Houston Housing Authority reportedly knew about environmental pollution at low-income project

HOUSTON – Evidence has emerged that the Houston Housing Authority and its developer knew the site for a $130 million low-income housing project was contaminated but broke ground anyway.

“I've been doing this for a long time, and in my opinion this is the worst case of public corruption that has ever occurred in this city,” said longtime Houston investigator Wayne Dolcefino.

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Dolcefino is referring to HHA's controversial 800 Middle Street project for low-income families. The proposed 800-unit complex is literally surrounded by toxic waste dumps and a former state Superfund site, and yet HHA claims hundreds of families could live there safely.

“They knew from the beginning that this place was contaminated,” Dolcefino said.

And after four years of digging and waiting, Dolcefino has uncovered documents that seem to prove it. A 2019 letter from the project's developer, NRP, to the president of the housing authority states that “residual contamination remains” and that the land adjacent to the project “has significant contamination … and is unsuitable for any type of development.”

“Really? It's 2024. Do we really want to bring more poor people to a place that's contaminated?” Dolcefino said.

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These are contaminants that have been visually confirmed in multiple FOX 26 reports, including lead, arsenic and countless tons of incineration ash. Yet both the HHA and developer NRG continue to deny any health risk to regulators and future residents.

FOX 26 asked Dolcefino if HHA and NRP lied to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

“Of course it was a lie, and I've been investigating government corruption for almost 50 years, and there is such a thing as tampering with government records. If you make false statements in a government record, you can, and in this case, you should be indicted. You lied to HUD. You lied to the state. You lied to the public. You lied to pretty much everyone,” Dolcefino said.

FOX 26 has asked HHA and NRP for comment.

The developer replied: “The NRP Group stands by the information provided to HUD and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and continues to be transparent with all government agencies and partners. We remain confident that the low-income affordable housing currently under construction is safe for future residents.”

In a statement to FOX 26 late Tuesday night, the Houston Housing Authority said: “The safety and well-being of our residents remains our highest priority. In collaboration with NRP Group, we have submitted additional environmental reports at the request of the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the City of Houston – Department of Housing and Community Development – to confirm the suitability of the site for residential use.

We remain committed to providing the additional documentation requested and following all required safety procedures. Ongoing delays ultimately impact the residents of the development who most need safe and affordable housing on this property. We value the partnership with our regulators as we work to prove the property is safe.

Our goal remains to provide quality, affordable housing and we look forward to welcoming residents to their new homes at 800 Middle Street.”

Dolcefino said he filed a criminal complaint with the Texas Rangers and outlined his findings.