East Downtown Houston

Residential buildings in East Downtown Houston.
START Houston houses the offices of the management district

East Downtown Houston (EaDo) is a district in Houston, Texas, United States. The East Downtown Management District (EDMD), manages the area with offices headquartered at START Houston, a co-working space 1121 Delano Street.[1] The community is located east of Downtown Houston and north of Interstate 45 (Gulf Freeway).[2] It is between the George R. Brown Convention Center and the East End district.[3]

The Old Chinatown, an area within East Downtown bounded by Interstate 69/U.S. Route 59, Preston Street, St. Joseph Parkway, and Dowling Street, is the older of the two Houston Chinatowns.[2][4] The East Downtown Chinatown is not the same as the Chinatown in southwestern Houston.[5]

History

The former Luckie School

In the 1930s many Cantonese immigrants moved to the former Houston Chinatown, then a part of the Third Ward area, from Downtown Houston in an effort to find more inexpensive land. The Cantonese opened several businesses, including grocery stores and restaurants, and held Chinese New Year celebrations. Immigrants from other East Asian countries, including Vietnam, moved into the Chinatown.[3]

In the early 1950s the Chinese Merchants' Association moved to the southeastern edge of Downtown Houston. Many Chinese businesses moved there. The Chinatown solidified as many Asian immigrants, including Viet Hoa, began moving to Houston in the 1970s. By the 1980s a theater, supermarkets, warehouses, a bank, and restaurants were located there.[6]

EaDo sign

By the late 1980s increasing numbers of Chinese began living in suburbs in Southwest Houston and Fort Bend County.[7] In addition, the Chinatown was geographically hemmed in,[8] with surrounding low income African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods and the Downtown area preventing additional growth. Two Chinese religious temples opened about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the old Chinatown in the 1990s.[7]

By the 1990s, many of the East Asian businesses left and had relocated to the current Chinatown in southwest Houston.[3]

In a November 28, 2002 Houston Press article John Nova Lomax described what is now known as East Downtown Houston as "a silent, godforsaken stretch of no-man's-land that's not really the Warehouse District, nor the Third Ward, nor the East End."[9] Lomax said that he used "that bulky definition" since that by 2000, the name "Chinatown," still used in the 1980s and 1990s, "was no longer apt." The area received its current name in the late 2000s.[10]

In 2008 the management district and its namethedistrict.com website asked for suggestions for a new name for the district.[3][11] Suggestions included "the Warehouse District," referring to the abandoned warehouses, and "Saint E," after St. Emanuel Street, a key street and the location of several bars and clubs. The district selected "EaDo," short for "East Downtown," one of the three most popular suggestions for the name of the district.[3]

During the same year Dan Nip, a developer and East Downtown Management District board member, encouraged people to invest in the Old Chinatown area in East Downtown; if a person invests $500,000 United States dollars in the Old Chinatown and subsequently creates two jobs for ten years, he or she would become eligible for a EB-5 visa.[4][12] By late 2009 the East Downtown authority began re-branding the district to reflect its current name.[3] By 2010 a community of artists began to form in EaDo.[13]

Venues

East Facade along Dowling Street

BBVA Compass Stadium is home for the Houston Dynamo and the Texas Southern University football team, which is on a tract of land bordered by Texas, Walker, Dowling and Hutchins in East Downtown. BBVA Compass is the first soccer-specific stadium in MLS to be located in a Downtown area. The stadium seats 22,039 and besides hosting soccer and football events will hold other events such as concerts and boxing matches.

Cityscape

Helen Anders of the Austin American-Statesman said that EaDo "looks like an art installation, with the steamshiplike George R. Brown Convention Center as a backdrop, skyscrapers lurking in the background and angular new condos set against low-slung warehouses, some of them still in use for industrial storage."[13]

Historically many of the Hispanic residents lived in small houses. The opening of the BBVA Compass Park and Minute Maid Park encouraged development of EaDo, and by 2015 many of the older houses were being replaced by townhouses with wealthier occupants.[14]

Economy

Kim Sơn restaurant

The Kim Sơn headquarters and restaurant is located in East Downtown.[15]

Culture

Texas Guandi Temple

The Texas Guandi Temple (Chinese: 德州关帝庙; pinyin: Dézhōu Guāndì Miào) is located in East Downtown.[16] The temple was established in 1999 by a Vietnamese couple,[17] Charles Loi Ngo and Carolyn.[18] They decided to build a temple to Guan Yu (Guandi) after surviving an aggravated robbery,[18] which occurred at their store in the Fifth Ward.[18] They believed that Guandi saved their lives during the incident.[17] A Vietnamese refugee named Charles Lee coordinated the donations and funding so the temple could be built; Lee stated his motivation was to thank the United States for welcoming him and saving his life when he arrived in 1978.[19] The temple is open to followers of all religions, and it has perfumed halls.[18]

