The proposal to expand and reroute Interstate 45 along the eastern end of Houston’s downtown has raised concerns about affordability, displacement and identity for the communities in the new pathway, including the historically African-American Fifth Ward. The neighborhood already faces rising property taxes, and the highway project set to begin in 2020 could accelerate gentrification while also displacing public housing residents at Clayton Homes and Kelly Village.
For this exclusive audio story, reporter Travis Putnam Hill spoke with Fifth Ward resident Kathy Blueford-Daniels, Lone Star Legal Aid attorney Amy Dinn and Texas Housers Houston co-director Chrishelle Palay about the history of the Fifth Ward, the challenges posed by the I-45 project and some potential solutions.
Listen to the full story above or on Soundcloud.
[…] Listen to the audio story here. […]