A meeting is set for September 7th to take public input on the city’s plan to purchase the long-vacant land at the northeast corner of SH 288 and MacGregor to let H-E-B build a store on the site (at the edges of a few of Houston’s USDA-defined food deserts). The city says the meeting and comment period (which lasts through September 11) are standard parts of its 8-step program when developing within the floodplain — Brays Bayou is just to the left of the frame above (snapped back in 2014), which the southeastern corner of the land as the facade-and-foreclosure-twin Mosaic and Montage towers peek over from west of 288.
The land is currently owned by Houston Community College; the college system bought the tract (reportedly for the second time) back in 2013 as the proposed site of the elaborately monikered HCC Coleman College of Health Sciences’ Medical Science & Technology Early College Charter High School. The city would bundle the land together with some adjacent already-city-owned property to lease it to H-E-B, and the grocery chain would be able to buy the whole package once all 72,000 sq. ft. of new store are constructed and certified for occupancy.Â
- Public Meeting Notice [City of Houston]
- Previously on Swamplot:Â Visiting the Future Site of the New Third Ward Medical High School with the Ridiculously Long Name
Photo:Â Swamplot inbox
this is great. for a long time, the mentally ill released from across the bayou didn’t have anywhere to hang out near by. this forced them to wander up to the upper part 3rd ward or down holcombe to greenbriar area.
now they will be able to sit and enjoy the offerings of the HEB cafe and other fine things such as public bathrooms within spitting distance from their hospital.
A big HEB within walking distance of me? Can’t come soon enough. I like living in that area, especially since Hermann Park is also within walking distance, but hate having to drive 10-15 minutes to the nearest “fancy” HEB (the Montrose one). The small HEB and Kroger on OST are ok for staples, but that’s about it.
I sure wish some grocery store would become part of the impending and inevitable boom on North Shepherd around Candlelight/Shepherd Park. There is currently land available large enough for a grocery store at Janisch, and large town home subdivisions are popping up like weeds between Shepherd and Yale. Urban Living just broke ground on a huge development on Thornton. Somebody is going to need to feed all these people.
Any info on the meeting location?
Why must the city get involved? Smells rotten.
Hi Pete! Per the meeting notice we linked to, it’ll be “Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the Judson Robinson Community Center located at 2020 Hermann Dr., Houston, TX 77004.”
While it would be nice to cure the food desert there, the lot is right next to the bayou (as stated in the article) and is in the floodplain. Every time there’s a heavy downpour, that section of 288 gets flooded. Hardly a winning spot to put a grocery store, which attracts a lot of potential victims to the flood zone.
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The HEB at Scott and OST is established and could use the same super-sizing that the Bellaire Pantry store is getting. And, residents in that area can also easily go to the Kroger at OST/Cambridge, which is a regular sized store – or travel an added 5 minutes down the road to the Kroger at Kirby/Main or Fiesta at OST/Kirby.
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Now that I’ve typed that out, it isn’t so much of a food desert that’s the problem. Rather, everyone wants a Donald Trump HUGE grocery store next door to them.
YUUUGE! (not huge) Bigtime difference. Lemme tell ya.
BRING IT!!!!
I live in the University Oaks neighborhood and drive by this site at least once a day. Always hoping for a HEB.
Looking at Google Maps there appears to be remains of something on that site. An old foundation perhaps? I wonder what used to be there. This project looks like a great idea for the area.
That would be great utilization of this lot. Many people would prefer to hangout here versus stay in traffic if they provide a nice outdoor setup and buffet style environment. I know I would hangout here until the traffic to Pearland dies down. Many experience the multiple beer selections that they offer.
What’s the update on this following approval – are they moving forward still?
would like to know the status quo of this too ?