White Oak venue gets city permit for stage

Permanent stage can be put up outdoors for musical events

The city has granted the owners of White Oak Music Hall a permit to build a permanent outdoor stage and is working on a deal that would let them proceed with already scheduled concerts.

The city has granted the owners of White Oak Music Hall a permit to build a permanent outdoor stage and is working on a deal that would let them proceed with already scheduled concerts there in the meantime.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said during Tuesday’s City Council meeting that with the permit in hand, the developers should get a “temporary status” to allow outdoor shows to go forward, despite months of complaints from neighbors about window-rattling noise and traffic conges-

tion.

“How do we strike a balance between the neighbors and the business that has every right to be where they are?” Turner said. “I’m trying to strike a balance. To say to me, you want to put them out of business, that’s a different question. I’m not going to do that.”

Turner previously had spoken against issuing a temporary permit for the music complex at 2915 N. Main in the Near Northside. He clarified his position Tuesday.

Turner suggested a compromise, not yet finalized, that would allow a temporary status for the existing outdoor stage but limit developers to holding shows on certain nights of the week, require sound monitors be installed and create a traffic management plan.

The venue owners had been rushing to obtain a permit and working with the city to make final their plans for a permanent outdoor stage, in part, to accommodate a handful of large shows, including Pet Shop Boys and Morrissey, planned for this fall.

As people on both sides of the issue spoke out Tuesday, Turner and City Council members stressed the need for balance in this contentious fight over the music venue, which has stirred concerns over traffic, parking and noise. Houston police have issued four citations for excessive noise.

Last week, the city issued the hall owner a citation for apparently beginning construction before a permit had been issued. Developers applied to have their plans for the outdoor structure, which had been rejected several times, expedited. The plans were approved by various city departments last week.

A concert is scheduled for the outdoor stage on Thursday. Developers did not respond to requests for comment or clarification about that show or the others lined up in coming weeks.

‘A disaster’

Beth Lousteau, who lives near the venue, suggested to council members that “deep-pocketed lobbyists” have unfairly influenced the process and alleged the city is giving the owners of the music hall special treatment. She said she and her neighbors are not against the venue, but they want to make sure the developers follow the rules.

“The blessing of the temporary stage was that it demonstrated what a disaster the permanent stage would be for residents,” Lousteau said. “It’s clear to anyone paying attention that the plans were fasttracked at an unprecedented pace.”

Neighbors who live near the music venue have been coming to City Council over the last several months to complain about noise from the venue and the perception that developers were attempting to flout city development rules.

Arguing in favor

Supporters who showed up Tuesday, including longtime residents, business owners and the lead singer of the Houston band The Suffers, argued that the venue would have the potential to revitalize the community and offer something unique for Houston.

Johnny So, White Oak Music Hall’s operating manager, said the group was there “to provide an alternate narrative” to the upset neighbors.

“We understand certain residents are opposed to our project and understand it changed our neighborhood,” So said. “Recent events show that certain neighbors are trying to undermine our business. I would dismiss the notion or insinuation that there is corruption or special treatment.”

So noted that the music hall’s neighborhood previously had abandoned houses and attracted illegal dumping and vagrants.

“I’m proud to say we have improved the neighborhood in that sense. Our business has been a catalytic force,” he said. “It has brought more business and more residents in the area.”

The city previously granted the project $1.1 million in incentives in exchange for hosting community events.

Developer Will Garwood told the Chronicle earlier this year that he planned to use the temporary stage on the property in perpetuity. Turner and other city officials balked and said a temporary permit would not be issued after it expired on Oct. 5.

The mayor said Tuesday it was apparent, at that time, that the developers had no intention of working toward a permanent solution.

He said the situation is different now that the permit has been issued.

‘Work in progress’

Councilwoman Karla Cisneros, who represents the Near Northside, called the venue a “work in progress.” She also pressed the mayor for an explanation of how a temporary stage would be operated until a structure was built.

“There have been a number of growing pains,” Cisneros said. “The development has brought opportunity into the Near Northside and it has brought challenges . ... We must move forward, following rules and operating in good faith.”