Perry Homes left the future of a popular Kingwood trail in doubt when it abruptly removed its excavation equipment from Woodridge Village before Christmas. The trail, owned by the Sherwood/Elm Grove Trail Association (SEGTA) runs along the northern border of Kingwood, parallel to Woodridge Village. Hundreds of students used it to get to Kingwood Park High School via foot and bicycle. And residents used it to get to shopping in the Northpark Place Commercial District. But not now. Perry Home’s contractors destroyed a section about 500 feet long. And with their construction equipment now gone, only warning signs remain.
Approximate Location of Destroyed Trail
The map below shows the approximate location of the portion of the trail that Perry Homes destroyed. Hikers and bikers must now detour through streets – none of which have sidewalks. That poses a safety hazard.
How Could This Happen?
According to Ethel McCormick of Kingwood Association Management, Friendswood initially built the trail then gave it to SEGTA. However, part of it wandered onto property that Friendswood also owned but did not give to SEGTA. They later sold that adjacent property to Lennar. No one developed the property through seven changes of ownership. Then in 2018, it became Woodridge Village.
Friendswood sold the parcel of land to Lennar in 1994. 24 years later, the wandering trail finally got in the way of Perry Homes/Figure Four Partners plans..
When Perry Home started the new development, surveyors found that the part of the trail was not on SEGTA land but belonged to Perry Homes’ subsidiary, Figure Four Partners. The developer destroyed that part.
However, they intended to reconnect it later when they became part of the Kingwood network. But with Perry Homes apparently abandoning plans to finish the development, the trail’s fate is now in limbo.
The SEGTA Board does not have any information about what will happen at this time, according to McCormick. But it was a major topic of discussion at SEGTA’s last board meeting.
Perry Homes left abruptly before Christmas without restoring the missing part, removing warning signs or taking down construction fencing.
In the meantime, residents and their children do not have use of the remaining trail on Association property. And they must detour several blocks on streets around the interruption below.
Looking west from a point about a hundred feet west of Fair Grove.Looking east from a point several hundred feet east of Friarwood Trail toward Fair Grove.
Options for Association
At this point, it appears the Sherwood-Elm Grove Trail association has three options.
Move the trail back onto its own property.
Abandon it.
Hope that Perry Homes or whoever buys this property reconnects it to an expanded trail network.
As of this morning, Perry Homes still had no construction equipment on either the southern or northern sections of Woodridge Village. They only had tree mulching equipment working on the northern portion of the site. With Perry Homes’ intentions unclear, option three could take years.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/27/2019
850 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 89 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191227-RJR_6255.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2019-12-27 14:02:432019-12-27 14:04:32Perry Homes’ Departure Leaves Future of Sherwood-Elm Grove Trail in Doubt
A scientific study published in the journal Nature Sustainability on December 9th claims flooding is the costliest form of natural disaster. It also claims that those costs should increase due to new developments built in floodplains. Overall, the study found that for large areas, avoided damages exceed land acquisition costs by a factor of at least five to one. “Strategic conservation of floodplains would avoid unnecessarily increasing the economic and human costs of flooding while simultaneously providing multiple ecosystem services,” says the study.
Avoided Damages Can Exceed Land Acquisition Costs Up to 5:1
The new study by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the University of Bristol (United Kingdom) and flood analytics company Fathom seeks to answer an important question related to flooding in the United States: What would save American taxpayers more? Protecting undeveloped flood-prone areas now or allowing development and paying for flood damages when they inevitably occur?
“A dollar invested in floodplain protection today returns at least $5 in savings from avoided flood damages in the future,” says Kris Johnson, PhD, The Nature Conservancy’s North America Deputy Director of Agriculture and one of the study’s authors.
High-density starter homes in Northpark Woods near West Fork San Jacinto flood plain. Photo taken 10/4/2019.
Flooding Costliest Form of Natural Disaster
TNC points out that “Flooding is among the most common of natural disasters. And it is the costliest. Average flood losses in the U.S. have increased steadily to nearly $10 billion annually. Meanwhile, the American taxpayer-backed National Flood Insurance Program is in record debt at nearly $25 billion.”
Would It Work in Houston?
Houston Chronicle reporter R.A. Schuetz interviewed several people at Harris County Flood Control about whether the national benefits found in the study translated to Harris County.
The Chronicle quoted Robert Lazaro, a communication officer with Flood Control. Lazoro agreed that buying land likely to flood plays an important role in minimizing future damages. “We’ve found that an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure down the road,” Lazaro said.
