For Preservation The Newsletter of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance
Summer 2003
Volume 14, No.2
Transportation Act Protections Threatened
From the Executive Director
Highway construction has taken a heavy toll on Houston's historic resources. as exemplified by these late Victorian houses in the 1200 block of Elysian on the Near North Side.
Efforts are undeIWay in Congress to remove historic preservation and parkland protections from the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21). Road builders are blaming safeguards instituted under Section 4(f) of the Transportation Act of 1966 for problems in completing construction projects on time, despite a recent Federal Highway Administration study concluding that environmental and historic preservation reviews are not responsible for major delays in road projects. Section 4(f) states, "It is the policy of the United States Government that special effort should be made to preserve the natural beauty of the countryside and public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites." Under Section 4(f), the Secretary
Virginia Senator John Warner is leading the effort to keep Section 4(f) intact. Testifying before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Senator Warner said, "Historic properties are an important means of telling our nation's history They are our outdoor classrooms for students and living treasures to our past. I remain committed to ensuring that the preservation of our historic homes, structures, battlefields and open spaces remain on an equal footing with the ever-increasing demands for transportation construction." The House and Senate will consider these measures when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day Houstonians are well aware of the impact highway construction can have on historic land-
of Transportation may not approve projects that require the use land from a historic site of national, state or local significance unless there is "no prudent and feasible alternative." If there is no alternative, the project must include "all possible planning to minimize harm" to the historic site. Congress authorized these protections when scores of historic places were being lost to the expanding Interstate Highway System. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Section 4(f), calling its preservation protections of "paramount importance." The law has been used to protect New Orleans' French Quarter by preventing construction of an expressway along the Mississippi riverfront within 50 yards of Jackson Square.
marks, older neighborhoods and local parks. GHPA encourages its members and supporters to write their representatives in Congress and express support for maintaining the Section 4(f) review process in the reauthorized Transportation Act. To download a letter to Congress, visit www.ghpa.orgISection4j. The addresses of Harris County's Congressional delegation are available at www.ghpa.orgllinksl
congress. html. GHPA often uses e-mail to update its members about timely preser-
vation issues. If we do not have your e-mail address and you would like to receive these updates, please send your name and e-mail address to info@ghpa.org. GHPA will not share this information with any other organizations or businesses.
Historical Marl~er Dedicated at College Parl~ Cemetery The preservation of College Park Cemetery took an important step fOIWard with the dedication of a Texas Historical Marker on August 1. The long-neglected AfricanAmerican burial ground at 3540 West Dallas was founded in 1896 and is one of Houstons oldest black cemeteries. During the ceremonies, Al Davis, chairman of the Harris County Historical Commission, announced that the State has also designated College Park a Historic Texas Cemetery GHPA has had a long relationship with &thel Missionary Baptist Church, which has assumed responsibility for the cemetery Former GHPA board member
Willie Lee Gay conducted much of the research that was required to receive the state marker. In March 2003, GHPA helped further improvements to the cemetery by coordinating a week-long clean-up by students from Second Baptist School. Bethel Churchs pastor, the Rev. Robert Robertson, Jr., recognized GHPAS support during the marker dedication. Also speaking was Martha Whiting, granddaughter of the Rev. Jack Yates, who is buried in the cemetery Yates, a former slave and one of Houstons most prominent black leaders, founded Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.
In the weeks ahead, GHPA will offer you the opportunity to interact with some of the men and women who want to govern our city for the next two years. You will be receiving invitations to public forums for mayoral and city council candidates where you can let our elected officials know what kind of city you want Houston to become. Local government is facing a variety of quality-of-life issues, including urban revitalization and economic diversification, defense of neighborhood integrity and authenticity of place, preservation of green space and protection of historic resources. Our public officials must actively address these concerns if Houston is to attract quality development and continue to prosper. I hope you will attend these events and submit thoughtful questions for the candidates. Not only will you learn more about the candidates' opinions, you will be showing our future leaders the level of support historic preservation enjoys in our community These forums offer another opportunity to educate our local officials and help them appreciate the benefits preservation offers all Houstonians. Working together, we can create a preservation ethic for our community and make Houston a better place to live.
kL Ramona Davis
Use your Rand aIls Remarkable Card to support historic preservation in Houston. Please pick up an application at a Randalls Courtesy Booth, complete the top portion and fill in GHPA's account number, 2841, in the Good Neighbor Program section of the form. Randalls will then donate a portion of your total purchases to GHPA.
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From left: Martha Whiting, granddaughter of the Rev. Jack Yates; Al Davis, chairman, Harris County Historical Commission; Elmer Bailey, Jr., executive director, Harris County Juvenile Probation Dept.; the Rev. Robert Robertson,Jr., Bethel Missionary Baptist Church; GHPA Executive Director Ramona Davis and former GHPA board member Willie Lee Gay.
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