Housing agency leader to resign
Turner’s criticism, project’s rejection spur his decision
The chairman of the Houston Housing Authority board announced plans to resign from his post following criticism from the mayor and news that the city would not support an authority proposal for a mixed-income project in an upscale area near the Galleria.
Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is tasked with appointing the Houston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, called last week for new leadership over the agency, pointing to the dearth of new affordable housing construction in the past decade.
Chairman Lance Gilliam submitted a letter to Turner and the authority’s board Friday afternoon, announcing his intention to step down after serving six years in the post. Mayor Annise Parker appointed the Houston real estate broker to the board in 2010, and he served as chairman for the past four years. His term was slated to end in January 2018.
“Although I had planned to end my tenure when our job was finished, I now realize our job will never be finished,” Gilliam wrote. “There will always be work to be done and there will always be families who need
us.”
Federal and state officials have blocked five of the eight projects the authority has proposed in the past three years.
“I am very disappointed with the board for not having moved forward on building affordable housing in this city,” Turner told City Council last week.
Gilliam’s letter notes that during his tenure, the authority added 4,000 families to its housing voucher program and boosted the number of veterans’ housing vouchers by 1,100. The authority also added 512 new homes by acquiring mixed-income apartment complexes and has purchased sites for new construction in several communities, among other investments in new housing projects throughout the city, the letter states.
Fountain View plan
The mayor’s comments followed an announcement that he planned to block tax credit financing for a mixed-income complex at 2640 Fountain View by declining to bring the project to a vote at City Council. He said the deal’s price tag of $240,000 per unit was too expensive.
The proposal inspired fierce political pushback and neighborhood opposition over the past several months. The neighborhood complained the project would overcrowd the highly rated elementary school in the area, cause traffic and lower property values, among other concerns. The authority last week said it would look for another site in City Council District G but did not say whether it would abandon the plans for the current project.
The $56 million project was to have 233 units and be the authority’s first project in a so-called “high opportunity neighborhood.” The designation means that the project would give lowincome families in need of public housing access to transit, amenities and highly rated schools.
Gilliam declined Sunday to comment further on his intent to resign. Authority staff did not respond to requests for comment.
In an emailed statement, Turner thanked Gilliam for his service and wished him well in the future.
“I plan to take the housing authority in a new direction and believe that a change in leadership will be beneficial in getting us there,” Turner said. “There is a tremendous need for affordable housing throughout the city and transforming communities that have been overlooked and underserved for decades. I am committed to creating opportunity neighborhoods throughout the city with affordable housing, quality schools, parks and retail development.”
Gilliam plans to offer his resignation at the Aug. 23 board meeting, according to his letter. In his resignation, he expressed frustration with “the inability to build new homes for the families we are blessed to serve.”
He said he would like to stay on as chairman until Dec. 31 to see construction begin on an authority project planned in the Independence Heights neighborhood.
“In parting, I will ask each of you to please always be mindful that ALL of Houston’s communities are special,” Gilliam wrote. “It is imperative that our Authority continue to honor our shared commitment to provide affordable housing choices throughout the ENTIRE city.”
At play in Houston is the persistent tug of war between fair housing advocates, the federal government and politicians and neighborhood groups about where to build affordable housing. The Supreme Court last year found that concentrating public housing in areas with high poverty and crime rates with little access to good schools and transit — something Houston has done for decades — violates federal housing laws.
Possible legal challenge
Gilliam wrote in his letter that the authority should continue to embrace investing in so-called “high opportunity neighborhoods” but not neglect areas that need revitalization, such as Acres Homes and the Fifth Ward.
“Together we have fully embraced our Authority’s moral and legal obligation to affirmatively further fair housing by investing in so called high opportunity neighborhoods, However, we have been told that some neighborhoods are ‘too black’ and ‘too poor’ to deserve our attention and investment,” he wrote. “That is wrong. We have to continue to include revitalization as one of our Authority’s highest priorities. We cannot allow our Authority to be complicit in the depopulation of some of our city’s most important communities.”
The city of Houston also faces a potential legal challenge from fair housing advocates, who earlier this year warned Turner that not supporting the Houston Housing Authority’s project at 2640 Fountain View could lead to a violation of federal housing laws.
Texas Appleseed and the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service said blocking the authority from receiving $14 million in tax credits would expose the city to a legal battle. The mayor responded that he does not make decisions for the city based on the threats of litigation.