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Stumbling on a half-empty office building in Houston is unfortunately relatively easy to do – but what if one of those partially vacant buildings was constructed with taxpayer funds originally meant to address affordable housing?
That's the crux of the controversy surrounding Midtown Redevelopment Authority's One Emancipation Center, a 5-story office building in Midtown Houston that was subject to a recent investigation by Houston Chronicle reporter Mike Morris. The tower was built in 2021 with $22 million in funds that were originally intended for affordable housing to stem rising gentrification in Midtown. But no one lives in the building, and instead it has become a symbol of how the redevelopment organization has put many of its affordable housing funds to questionable use. The organization also has amassed hundreds of lots around Third Ward over the years, but instead of developing housing on those lots, it's let many sits undeveloped and decaying, Morris reports.
You can dive into the Morris investigation here or check out his summary of key takeaways.
And another note: Longtime real estate reporter Katherine Feser has retired from the Houston Chronicle officially after nearly 35 yeas at the newspaper. She was the driving force behind the Chronicle 100, our annual ranking of the largest public and private businesses in the region. The Top Workplaces package also bears her mark, as does our Executive Compensation series — initiatives that have informed and engaged our readers for years. She also developed a strong network in the real estate community; if you've ever had the privilege of working with Katherine on story you will know her careful reporting and positive attitude were always welcomed.While no one can replace Katherine, don't hesitate to reach out to me with any story ideas, tips or suggestions: marissa.luck@houstonchronicle.com.
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