Freedmen’s Town has an incredible history of birthing greatness not just for the neighborhood, but for all of Houston. Freedmen’s Town also has a storied history of divestment, city and state neglect, sincere promises of development that failed to pan out and false promises of prosperity that failed residents and their hopes that this legendary patch of Houston real estate would finally receive the attention and investment worthy of its legacy.
The newest city official to pledge change is Houston’s new mayor, John Whitmire, who recently walked upon Freedmen’s Town’s historic bricks, touring the neighborhood with leaders from the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) and the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy (HFTC) and committing to support the area’s preservation and revitalization.
“The city’s broke. If I had the money, I would just write a check, and we can start on this tomorrow.”
Houston mayor john whitmire
Whitmire recently met with CAMH and HFTC members, who gave him an update on the “Rebirth in Action: Telling the Story of Freedom” project, the latest plan for the area’s revitalization.
Whitmire committed to providing the leadership necessary to see these plans through to completion, adding, “This is probably the last opportunity to protect the community, the bricks, the remaining residences, repair of the drainage.”
Whether Whitmire’s words regarding a sense of urgency are on point or not, Freedmen’s Town has been dangling on destruction’s edge for a while, with properties being leveled and gentrification efforts encroaching further and further into the heart of the community.
Yet, what has not faltered is the fight residents come with daily to protect what is theirs.
Freedmen’s Town became Houston’s first Heritage District during Sylvester Turner’s tenure as mayor in 2021 via a vote by City Council. The designation breathed life into residents and activists because it positioned the community to receive funds raised by nonprofits to restore historically significant features and develop cultural landmarks.
One of the offshoots of that designation was the Rebirth in Action project’s $1.25 million grant given by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts in 2023.
But that plan, like so many others before it, sparked a mix of both excitement and skepticism from community advocates who had been burnt countless times over the decades that saw Freedmen’s Town suffer from neglect even as it sits in the shadow of thriving Downtown Houston.
Still, Charonda Johnson, the engagement manager for the Contemporary Arts Museum and the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy partnership, and whose family has resided in Freedmen’s Town for generations, was willing to give Whitmire the benefit of the dobt.
“Whitmire could’ve said, ‘I don’t want that project done. Take that off my books.’ And that would have been his right,” she said, alluding to his verbal commitment of support.
Whitmire offered enthusiastic words, saying “This just ought to be part of protecting our history. Everywhere you look there’s history, but obviously the development and gentrification is pretty widespread. So, this is an effort to protect the remaining historical significance of Freedmen’s Town. All Houstonians ought to know about it. They ought to teach about Freedmen’s Town in the schools.”
However, when the conversation focused on funding, a different tone was offered.
“The city’s broke,” Whitmire said. “If I had the money, I would just write a check, and we can start on this tomorrow.”
In May 2023, HFTC in partnership with the Emancipation Park Conservancy hosted a community forum, “Historic Preservation vs. Wealth Building: Is Equity Possible?”
The then HFTC Executive Director Zion Escobar, said, “Yes, equity is possible, yes it will be challenging to ensure 360-degree accountability, and yes the challenge is well worth it given the outcome of generational wealth building.”
At the forum, Escobar provided context regarding Freedmen’s Town’s physical assets:
- Within the Freedmen’s Town Heritage District, 31.9% of contributing historical resources are assessed as being in below-average condition.
- 17.7% of contributing historical resources are assessed as being unsound or in poor condition and at risk of collapse or demolition.
- 63% of contributing historical resources are occupied by renters.
- Eleven vacant properties owned by the City of Houston pose the highest risk for insensitive new construction such as high-rise commercial projects.
“So, after decades of disinvestment, exclusionary policies, urban renewal, gentrification, the stats highlight why obviously there’s such a critical need for an equitable approach to all of this, to historic preservation as a whole and economic investment in Freedmen’s Town and beyond,” said Erica Simon, the forum’s moderator.
One of the main points of that gathering, a point made to Whitmire during his recent tour, was that in spite of decades of divestment, neglect and broken promises, Freedmen’s Town has found a way for decades to survive despite countless numbers of failed masterplans.
Sharon Fletcher, who assumed the role of interim executive director of the HFTC in June 2023, shortly Escobar departed, has been leading a series of community meetings to gather input from residents regarding their desires for their community.
CAMH’s executive director, Hesse McGraw, remains hopeful.
“What’s clear is that with the change of any administration, there’s a need to really get community vision around preservation and celebration of the heritage in front of an incoming administration. I think that we were able to do that successfully. Mayor Whitmore’s enthusiasm was exciting for all of us.”