However, Lazaro also felt the national analysis may not take into account regional regulations and other considerations, such as elevation requirements. Regardless, he hoped that it would inspire local policymakers to consider measures to reduce future flood damages.
Buy Low Before Population Arrives
The trick, it seems is getting to areas before they become highly populated and the price of housing is pushed up by the limited availability of land.
Net: the findings of this article may make more sense in rural counties surrounding major metropolitan areas, such as Chambers, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Waller and Chambers.
Applying the Principle to the Elm Grove Disaster
The people in Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest sure wish the community had gotten together and purchased the Woodridge Village land for preservation. It sold to Perry Homes’ for about a million dollars, and had it been left in its natural state might have prevented an estimated $100 million in property damage.
Good market research has a knack of clarifying the obvious. This study did that. It quantified once again that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/26/2019
849 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 98 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/EF-WF-Aerial_585.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-12-26 17:47:332019-12-26 17:48:49Study Shows It’s Cheaper to Preserve Floodplains Than Buy Out Properties After They Flood
Numerous people have sent ReduceFlooding.com stories about how Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton changed their Christmas. Some are real and some are just expressions of anger.
Adaptations Reported by Residents This Christmas
Stringing Christmas tree lights three feet up from the floor for safety.
Converting Christmas yard decorations to blow up plastic types that float.
Monitoring radar screens for storms instead of Santa.
Instead of toys, kids get interior doors, Home Depot gift cards, wallboard and wet vacs.
Ornamental reindeer on the roof equipped with scuba gear.
Several folks have also shared their letters to Santa:
Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is for you to get Perry Homes to finish the job they started so we can be safe.
Dear Santa,
Our elderly neighbors and the children are suffering. So please make Kathy Perry Britton admit her mistakes, apologize and go away.
Dear Santa,
Perry Homes has done nothing to stop flooding since May. Imelda proved that. We need someone who knows what they’re doing to step in and fix things.
CEO Deprived Thousands of Christmas
Yep. You get the idea. The Grinch has nothing on Kathy Perry Britton. The new “Queen of Mean” has already taken homes, Thanksgiving and Christmas from thousands of kids. Ms. Britton could soon take Easter, too. She:
This is the stuff of legend. Or delusion. Perhaps we buy her a one-way Greyhound ticket to Guatemala.
No. On second thought, Guatemala is too nice. Other ideas gratefully accepted.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/25/2019 with input from Jeff Miller, Isabelle Fleenor and the community
848 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 95 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Merry-Perry.jpg?fit=1200%2C672&ssl=16721200adminadmin2019-12-25 13:49:532019-12-25 14:09:56Elm Grove Says Merry Christmas to Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton in Strange and Wonderful Ways
Perry Homes’ Departure Leaves Future of Sherwood-Elm Grove Trail in Doubt
Perry Homes left the future of a popular Kingwood trail in doubt when it abruptly removed its excavation equipment from Woodridge Village before Christmas. The trail, owned by the Sherwood/Elm Grove Trail Association (SEGTA) runs along the northern border of Kingwood, parallel to Woodridge Village. Hundreds of students used it to get to Kingwood Park High School via foot and bicycle. And residents used it to get to shopping in the Northpark Place Commercial District. But not now. Perry Home’s contractors destroyed a section about 500 feet long. And with their construction equipment now gone, only warning signs remain.
Approximate Location of Destroyed Trail
The map below shows the approximate location of the portion of the trail that Perry Homes destroyed. Hikers and bikers must now detour through streets – none of which have sidewalks. That poses a safety hazard.
How Could This Happen?
According to Ethel McCormick of Kingwood Association Management, Friendswood initially built the trail then gave it to SEGTA. However, part of it wandered onto property that Friendswood also owned but did not give to SEGTA. They later sold that adjacent property to Lennar. No one developed the property through seven changes of ownership. Then in 2018, it became Woodridge Village.
When Perry Home started the new development, surveyors found that the part of the trail was not on SEGTA land but belonged to Perry Homes’ subsidiary, Figure Four Partners. The developer destroyed that part.
However, they intended to reconnect it later when they became part of the Kingwood network. But with Perry Homes apparently abandoning plans to finish the development, the trail’s fate is now in limbo.
The SEGTA Board does not have any information about what will happen at this time, according to McCormick. But it was a major topic of discussion at SEGTA’s last board meeting.
In the meantime, residents and their children do not have use of the remaining trail on Association property. And they must detour several blocks on streets around the interruption below.