Homeless population

The district has long been known for a relatively large homeless population (comparable to Skid Row, Los Angeles but on a far smaller scale). Many of the homeless in the Houston area congregate in East Downtown because of the presence of nearby agencies that provide services (which predate the current redevelopment efforts) and several groups that independently provide food, clothing, toiletries and other items on nearby vacant lots. Nearly all Houston non-profit and faith-based agencies which provide services to the homeless, including food and shelter, are located within Downtown and Midtown. A major shelter for women and children operated by Star of Hope, a faith-based agency, is located on Dowling Street, between Texas & Franklin; the agency operates a men's facility nearby on the west side of US 59, north of Minute Maid Park.

There has been some tension in recent years between developers who want to revitalize the East Downtown district with commercial and residential projects, and the homeless (and homeless service providers). Some have called for the city of Houston to restrict public sleeping on sidewalks and to regulate charitable serving of food.[20][21] It remains to be seen whether or not current services to the homeless can continue in East Downtown in the face of ongoing revitalization and redevelopment efforts.

Government and infrastructure

Houston City Council District I covers East Downtown.[22]

Station 10, opened in 1894 in what is now East Downtown;[2][23] the station relocated to its current location in what is now the new Chinatown and Greater Sharpstown in 1985.[23][5][24]

Transportation

Since 2015, METRORail light rail has served the neighborhood at EaDo/Stadium station via the Green and Purple lines, and the Leeland/Third Ward station via the Purple Line. In addition to light rail, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) operates bus service through the area.

Education

Energy Institute High School

The district is within the Houston Independent School District. East Downtown is within Trustee District VIII, represented by Diana Dávila as of 2009.[2][25]

Lantrip Elementary School, in Eastwood;[26] and Rusk Elementary School, outside of East Downtown,[27] serve separate sections of East Downtown for elementary school. In 1995 Rusk had a student mobility rate of almost 100% because it had a very large homeless population.[28]

For grades 6 through 8 Jackson Middle School serves East Downtown,[29] Austin High School and Wheatley High School serve separate sections of East Downtown.[30][31] Rusk has a science and technology magnet program for middle school students.[32]

Energy Institute High School, a magnet school, is currently located in the former Dodson Elementary School in EaDo,[33] where it moved in the summer of 2014.[34]

Histories of schools

Dodson Elementary School

Charles W. Luckie Elementary School, located at 1104 Palmer in what is now East Downtown, was a school for African-Americans.[35] It closed circa 1943.[36]

Dodson Elementary School in EaDo formerly served portions of the community.[37] In 2014 the Dodson school had about 445 students.[38] That year, the HISD school board was to vote on whether to close Dodson Elementary. Terry Grier, the HISD superintendent, argued that Dodson needs to close so another school will be located there while its permanent facility is under construction.[39] On Thursday March 13, 2014, the HISD board voted to close Dodson Elementary 5-4.[38] The Montessori program will move to Blackshear Elementary.[40] As part of rezoning for the 2014-2015 school year, some areas in EaDo previously under the Dodson zone will be moved to the Rusk zone and some will be moved to the zone of Lantrip Elementary School.[26] In April 2014 HISD trustee Juliet Stipeche declared that there will be another vote on Dodson's closing.[41] At a later meeting, HISD board member Harvin Moore called for a motion that "the item be tabled indefinitely" meaning the closure is finalized and the matter will not be brought up again; the board voted 5-3 for this matter, and the speakers who were scheduled to speak about the Dodson issue were turned away.[42]

