Skip to main content
Free TrialTry 7 days free
Sign in

For [[Brentwood, Houston]]

•
Vote delayed on funding for AIDS-patient facility Fear of possible health risk is cited By R.A. DYER Houston Chronicle In response to complaints by several residents, Mayor Bob Lanier announced Tuesday that he would delay a vote on preliminary funding for an AIDS- patient housing project in southeast Houston. City Council had scheduled a vote on providing $35,000 to the Brentwood Economic Community Development Foundation, which wants to build transitional housing for 24 AIDS patients at the Brentwood Baptist Church, 13033 Landmark. The facility is expected to cost about $500,000, most of it from the federal government. But several residents of the neighborhood appeared before City Council Tuesday, complaining the facility could pose a health risk for children, hurt property values and violate deed restrictions. Fred Outley, president of the Central Southeast Concerned Citizens Coalition, said the health risk "is all a big question." "And a school is located near the place," he said. "I don't believe you would like the children playing basketball with some people." Rick Holden, president of the Hiram Clarke Civic Club, said in a letter that "putting multiple-dwelling housing is not an asset to this community, but the beginning of its destruction.' But Gene Harrington, founder of the AIDS Equity League, said the neighbors have nothing to fear, pointing out that AIDS cannot be.. transmitted through casual contact.: "I have never heard of a situation where neighborhood children were infected with the virus," he said. "Their fear is based much more on ignorance than on a knowledge of the disease." He also said it is unfair to block the project because of property values. "If you are going to allow property values to determine social policy, then we would all be living in segregated, class-restricted, bigoted communities," he said. Although Lanier said he felt that AIDS patients posed no risk for area residents, he wanted to delay action on the Brentwood facility so residents could become better informed and the city could hear their concerns. "I think it's appropriate that they would be heard from," Lanier said. Nonetheless, City Council is expected to vote today on providing seven other agencies with about $70,000 in funding from the federal Housing' Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program. The funding will be used for architectural design, real estate appraisals and other predevelopment work for various AIDS housing projects. The AIDS Foundation Houston, Over-the-Hill Inc. and other AIDS service providers are expected to eventually receive $1.7 million in federal funding for the projects.
Article from 02 Nov 1994The Houston Chronicle(Houston, TX)
•
CLIPPED BY
whispertotheworld

Get started searching Newspapers by searching a keyword, name, or phrase…

PeopleTopicsLocationsOther
View All Clippings