Options for Association
At this point, it appears the Sherwood-Elm Grove Trail association has three options.
As of this morning, Perry Homes still had no construction equipment on either the southern or northern sections of Woodridge Village. They only had tree mulching equipment working on the northern portion of the site. With Perry Homes’ intentions unclear, option three could take years.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/27/2019
850 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 89 after Imelda
Study Shows It’s Cheaper to Preserve Floodplains Than Buy Out Properties After They Flood
A scientific study published in the journal Nature Sustainability on December 9th claims flooding is the costliest form of natural disaster. It also claims that those costs should increase due to new developments built in floodplains. Overall, the study found that for large areas, avoided damages exceed land acquisition costs by a factor of at least five to one. “Strategic conservation of floodplains would avoid unnecessarily increasing the economic and human costs of flooding while simultaneously providing multiple ecosystem services,” says the study.
Avoided Damages Can Exceed Land Acquisition Costs Up to 5:1
“A dollar invested in floodplain protection today returns at least $5 in savings from avoided flood damages in the future,” says Kris Johnson, PhD, The Nature Conservancy’s North America Deputy Director of Agriculture and one of the study’s authors.
Flooding Costliest Form of Natural Disaster
TNC points out that “Flooding is among the most common of natural disasters. And it is the costliest. Average flood losses in the U.S. have increased steadily to nearly $10 billion annually. Meanwhile, the American taxpayer-backed National Flood Insurance Program is in record debt at nearly $25 billion.”
Would It Work in Houston?
Houston Chronicle reporter R.A. Schuetz interviewed several people at Harris County Flood Control about whether the national benefits found in the study translated to Harris County.
The Chronicle quoted Robert Lazaro, a communication officer with Flood Control. Lazoro agreed that buying land likely to flood plays an important role in minimizing future damages. “We’ve found that an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure down the road,” Lazaro said.
However, Lazaro also felt the national analysis may not take into account regional regulations and other considerations, such as elevation requirements. Regardless, he hoped that it would inspire local policymakers to consider measures to reduce future flood damages.
Buy Low Before Population Arrives
The trick, it seems is getting to areas before they become highly populated and the price of housing is pushed up by the limited availability of land.
Net: the findings of this article may make more sense in rural counties surrounding major metropolitan areas, such as Chambers, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Waller and Chambers.
Applying the Principle to the Elm Grove Disaster
The people in Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest sure wish the community had gotten together and purchased the Woodridge Village land for preservation. It sold to Perry Homes’ for about a million dollars, and had it been left in its natural state might have prevented an estimated $100 million in property damage.
Good market research has a knack of clarifying the obvious. This study did that. It quantified once again that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/26/2019
849 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 98 after Imelda
Elm Grove Says Merry Christmas to Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton in Strange and Wonderful Ways
Numerous people have sent ReduceFlooding.com stories about how Perry Homes and Kathy Perry Britton changed their Christmas. Some are real and some are just expressions of anger.
Adaptations Reported by Residents This Christmas
Stringing Christmas tree lights three feet up from the floor for safety.
Converting Christmas yard decorations to blow up plastic types that float.
Monitoring radar screens for storms instead of Santa.
Instead of toys, kids get interior doors, Home Depot gift cards, wallboard and wet vacs.
Ornamental reindeer on the roof equipped with scuba gear.
Decorating the dumpster in the front yard.
Letters to Santa Express Christmas Wishes
Several folks have also shared their letters to Santa:
Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is for you to get Perry Homes to finish the job they started so we can be safe.
Dear Santa,
Our elderly neighbors and the children are suffering. So please make Kathy Perry Britton admit her mistakes, apologize and go away.
Dear Santa,
Perry Homes has done nothing to stop flooding since May. Imelda proved that. We need someone who knows what they’re doing to step in and fix things.
CEO Deprived Thousands of Christmas
Yep. You get the idea. The Grinch has nothing on Kathy Perry Britton. The new “Queen of Mean” has already taken homes, Thanksgiving and Christmas from thousands of kids. Ms. Britton could soon take Easter, too. She:
And yet her highly paid PR staff positions her as a business leader. Only in Houston!
This is the stuff of legend. Or delusion. Perhaps we buy her a one-way Greyhound ticket to Guatemala.
No. On second thought, Guatemala is too nice. Other ideas gratefully accepted.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/25/2019 with input from Jeff Miller, Isabelle Fleenor and the community
848 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 95 since Imelda