Prior to its closure, Anson Jones Elementary School, outside of East Downtown, served sections of East Downtown.[43] The school, opened in 1892 with its latest campus constructed in 1966, closed in Summer 2006.[36][44] E. O. Smith Education Center, which formerly served EaDo for middle school, closed after the 2010-2011 school year; the portion of East Downtown's middle school was rezoned to Jackson.[29][45]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "EaDo's Contact Information." East Downtown Management District. Retrieved on August 1, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Welcome to EaDo." East Downtown Management District. Retrieved on August 1, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Moreno, Jenalia. "Chinatown no longer." Houston Chronicle. October 17, 2009. Retrieved on October 19, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Patel, Purva. "Pay-for-visa plan could revive Houston's Old Chinatown." Houston Chronicle. August 18, 2008. Retrieved on January 20, 2009.
  5. 1 2 Rodriguez, Lori. "Opinions vary over naming the growing Asian community on Houston's southwest side." (Archive). Alternate version without Chinatown map: "DIVERSITY DEBATE / Chinatown outgrowing name / Opinions vary over naming the growing Asian community on Houston's southwest side." Houston Chronicle. Wednesday May 9, 2007. A1.
  6. ↑ Rodriguez, p. 38.
  7. 1 2 Rodriguez, p. 39.
  8. ↑ Rodriguez, p. 38-39.
  9. ↑ Lomax, John Nova. "Glamorous Youth." Houston Press. November 28, 2002. 6. Retrieved on March 31, 2009.
  10. ↑ Lomax, John Nova. "Say Hello to EaDo." Houston Press. Thursday February 3, 2009. Retrieved on March 31, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Name the District." East Downtown Houston. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  12. ↑ "About EaDo." East Downtown Houston. Retrieved on August 1, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Anders, Helen. "Emergine EaDo: Houston's newest arts community." Austin American-Statesman. Saturday February 13, 2010. Retrieved on March 20, 2010.
  14. ↑ Miller, Doug. "Old houses vanishing in hot east Houston" (Archive). KHOU. May 1, 2015. Retrieved on May 13, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Contact Us." Kim Sơn. Retrieved on September 1, 2012. "2001 Jefferson Houston Texas 77003 USA"
  16. ↑ "About US." Texas Guandi Temple. Retrieved on February 11, 2012. "The Texas Guandi Temple is in the hart [sic] of Houston, facing University of Houston across the wide and bustling Highway 45."
  17. 1 2 Davis, Rod. "Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city." San Antonio Express-News. August 3, 2003. Retrieved on February 11, 2012.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Martin, Betty L. "Neighborhood's Alive tour hits city's multicultural hot spots." Houston Chronicle. Thursday July 17, 2003. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on September 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ Molnar, Josef. "Guandi Temple celebrates New Year." Houston Chronicle. February 27, 2003. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ Chris Moran (July 14, 2011). "East Downtown wants city to ban sleeping on sidewalks". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  21. ↑ Chris Moran and Safiya Ravat (March 6, 2012). "Proposed rules: safer food or criminalizing charity?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  22. ↑ City of Houston, Council District Maps, District I." City of Houston. Retrieved on November 5, 2011.
  23. 1 2 "Fire Station 10." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Districts." Greater Sharpstown Management District. Retrieved on August 15, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Trustee Districts Map." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on November 11, 2008.
  26. 1 2 "AGENDA Board of Education Meeting March 13, 2014." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on March 15, 2014. "Current Attendance Boundaries" New 03/06/04 Attachment F-2 March 2014 p. 31/119. and "Proposed Attendance Boundaries" New 03/06/04 Attachment F-2 March 2014 p. 32/119.
  27. ↑ "Rusk Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  28. ↑ "Students switching schools is a nightmare for teachers." Associated Press at the Victoria Advocate. Monday February 13, 1995. 4A. Retrieved from Google Books (3 of 13) on December 30, 2011.
  29. 1 2 "Jackson Middle Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on July 26, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Austin High School Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Wheatley High School Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Information for Thomas Rusk Elementary School." Rusk Elementary School. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  33. ↑ "Home." Energy Institute High School. Retrieved on March 19, 2015. "1808 Sampson Houston, TX 77003-5434"
  34. ↑ Blum, Jordan. "Debate over where to build Houston's energy high school flares up" (Archive). Houston Business Journal. July 3, 2014. Retrieved on March 19, 2015.
  35. ↑ Britt, Douglas "Can Mickey Phoenix save Luckie Elementary?" (Archive). Houston Chronicle. July 3, 2007. Retrieved on August 1, 2009.
  36. 1 2 "School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Dodson Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  38. 1 2 Mellon, Ericka. "HISD votes to close Dodson, repurpose Jones." Houston Chronicle. March 13, 2014. Updated March 14, 2014. Retrieved on March 15, 2014.
  39. ↑ Mellon, Ericka. "Grier says at least 2 schools need to close." Houston Chronicle. February 27, 2014. Retrieved on February 28, 2014.
  40. ↑ "HISD decides to repurpose Jones High School, close Dodson Elementary School" (Archive) KTRK-TV. March 13, 2014. Retrieved on March 15, 2014.
  41. ↑ Downing, Margaret. "Some HISD Trustees Frustrated by Dodson Elementary Do-Over." Houston Press. Tuesday April 8, 2014. Retrieved on April 9, 2014.
  42. ↑ Downing, Margaret. "HISD Trustees Kiss Dodson Elementary Goodbye and Will Never Speak of It Again." Houston Press. Friday April 11, 2014. Retrieved on April 14, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Anson Jones Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  44. ↑ Home page. Anson Jones Elementary School. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.
  45. ↑ "E.O. Smith Middle Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on January 21, 2009.

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Coordinates: 29°45′00″N 95°21′00″W / 29.750°N 95.350°W / 29.750; -95.350

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