Row Flint, said repealing the ban on beer sales would be a boon to existing business.
“The speed in which the Agricole Hospitality eateries were able to collect signatures for the ordinance is testimony that Heights customers want to be able to buy a bottle of wine or beer in the store just like the rest of the county,” Pera said.
Reilley said the coalition’s next steps are to begin meeting to lay out its campaign.