State Representative Garnet Coleman has delivered the following message in opposition to the Ashby high rise development:

As an elected official for the State of Texas I am opposed to the proposed 23 story high-rise development by Buckhead Investment Partners to be located at 1717 Bissonnet, a two lane street. This project, which is scheduled to break ground next year, is not only completely out of character with the immediate residential neighborhood, it would also have a negative impact on anyone who travels down this stretch of Bissonett because of congestion and safety concerns.

I am in full support of…

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I write to you today with a progress report of our most recent work in opposition to the proposed 23 story high rise on Bissonnet and Ashby in Southampton.

Last week, I met again with representatives from the Fire Department, the Planning Department, Public Works and Engineering Department, and representatives of Mayor Bill White, Council Members Brown, Lovell and Berry to discuss possible limitations on the proposed development due to the Houston Fire Code. The Fire Department mandates fire sprinklers and pressurized stairwells for high-rise buildings and the Fire Marshall has expressed his opinion that delivery…

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PDF of the letter available here

Letter to community from Poe Elementary PTO regarding the impact of the possible development of the Ashby High Rise on Poe Elementary School

October 11, 2007

The Poe Elementary School PTO opposes the development of 1717 Bissonnet as a high rise mixed use development with approximately 200 residential units and 460 parking spaces. This project is only four blocks from Poe Elementary School and would detrimentally affect the school as outlined below.

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Below is the text of a letter to Kevin Kirton of Buckhead Investment Partners from Ramona Davis, Executive Director of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance.

A PDF of the letter is available here.

October 4, 2007

Mr. Kevin M. Kirton
Chief Executive Officer
Buckhead Investment Partners
2536 Amherst, Suite F
Houston, Texas 77005

Dear Mr. Kirton:

I am writing on behalf of Greater Houston Preservation Alliance to express our opposition to your proposed development at 1717 Bissonnet. We are deeply concerned about the negative impact your project will have on surrounding historic districts. A 23-story skyscraper is incompatible with two-lane…

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