Houston Housing Authority accused of suppressing information about toxic contamination

HOUSTON – There is clear evidence that the Houston Housing Authority concealed knowledge of toxic contamination when it asked the State of Texas for financial assistance to finance a controversial public housing project.

FOX 26 was the first station to report on new revelations surrounding the Houston Housing Authority's controversial 800 Middle Street public housing project.

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In documents we obtained in 2019, both HHA and its development partner NRP admit that there is “residual contamination” on the land acquired for the $130 million project. The two companies also further acknowledged that the land directly adjacent to the multifamily complex is so toxic that it is unsuitable “for any type of development.”

“It doesn't get any smellier than this. This place is right in the center of the contamination,” said Wayne Dolcefino, renowned investigator and FOX 26 contributor.

Two years later, in 2021, it emerged that neither the housing authority nor its development partner disclosed any concerns when applying for millions of dollars in state-backed bonds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Development.

When asked in the application whether the construction project was within 300 feet of a landfill, no information was provided.

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When asked in the application whether the project was located near an environmental factor that could have an adverse impact on health and safety, HHA and its partner did not provide any information.

FOX 26 legal analyst Chris Tritico says the housing authority appears to have violated both state and federal laws.

“I have reviewed all the documents in this case and it shows that the parties knew this land was contaminated and when they filled out the application and omitted that information, they made material misrepresentations to the state government and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These material misrepresentations are a crime,” Tritico said.

LULAC Greater Houston President Sergio Lira is disgusted by what he calls “waste.”

“These developers are financed with taxpayers’ money, while they themselves profit and the poor always suffer,” Lira said.

NRP states that it stands by the information provided to both HUD and the state.

The housing authority says it is submitting environmental reports to the state and city of Houston to confirm “whether the site is suitable for residential use.”