An affordable housing development in Houston, Texas, which was halted over fears it was built on land contaminated with toxic ash, has finally been declared safe and will open its doors to residents after a delay of more than a year.
Mayor's Intervention Over Environmental Dangers
Construction on The Pointe at Bayou Bend apartments in the city's Second Ward was finished in spring 2024. However, Mayor John Whitmere intervened in July of that year, preventing any new tenants from moving in due to serious environmental concerns. The site is adjacent to the former Velasco incinerator, where the city's rubbish was burned from the 1930s until the late 1960s.
In a letter to the Houston Housing Authority (HHA), Mayor Whitmere stressed that the health and safety of Houston's citizens was paramount. He demanded that the entire 21.68-acre property, including both the developed southern portion with the apartments and the undeveloped northern section, be proven free from environmental hazards.
Regulatory Violations and Hidden Threats
The mayor's action came after the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) cited the HHA for four violations. State regulators discovered a pile of toxic ash on the land, which can contain dangerous substances like arsenic and lead. The housing authority was accused of failing to prevent the industrial solid waste threat, not informing the city about the ash, neglecting to test the pile, and not keeping proper records of the hazard.
The situation prompted a federal investigation in October 2024, when agents collected soil samples from the Velasco site. The results of this probe were never made public, prolonging the uncertainty for the completed 400-unit complex.
All-Clear Given for Long-Awaited Move-Ins
Now, over a year later, Mayor Whitmere and HHA President and CEO Jamie Bryant have announced that the TCEQ has sent a letter confirming the apartment complex now meets all safety standards. "Next week, 800 Middle, known as the Point at Bayou Bend, will open for leasing and occupancy," Bryant stated at a press conference this week.
In a remarkable turnaround, Mayor Whitmere expressed full confidence in the site's safety, even stating he would be comfortable sending his own grandchildren there. "We wouldn't want you to be here if it was not meeting the highest standards... I would not hesitate to bring my 10- and 12-year-old grandsons here," he told KTRK-TV.
Councilmember Mario Castillo, representing the Second Ward, acknowledged lingering public hesitation but emphasised that all relevant government agencies have approved the site. He noted the final decision rests with individuals and families.
The apartments are for residents earning 60% or less of the area's median income—approximately £33,800 annually for a single person or £53,300 for a four-person household. A two-bedroom unit will cost $1,253 per month, with 95 units receiving federal subsidies for those on even lower incomes. Priority in the application process will be given to former residents of the Clayton Homes apartments, which were demolished in 2022 for a highway expansion. Move-ins are scheduled to begin within the next few weeks.
