A Houston developer wants to build a marina-resort and high-rise development in Kingwood. Many residents oppose the project, alleging that it would greatly increase the risk of flooding.
Kingwood suffered some of the worst flooding in Houston during Harvey, and the proposed development by Romerica Investments sits right in the 100-year floodplain.
“We’ve had an additional six events down in River Grove Park, which is very adjacent to this development, since Harvey and the continued flooding of our streets,” said Kingwood resident Barbara Hilburn.
Hilburn fears the development would also damage wetlands, including nesting sites for bald eagles. She and other residents are pressing for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to deny permits for the development – or at least to delay them until the City of Houston and the Harris County Flood Control District have had a chance to complete their impact studies.
The video below by the architecture firm behind the design, Rome-based Torrisi & Procopio Architetti, outlines the proposed project in more detail:
Note: News 88.7 reached out to Romerica Investments for comment but received no response by airtime. There will be a neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposed development tonight at the Kingwood Community Center from 6-8 p.m.