2nd & 5th Wards

Second Ward is one of Houston’s original four neighborhoods: within it lies Frost Town, considered Houston’s oldest neighborhood, founded in 1822. The last remaining Frost Town building was demolished in 1992 to make way for another freeway expansion. It is a primarily Hispanic neighborhood (74.1%), and is comprised of a mix of residential and industrial properties.

Fifth Ward is also a minority neighborhood: its residents are primarily Hispanic (50.1%) and non-Hispanic Black (13.5%). It is made up mainly of single-family residences, with pockets of commercial development.

Student Health Impacts

  • Bruce Elementary and Secondary DAEP are exposed to 4 times as much traffic pollution as the average HISD/ASID campus.

  • NHHIP Expansion will be at the property line of both campuses.

  • An increase in pollution is linked to poorer student and community health.

  • Asthma rates at Bruce (7.2%) and Secondary DAEP (5%) already far exceed the HISD/ASID average of 3.5%.

Environmental Justice Impacts

  • The NHHIP involves the removal or relocation of families in public housing units, specifically: Clayton Homes and Kelly Villages.

  • The poverty rate at Bruce Elementary is 92.6%, and at DAEP is 94%, as compared to the Houston average of 73.7%.

Community Impacts

  • 20% of Bruce Elementary students walk to school, exposing them to the highest accident areas of Jensen Drive, as well as those under and next to the freeway.

  • NHHIP design will move the freeway closer to both schools, worsening safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists.

  • Three bus stops adjacent to I-10 around Kelly Village will be temporarily impacted during construction.

Here’s TxDOT’s take on connectivity, from their Community Impacts Assessment:

“The Fifth Ward was impacted by the construction of I-10, which divided the community, and again with the construction of US 59/I-69, which further divided the community. TxDOT worked with stakeholders to eliminate an at-grade railroad crossing. Although the proposed improvements to I-10 would widen the separation between the north and south side of the highway, the proposed improvements to I-10 would not create a new barrier in the Greater Fifth Ward.”

Other displacements (from north to south)

Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church

  • founded in Fifth Ward in 1961

Helping Hands Charity

  • collects donations for community schools,

  • founded in 1880

Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church

  • founded in Fifth Ward

  • has approximately 100 members

  • has been in its current location for 58 years

  • impacted during previous I-10 expansion

David Adickes Studio
Acre In A Box
Sorb-All Co. – oil absorbents retailer
PJS – Professional Janitorial Service
76 Convenience Store
Cleaners at the Ballpark
Subway sandwiches
United Plastic Inc. – fabrication