Part of what fuels George Anderson’s passion for the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend-Houston area is his ability to see what others cannot — the beauty, opportunity and promise that exist beyond perception.
He also operates with a profound faith — in his Creator, in his own abilities and in the potential of the residents and businesses that call the community home.
And that faith is bearing fruit. Investments are flowing in, transformational projects are underway and the area’s future continues to shine bright.
The Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority (HCFB), also known as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ 25), came into existence around 2013. Anderson and the other founding members were appointed by the late Houston City Council member Larry Green. Anderson began as vice-chair, later assuming the chairman’s seat when the original chair stepped down.
TIRZs exist to stimulate economic development and investment in designated areas. Under Anderson’s leadership, TIRZ 25 has not only stayed true to that mission but expanded its reach in ways that uplift the spirit and dignity of its residents.
A literal calling
Anderson’s journey to Houston began not by coincidence, but as a deliberate act of faith.
“The church — Fountain of Praise — actually brought me here,” he said. “The pastor, Dr. Remus Wright, is my uncle, and so I came here to assist him with growing the congregation.”
But it wasn’t just the call from his uncle that led Anderson to embrace his leadership role within TIRZ 25. It was a deeper spiritual conviction — a belief in purpose.
“I believe in calling,” Anderson said. “In my full-time job, I work as Chief Operating Officer at the Fountain of Praise under Dr. Remus Wright. My calling and where I have found passion is around reinvigorating communities. So when I landed at the church, one of my first assignments was to get to know the community — the leaders, the main stakeholders — and to understand what were the needs of the community.”
That passion, he said, naturally evolved into broader service. “My love for serving God’s people, and for bettering our communities — especially those that are Black and Brown — is what George Anderson loves doing.”
A special community
Coming from Indianapolis, Anderson had to learn the lay of the land in his new city. What he discovered in the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend-Houston area confirmed his choice to relocate — and strengthened his vision for what could be.
“We have some of the lowest crime rates of all the districts in the city of Houston. It is a nice bedroom community, a great place to live, a great place to worship.”
– George Anderson
“Once I landed here, I was introduced to the community elders, as I like to refer to them,” he recalled. “Those elders demonstrated to me that they had fervor and passion for this community. I learned very quickly that this is a very engaged community. They did their own patrolling, their own cleanups. They had a vested interest and were willing to do what was necessary to protect the investments many of them had made back in the early seventies.”
That engagement and commitment became the foundation for the work Anderson would go on to lead through TIRZ 25.
Fighting misperceptions
If there’s one thing that brings out Anderson’s fire, it’s hearing his community unfairly labeled.
“Some of the challenges are dispelling the negative perceptions about Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend-Houston,” he said. “I get very upset when I sometimes pick up the newspaper or watch the news, where they’re painting our community as this place that is crime-ridden or gang-infested. We are the opposite.”
Anderson said that too many outsiders look at the area’s demographics — predominantly Black and Brown — and jump to the wrong conclusion.
“And I would say that we are hood, but we are great hood,” he said with a laugh. “We have some of the lowest crime rates of all the districts in the city of Houston. It is a nice bedroom community (a residential suburb inhabited largely by people who commute to a nearby city for work), a great place to live, a great place to worship. Some of the major African American churches reside right here in Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend-Houston.”
He added that the community’s resilience has proven itself over time.
“Thanks to those elders and some early initiatives, we don’t have the flooding that other communities are battling with. During all the major storm events and hurricanes, we didn’t flood. So again, we’ve got a lot going on in the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend-Houston community.”
And according to Teeba Rose, one of the TIRZ 25 board of directors, the TIRZ 25 team and community count themselves blessed to work with Anderson.
“George Anderson is a well-respected, hard-working, smart supporter of the community in every way,” said Rose. “From the boards he sits on, the church he attends, the students he mentors and the fraternity he embodies (Alpha Phi Alpha), he gives of himself to ensure that others succeed, and I am a product of his support.”
Transformative TIRZ 25 highlights
Under Anderson’s guidance, TIRZ 25 has launched and supported a series of projects that have visibly transformed the landscape.
“One of the highlights was our inaugural project,” he said. “We partnered with Hines Development to do the Southwest Business Corridor — also known as the Beltway Southwest Business Park — which has brought nice economic development to the community, jobs and given purpose to a major intersection.”
Another major development is the Edison Arts Project, which is transforming a long-vacant Kroger site. “It’s a phenomenal project that, in addition to affordable housing, will also do nice work in the area of performing arts,” Anderson said. “They’re taking it from blight to a valuable community resource.”
Beautification has also been a priority. Anderson points to the District Gateway Project, a $1.1 million initiative completed in 2021 that improved major intersections along U.S. 90A/South Main with better lighting, public art, and enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety. The project received a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) as part of the 2024 Engineering Excellence Awards competition — a national validation of the TIRZ’s community-driven vision.
DN VIDEO: More on George Anderson and TIRZ 25 upcoming projects.
