First, it is important to note that while the flyer identifies properties owned by Mr. Grant and Mr. Girard in First Montrose Commons, neither of them actually live here. Mr. Grant lives closer to Upper Kirby and Mr. Girard lives in Bellaire. They are not truly our neighbors, but merely investors who are seeking to commoditize our neighborhood.

The flyer also warns of “$500 a day fines” under the historic preservation ordinance, but to my knowledge, no one has ever been fined under the ordinance during its entire 15 year history.

Further, the flyer states that property owners can be fined for performing simple repairs to the exterior of their buildings. But in fact, the historic preservation ordinance does not apply to ordinary repair and maintenance projects, including (but not limited to) painting, landscaping, heating & air conditioning, lights, fences, and even re-roofing.

The flyer additionally tells us that Mr. Grant and Mr. Girard are working with people in the Heights to destroy historic districts there as well. But First Montrose Commons is not the Heights. Here in FMC, we not only care about our historic homes, but we also are concerned with our lack of deed restrictions. A Heights neighborhood may lose its historic district designation yet still have other restrictions to fall back on. But this is not so in FMC.

If First Montrose Commons were to lose its historic district designation, our neighborhood would have zero land restrictions, which would allow developers to bulldoze single-family homes in favor of commercial and multi-family projects. Thus, you could see your neighbors’ houses replaced with a bar, a high-rise, a parking lot, anything. And if that were to happen next door to you, the value of your house could plummet to tear-down status, to say nothing of your quality of life. So as you can see, our historic district status not only protects FMC’s historic character, but its residential character as well.

Mr. Grant and Mr. Girard are apparently unconcerned with protecting First Montrose Commons’ residential character, which makes sense given that neither of them actually reside here. In fact, Mr. Grant lives in a neighborhood protected by deed restrictions, and Mr. Girard lives in a neighborhood protected by zoning. Neither of them would be willing to give up those protections for their own homes, but they want FMC residents to sacrifice the same just so they can market their investment properties here to the highest bidders, free from all restrictions.

Instead of relying on flyers distributed by modern day carpetbaggers looking solely to turn a profit, please consult the Historic Preservation Ordinance Amendments section of City of Houston's website for accurate information on the new preservation ordinance and the benefits and restrictions that come with it.